• Wales face Azerbaijan in crucial Euro 2020 qualifier on Saturday• ‘It’s like playing with your mates down the park’Gareth Bale has admitted he finds it more exciting to play for Wales than
Real Madrid, a statement unlikely to be warmly received by his club. Speaking before a crucial Euro 2020 qualifier in Azerbaijan, Bale said he felt more comfortable playing for his country and likened doing so to “playing with your mates down the park”.
Bale has been criticised in
Spain for reporting for international duty despite not having played a minute for Zinedine Zidane’s side since 5 October. The 30-year-old has not featured since scoring the equaliser in a 1-1 draw against Croatia last month, when he sustained a calf injury that has prevented him from training with Madrid’s first-team squad.