adminCHANTILLY. — England manager Roy Hodgson has branded Gareth Bale “disrespectful” after the Wales star said his country showed more “passion and pride” than their neighbours and Euro 2016 soccer rivals.
England and Wales face off in Lens on Thursday, with Bale’s team in the driving seat in Group B after they beat Slovakia 2-1 in their opening game and Hodgson’s men could only draw 1-1 against Russia.
Speaking before the Slovakia game, in which he netted a spectacular free-kick, Bale had said of England: “I think we’ve got a lot more passion and pride about us than them.”
But in comments published by British media yesterday, Hodgson retorted: “Receiving disrespectful comments is part and parcel of being a footballer and a football coach.
“I don’t ever comment on other people. I’ve been in the game sufficiently long to know every opponent has got an opinion.
“The other day it was (Russia goalkeeper Igor) Akinfeev saying we were the worst seeded team and now it’s Gareth Bale.” — AFP.
Online Reporter