Gareth Bale determined to keep Wales among Nations League elite

Gareth Bale says he is focused on Wales staying among the elite of European football as they seek to avoid being relegated from the Nations League like World Cup rivals England.

Wales must beat Poland at home on Sunday to remain in League A of the biennial competition.

Bale has not played 90 minutes since a World Cup qualifier against Estonia last September, but the Wales captain has declared himself fit for the must-win contest at the Cardiff City Stadium.

“It’s about testing ourselves against the biggest and best teams,” Bale said of the Nations League format.

“The goal is to play against the best teams and be in the highest league.

“Our plan is to try and stay in this league by getting the win. It can only benefit us when we play against good teams and test ourselves against the best players.

“That will only make us better as a team and as footballers.”

Bale was part of the Wales squad who celebrated England’s shock round-of-16 exit at the hands of Iceland at Euro 2016.

The video of Wales players cheering on Iceland at their Brittany base after they had reached the quarter-finals two days earlier went viral when it was posted on social media.

Wales manager Robert Page said he had watched England’s 1-0 defeat by Italy on Friday that confirmed their Nations League relegation, but Bale revealed he had decided not to tune in.

He said: “I wasn’t watching, so I don’t really know what happened.

Wales' Gareth Bale during training. Action Images

“I am not too bothered, to be honest. We are just focusing on ourselves at the moment.”

Asked if the shaky form of England and the United States, Wales’ opening opponents in Qatar on November 21, had boosted them, Bale said: “No, because a World Cup, I imagine, is similar to a Euros.