At the outset Gareth Bale said Wales’s first World Cup since 1958 was about more than football and to that end at least they probably succeeded. “Hopefully in the future when you speak to people from other countries they won’t ask where Wales is,” he said.
After leading Wales out of the tunnel to face England on Tuesday, he sipped on some water, chucked his bottle down towards the throng of photographers snapping away furiously pitchside and proceeded to rattle through the pre-match formalities. Lopsided team photograph. Another with match officials. Handshake with the referee. Lock hands with Harry Kane. Hand Kane a pennant stitched in Welsh. And – hang on a minute – give Kane a tricolour bucket hat.
