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Attendance: 18,350
Hungary national football team
Euro Champ Qualifying | Group Stage
Jun 11, 2019 at 7.45pm UK
 
Wales national football team

1-0

Patkai (80')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Giggs banking on Bale to end an unhappy season on a high in Hungary

Giggs banking on Bale to end an unhappy season on a high in Hungary
© Reuters
The Real Madrid forward has failed to score since mid-March.

Ryan Giggs says Gareth Bale has shaken off his end-of-season rust and is ready to finish the campaign on a high with Wales.

Giggs' side meet Hungary in Budapest on Tuesday, with precious Euro 2020 qualifying points at stake.

Wales hope to claw back the three-point deficit on Group E leaders Hungary and are looking to captain Bale to end his goal drought at the Groupama Arena.

Croatia v Wales – UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifying – Group E – Stadion Gradski Vrt
Gareth Bale has not scored in his last nine appearances for club and country (Adam Davy/PA)

The Real Madrid star has gone three months without a goal for club and country, and has suffered huge frustration in Spain after losing his first-team place towards the end of the season.

"I was happy with Gareth's performance in Croatia," Giggs said of the 2-1 defeat in Osijek on Saturday which dropped Wales to third place in the group.

"He had a couple of chances and on another day they go in.

"It was his first game in six weeks, we had a great build-up in Portugal and a great week at Colliers Park (their training facility in Wrexham).

Wales Training and Press Conference – Cardiff City Stadium
Giggs (right) is convinced Bale will come good in Hungary (David Davies/PA)

"Gareth grew into the game, not playing for six weeks that might be understandable. Hopefully's he's saving it for Hungary."

Some 3,000 seats will be unfilled at the venue after UEFA ordered a partial stadium closure following the behaviour of Hungary supporters in Slovakia in March.

Hungary fans were found guilty of racist behaviour, vandalism and the setting off of fireworks. The Hungarian Football Federation must display a banner with the wording 'EqualGame' on it in the closed sector.

"There will be less fans in the stadium but I understand it's a very good atmosphere," Giggs said when asked about the threat of racism from Hungary fans.

Groupama Arena
There will be 3,000 fewer fans inside the Groupama Arena due to a partial UEFA ban (Matt McGeehan/PA)

"I've talked before about sanctions on racism not being strong enough. They need to be stronger.

"But for me it's all about concentrating on the game. I've got enough to worry about with winning this game."

Wales are set to carry a potent attacking threat with David Brooks, who scored a consolation goal after coming on as a second-half substitute, expected to prove his fitness after an ankle problem.

Brooks should form a front-three with Bale and Daniel James, Swansea's Manchester United-bound winger who drew high praise from Hungary manager Marco Rossi at the Italian's pre-match press conference.

Croatia v Wales – UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifying – Group E – Stadion Gradski Vrt
The pace of Daniel James (pictured) has impressed Hungary manager Marco Rossi (Adam Davy/PA)

Rossi admits he has been astonished by the speed of James, comparing him to former sprint champion Usain Bolt and ex-Brazil striker Ronaldo.

"In the past I played against a very fast player who, according to me, was the best after Maradona – Ronaldo," said Rossi, the former Brescia and Sampdoria defender.

"His acceleration looked like James. He was just not known for speed but for everything. James' speed reminds of Usain Bolt – to be so fast like him is really incredible.

"In the last years I don't remember one player that gave me this sensation."

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Ryan Giggs in charge of Wales on March 20, 2019
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Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain870121
Q Scotland flag Scotland852117
3 Norway Norway832311
4 Georgia Georgia82248
5 Cyprus Cyprus80080

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q France France871022
Q Netherlands Netherlands860218
3 Greece Greece841313
4 Ireland Rep. Ireland82066
5 Gibraltar flag Gibraltar80080

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England862020
Q Italy Italy842214
3 Ukraine Ukraine842214
4 Macedonia N. Macedonia82248
5 Malta flag Malta80080

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Turkey Turkey852117
Q Croatia Croatia851216
3 Wales flag Wales833212
4 Armenia Armenia82248
5 Latvia Latvia81073

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Albania national flag Albania843115
Q Czech Republic Czech Republic843115
3 Poland Poland832311
4 Republic of Moldova Moldova824210
5 Faroe Islands Faroe Islands80262

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Belgium Belgium862020
Q Austria Austria861119
3 Sweden Sweden831410
4 Azerbaijan Azerbaijan82157
5 Estonia Estonia80171

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Hungary Hungary853018
Q Serbia Serbia842214
3 Montenegro Montenegro832311
4 Lithuania Lithuania81346
5 Bulgaria Bulgaria80444

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Denmark Denmark1071222
Q Slovenia Slovenia1071222
3 Finland Finland1060418
4 Kazakhstan Kazakhstan1060418
5 Northern Ireland flag N. Ireland103079
6 San Marino flag San Marino1000100

Group I

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania1064022
Q Switzerland Switzerland1045117
3 Israel Israel1043315
4 Belarus Belarus1033412
5 Kosovo flag Kosovo1025311
6 Andorra flag Andorra100282

Group J

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal10100030
Q Slovakia Slovakia1071222
3 Luxembourg flag Luxembourg1052317
4 Iceland Iceland1031610
5 Bosnia Bosnia H'vina103079
6 Liechtenstein flag Liechtenstein1000100


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