Gareth Bale calls Wales record 'amazing' but puts focus on World Cup win

Gareth Bale says becoming Wales most capped player would be “an amazing achievement” but is more focused on the team beating Iran at the World Cup on Friday.

The 33-year-old is poised to overtake Chris Gunter, who should be among the substitutes at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, and secure his record-breaking 110th cap.

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Bale is already his country's record scorer with 41 goals, including the leveller in Wales' opening Group B draw with the United States.

“I haven’t really been focusing on the cap thing to be honest, just trying to focus on the game, said Bale who made his Wales debut in 2006.

“On a personal level it’s an amazing achievement, it’s an honour to represent my country so many times.

“But it’s more important that we try to get the victory. Hopefully we can and it’ll make it even more special.”

Manager Robert Page insisted Bale was ready for Wales’ second group game, even if the player himself admitted such an energy-sapping match to open with was not ideal due to the quick turnaround in fixtures.

The Los Angeles FC attacker said: “I’m feeling OK, obviously it took a few days before I could feel my legs again.

“But we are professionals, we try to recover and do the best we can. Playing 104 minutes, or whatever it was, isn’t ideal when you’ve got a game four days later.

USA 1 Wales 1: Player ratings

USA RATINGS: Matt Turner – 5 The Arsenal goalkeeper had little to do in the first half, and stood little chance of saving Bale’s powerful penalty in the second. Getty

Sergio Dest – 6 Booked early on for a challenge on Williams, the AC Milan man was solid throughout, particularly when Wales started turning up the pressure. He was also willing to make the forward moves that sparked attacks. AP

Tim Ream – 6 The Fulham defender left Moore unmarked for Wales’ best opportunity in the second half but was largely comfortable in the backline. Booked. PA

Walker Zimmerman – 4 The Nashville centre-back was guilty of a reckless challenge on Bale in the box, conceding the penalty that allowed Wales back into the game. AFP

Antonee Robinson – 6 One of four Fulham players on the pitch, Robinson was lively on the wing and fared well throughout. EPA

Weston McKennie – 5 The Juventus player was sloppy in possession at times and looked off the pace as the game went on. Booked. AP

Tyler Adams – 6 The 23-year-old became America’s youngest captain at a World Cup since 1950 and put in a top display in the middle of the pitch, especially as Wales applied the pressure after the break. AP

Yunus Musah – 6 The Valencia midfielder was lively and keen to use his pace to dribble at the Wales defence from the wing. AFP

Christian Pulisic – 6 Wales were unable to handle the Chelsea man in the first half and they were caught out when Pulisic threaded a ball to Weah to tap home. The American’s impact weakened as the game went on. AP

Tim Weah – 7 After a strong start, he scored a much deserved goal to break the deadlock when he beat the offside trap and beat Hennessey to tap home. AFP

Josh Sargent – 5 The Norwich City striker started his first USA game in over a year and could have opened the scoring when his header hit the side netting inside 10 minutes. Saw little of the ball otherwise. AFP

SUBS: Brenden Aaronson (McKennie 66’) – 5 Unable to get his header on target in his first action of the game. PA

Kellyn Acosta – (Musah 75’) N/A Took one for the team against his LA teammate Bale when he brought down the Welshman with Turner exposed and out of position in the closing stages. AFP

Haji Wright (Dest 75’) – N/A Part of a triple substitution, and he struggled to keep pace with the game. AFP

DeAndre Yedlin (Sargent 74’) – N/A USA seemed to struggle to retain possession as well when Yedlin entered the pitch. Getty

Jordan Morris (Weah 88’) – N/A The former Swansea City player made a late entrance. AFP

WALES RATINGS: Wayne Hennessey – 6 The Nottingham Forest goalkeeper saved his side from an awkward own goal with a point-blank save to stop Rodon heading into his own net, but could only watch Weah round him for USA’s opener. Reuters

Chris Mepham – 5 The Welshman found it hard to deal with Pulisic on the wing in the first half, but grew into the pressure as the game went on and as Wales started to attack. Booked. AFP

Joe Rodon – 5 Got lucky when Hennessey’s point-blank save denied a headed own goal. Later, he was drawn into an aerial duel which he failed to win, leaving his side exposed for Weah’s opener. Getty

Ben Davies – 5 The Spurs man thought he’d found the equaliser for Wales when his header forced Turner into a smart save. AFP

Connor Roberts – 6 The Burnley man had a better second half when he started making more meaningful runs on the wing, which allowed Wales to advance forward. Managed to get a touch on the ball when Pulisic was played into the box. AFP

Ethan Ampadu – 6 The Spenzia midfielder saw an ambitious attempt fly over the crossbar inside 15 minutes. He was keen to get stuck in throughout the contest and showed plenty of energy, encapsulated by a superb tackle on Zimmermann late on. EPA

Aaron Ramsey – 5 The Nice midfielder took a while to get into the game and will be hoping to better influence the proceedings as the World Cup progresses. Getty

Neco Williams – 6 The 21-year-old was at fault and unaware of Weah, who he played onside, when Pulisic released the pacy American in the build up to the goal. Utilised the wing more in an attacking sense in the second half. PA

Harry Wilson – 5 Given a surprise nod ahead of Kieffer Moore, Wilson seemed to grow into the game after the restart. AFP

Gareth Bale – 6 Anonymous for much of the game, but it was no surprise when he finally got on the ball that things happened. No hesitation from the spot to level. Booked. Getty

Daniel James – 5 The Fulham forward was unable to get a hold of the game and was substituted at half-time. Getty

SUBS: Kieffer Moore (James 46’) – 7 The Bournemouth striker was brought on at half-time and his presence made an instant impact. He came close with a towering header. Getty

Brennan Johnson (Williams 79’) – 5 The Nottingham Forest forward was looking to get back on goalscoring form but could only direct a shot into Turner’s arms after a solo break forward. AFP

Sorba Thomas (Wilson 90+1’) – N/A Earned his seventh cap in a late change. AFP

Joe Morrell (Ampadu 96’) – N/A A late injury substitution. AFP

“Everyone is doing all they can to recover for the next game. I’ve not played loads before I came here, but I’ve dealt with it before and it won’t be a problem.”

Wales have been boosted by the return to fitness of midfielder Joe Allen, out since mid-September with a hamstring injury, for the crucial game in Doha against an Iranian side that was thrashed 6-2 by England in their opening game.

“Joe got through his fitness test, so that’s good news. He’s fit and raring to go,” said Page, who is set to hand Kieffer Moore a starting spot after the striker came off the bench to spark Wales’ revival against the USA.

“We were all concerned about him because of the extent of the injury.

“He kept breaking down. We had to meet targets along the way and they’ve met every target. Last week they pushed him to 100 per cent. It was a gamble.

“If he’d have broken down he would have been completely out of the tournament.”

And Bale is in no doubt of the importance that having a fit and firing Allen brings to the team. “Joe’s a massive player for us and probably doesn’t get all the credit he deserves,” added Bale.

“He’s a vital cog in the way we play. To have him available for selection is a massive boost for us. He’s going to do what Joe Allen does best and cover every blade of grass on the football pitch.”

Updated: November 24, 2022, 4:56 PM

Gareth Bale calls Wales record 'amazing' but puts focus on World Cup win

Forward set to win 110th cap against Iran in second Group B game on Friday

USA 1 Wales 1: Player ratings