'I'll keep going as long as I can' – Gareth Bale rules out Wales farewell after England loss

Gareth Bale applauds Wales fans after their World Cup defeat to England.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Gareth Bale has vowed to carry on playing for Wales 'as long as I can and as long as I'm wanted' following his side's 3-0 loss to England at the World Cup on Tuesday.

The Welsh captain was surprisingly substituted at half-time and after the match, coach Rob Page revealed he had felt his hamstring late in the opening period.

Ahead of the match, Bale said that whatever happened against England, the match would not be his last for Wales.

And after the game, he was asked about his future once again.

"I'll keep going as long as I can and as long as I’m wanted," he told the BBC.

"It's a difficult moment now obviously, but we go again. We have a qualifying campaign starting now again in March.

"We have a few months now to get away from international football, which is obviously disappointing – we'd love to stay longer, but we go again in March."

Asked if would be a part of the next qualifying campaign, Bale said: "I hope so, yes."

Ben Hayward
Weekend editor

Ben Hayward is a European football writer and Tottenham Hotspur fan with over 15 years’ experience, he has covered games all over the world - including three World Cups, several Champions League finals, Euros, Copa America - and has spent much of that time in Spain. Ben speaks English and Spanish, currently dividing his time between Barcelona and London, covering all the big talking points of the weekend on FFT: he’s also written several list features and interviewed Guglielmo Vicario for the magazine.