MX23RW : Sunday, November 24 22:51:46| >> :600:201005:201005:

Wales still have plenty to play for despite disappointing draw - Gareth Bale

Wales still have plenty to play for despite disappointing draw - Gareth Bale
© Reuters
The Dragons have an October double-header away to the Czech Republic and Estonia.

Gareth Bale insisted Wales have plenty to play for in World Cup qualifying after being held at home by Estonia.

Wales lost ground in the race for automatic qualification by drawing 0-0 with Estonia in Cardiff, while Group E leaders Belgium were beating Belarus 1-0 in Kazan.

Belgium are now nine points clear of Wales, who have two games in hand and are more likely involved in a battle for second place with the Czech Republic.

The runners-up will qualify for the play-offs next March and Wales' next two games are both away, to the Czech Republic and Estonia in October.

"There's still a long way to go and we can't get too down on ourselves," Bale told Sky Sports.

"There's still a lot of games to go. We'll take the positives from this and try to win the next game.

"I felt we played well. We played a lot better than we did on Sunday, but we didn't win and that's football for you.

"We moved the ball and we were a constant threat but we didn't take our chances.

"Obviously we're very disappointed. It's frustrating.

"If you don't finish your chances you don't win games.

"It's one of those nights – we hit the keeper, hit the post, just went wide.

Wales v Estonia – FIFA World Cup 2022 – European Qualifying – Group E – Cardiff City Stadium
Gareth Bale holds his head after missing a chance for Wales in their World Cup qualifying draw against Estonia (Nick Potts/PA)

"It has been a while since we had that many chances. We have to try to be more ruthless in the next game."

Skipper Bale was Wales' hat-trick hero on Sunday as his stoppage-time winner secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over Belarus.

But Bale could not spare Wales embarrassment this time against opponents ranked 110th in the world and who had conceded 15 goals in losing their three previous World Cup qualifiers.

The Real Madrid forward twice brought superb stops from teenage goalkeeper Karl Jakob Hein before seeing his late header come back off a post.

Wales boss Robert Page said: "It's pure frustration. We started the game really brightly, we should have scored in the first minute and then it's a different game.

"In the past sometimes we've won games late on. We've found a way to win and we've had the rub of the green.

"It's dropped for us, but it didn't this time and we weren't quite clinical enough.

"We've just got to be brave and take our chances when they come."

Wales v Belarus – International Friendly – Cardiff City Stadium
Wales forward Harry Wilson was forced off in the first half with a head injury (Nick Potts/PA)

Page said concussion protocols were correctly followed when Harry Wilson suffered a first-half head injury.

Wilson collided with Hein and carried on for a few minutes before sitting on the turf and leaving the action.

Page said: "He's OK. Protocols are in place for a head injury, he was fully aware of that.

"He didn't feel right and he had to come off. It was blurred vision, I think.

"He's been assessed and things will be sorted out for him before he goes back to his club.

"The medical team made him fully aware (of his situation), he wasn't comfortable and he had to come off."

ID:462815:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect8359:

Click here for more stories about Gareth Bale

Click here for more stories about Estonia

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
England's Bukayo Saka celebrates scoring against Andorra on September 5, 2021
Read Next:
Wednesday's World Cup qualifying predictions including Poland vs. England
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
OT
Vikings
30-27
Bears
FT
Lions
24-6
Colts
FT
Patriots
15-34
Dolphins
FT
Buccaneers
30-7
Giants
FT
Chiefs
30-27
Panthers
FT
Titans
32-27
Texans
FT
Cowboys
34-26
Washington
9.05pm
Broncos
@
Raiders
9.25pm
49ers
@
Packers
9.25pm
Cardinals
@
Seahawks
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1210112481631
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
10Fulham125341717018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!