Gareth Bale Reignites England Rivalry Ahead of Golf's Icons of Football Tournament
Welsh football legend Gareth Bale has stirred the pot once again by reviving his long-standing rivalry with England. The former Real Madrid star, who will captain Team World in the upcoming Golf's Icons of Football tournament, made his intentions clear with a bold declaration.
"I Want to Beat Them Badly"
Bale, known for his competitive spirit, stated emphatically, "Is there anything better than beating England? As a Welshman, the only thing better than beating England is beating them badly." He added, "Let's try to beat them. Hopefully, they are not lifting the trophy at the end of the week. Golf is a game of respect, but I want to win."
This sentiment echoes his famous pre-Euro 2016 comments where he mocked England, claiming the Welsh had more honor and passion than their fiercest rivals.
The Cream Jacket and Theo Walcott Connection
The tournament, styled after the Ryder Cup, will feature twenty-four former footballers competing over two days in Bangkok starting this Saturday. Among the Premier League greats participating are Ryan Giggs, John Terry, and Gianfranco Zola.
The winner will receive a cream-colored jacket, which serves as the Icon Series' version of golf's famous Green Jacket awarded at the Masters in Augusta. Bale couldn't resist a dig at his old North London derby rivals, suggesting he'd like ex-Arsenal star Theo Walcott to place the jacket on his shoulders.
"I have heard about the cream jacket. I saw some videos, and it looks a bit brutal. I guess that's the golden nugget to try to do that," Bale said. "It would be nice for Theo to be putting it on me. Arsenal is putting it on Tottenham's shoulders. That would be nice."
Revisiting the Hart Free Kick
In another intriguing subplot, Bale will face former England goalkeeper Joe Hart for the first time in nearly a decade. Their last memorable encounter was at Euro 2016 when Bale scored an incredible 35-yard free kick against Hart.
While Hart has maintained he should have saved that distant effort, Bale joked, "But he didn't... Hopefully, they'll let another one slip in during the match this week."
Reflecting on that iconic goal, Bale shared, "To score against England was amazing. Obviously, the result wasn't what we wanted. But we actually topped the group. So there's a win over England already. The free kick was moving, and it went away from him. It wasn't one of the easiest ones, even though maybe it looked easy. It's always nice to score for my country, especially in such a big game in a major tournament."
Humble About Icon Status
Despite winning the Champions League five times with Real Madrid and being considered one of football's modern greats, Bale remains modest about his legacy. The scratch golfer stated, "I don't call myself an icon. When people do call you that, it's a bit strange. You go back to your childhood, and you're watching the superstars play on TV, winning trophies and playing for the biggest clubs in the world. When you finish, you're able to look back and see, 'Oh, I actually did that.' It's cool when somebody does say it. It gives you a nice feeling about what you achieved in your career."
Tournament Anticipation Builds
As the Icons of Football event approaches, Bale's competitive edge is clearly sharp. He admits to revisiting old matches, and fans worldwide are excited to see him in action once more, this time on the golf course rather than the football pitch.
The two-day tournament promises thrilling competition between Team World and the English side, with Bale's rivalry with England adding an extra layer of intensity to what already promises to be a memorable sporting spectacle.
