Your latest World Cup headlines on Wednesday, November 23.
Pundit slams Gareth Bale as ‘worst player on pitch’
Gabby Agbonlahor says Gareth Bale was Wales’ worst player in their 1-1 draw with the United States of America.
Bale and his team-mates were alarmingly poor in the opening half against the Americans, although he, and others, made more of an impact after the restart following a collective improvement.
The 33-year-old’s most telling moment came late on as he was fouled by Walker Zimmerman in the penalty area. The Los Angeles man stepped up himself to rifle home his 41st international goal from the spot to earn Wales a share of the spoils.
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He was subsequently handed the Player of the Match award, although former Aston Villa striker Agbonlahor believes several others in red were far more deserving of the prize.
“I thought he was the worst player on the pitch for Wales – 100 per cent,” he told the Weekend Sports Breakfast.
“People will back me, he couldn’t do anything right all game and he popped up, like he does, in big moments, with big goals, with the penalty.
“But every time he got the ball he was giving it away and was having to chase back. To be fair to him, he was chasing back to win it back but nothing was going right for him.
“I don’t know how he got Man of the Match because there were so many better players. Kieffer Moore, I would have given it to for his second-half performance, [Ethan] Ampadu was very good. [Neco] Williams. There were so many better performances for Wales than Gareth Bale.
“I think because he scored it’s like, ‘alright, Man of the Match’. No way should he have been Man of the Match. He’s got to up his game for the next two games of the tournament in the group because I thought he was poor.”
It comes after Agbonlahor stated that not a single Welshman would make it into England’s strongest 30-man squad. And following the opening round of Group B fixtures, the former forward admitted he stands by those comments.
“I stand by my comment at the moment. I don’t think any of the Wales squad of players get into England’s best 30 players,” he concluded.
Kane to undergo scan
Harry Kane will have a scan on his ankle ahead of England’s second group stage fixture against the USA on Friday.
The striker needed treatment after taking a knock in the second-half of the Three Lions’ 6-2 thrashing of Iran on Monday. The Tottenham ace played through the pain barrier but was later replaced by Callum Wilson.
And the 29-year-old will be assessed by medics on Wednesday – just two days before England face Gregg Berhalter’s outfit.
Gareth Southgate’s side round off the group stage against Wales on Tuesday.
Opponents will struggle against Moore
Chris Mepham believes any side will struggle to contain Kieffer Moore at the World Cup.
The striker was summoned from the bench at half-time as Wales trailed the USA 1-0 in their tournament opener on Monday night. Moore was pivotal to the improvement of Rob Page’s side in the second-half at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium as Wales claimed a draw courtesy of Gareth Bale’s late penalty.
And Moore’s Bournemouth team-mate Mepham admits, collectively, his side showed far more bravery in the second-half of the draw with Gregg Berhalter’s men following a sloppy opening 45.
“Kieffer made a massive difference for us coming on and we looked a much better team second-half,” said the defender. “Any team coming up against him is going to struggle. I probably know him better than anyone, playing with him week-in week-out at club level.
“I know much of a handful he can be and certainly as a defender I wouldn’t like to come up against that.
“It wasn’t just Kieffer, I think we changed our mindset a little, we knew we had to be more aggressive, we had to be a bit braver with the ball and I think that coincided with Kieffer coming on too.”
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Iran weaknesses to be studied – Moore
Kieffer Moore is confident that Wales can exploit Iran’s weaknesses having watched their next opponent’s 6-2 defeat to England on Monday.
The Three lions cruised to victory over Carlos Queiroz’s side – who were abject defensively and saw precious little of the ball for long periods of the contest with Gareth Southgate’s outfit.
Rob Page’s side realistically need to clinch all three points against the Iranians to stand a chance of progressing into the knockout stages of the World Cup, and Moore admits Wales have discovered plenty to study prior to Friday’s contest at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium.
“We watched the game and we saw everything we want to work on and would like to exploit against them,” said the frontman.
“We know it’s a massive game and we want the three points. We hope to take the momentum into our next game.”
And on his impact against the USA, Moore commented: “I knew what I had to do when I came on. I didn’t have a point to prove – we are all in this together. I did just what was best for the team.”
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