Bet of the day: Wales’ Bale to bury free-kick in Euro 2016 semi-final
Published:
Robbie Purves | July 6, 2016
Coral bet of the day
- Two of Gareth Bale’s three goals have come from direct free-kicks
- Just seven of his 20 goal attempts haven’t worked the keeper
- Bale is joint second top-scorer at Euro 2016
Bale 10/1 to bury direct free-kick
Real Madrid maestro Gareth Bale will look to assert himself as Los Blancos’ most valuable asset, as he sets his sights on Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in Euro 2016.
This semi-final knockout encounter will be the biggest match in the football history of Wales. Dragons talisman Bale will be hoping to cement his place in European Championship folklore, by guiding his nation to the tournament’s finale.
The former Tottenham man has netted two free-kicks in this year’s installment of the Euros, and is a truly deadly set piece taker. Coral have Bale 10/1 to score a direct free-kick against the Navigators this evening (max stake of £20).
Bale boosted by Portuguese absentees
Just seven of his 20 goal attempts have failed to work the keeper, and he sits joint second in the competition’s scoring ranks.
John Toshack handed Bale his international debut 10 years ago and now he has the chance to send Wales into their first ever major final.
Portugal have failed to win a game in 90 minutes thus far, and their tendency to give cynical fouls away around their own box should have Bale excited – considering his lethal range and accuracy.
The Navigators’ leading defender Pepe is a doubt to make the match, which is a huge positive. Ricardo Carvalho, now 38, is likely to fill to vacant centre back berth. Combine this with the fact that midfield powerhouse William Carvalho is suspended, and you have a recipe for Bale to run the Portuguese ragged and be rewarded free-kicks in dangerous areas.
Bale scored 19 goals for Real this term, and peppered the campaign with outstanding national performances that drove Chris Coleman’s Wales to qualification. The Welsh wizard netted seven vital goals that his country head to France – three of which were game winners.
Los Blancos star Bale seems intent on making this his tournament, so he’ll be fired up and ready to give it all against his clubmate Ronaldo.
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