How different would the English football team look in terms of a threat at major competitions if they had Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale rampaging up and down the pitch in the way he's playing in Wales' successful Euro 2016 qualification campaign?
Since leaving Spurs the Welsh star has gone on to win the Champions League, Copa Del Rey, and FIFA Club World Cup while wearing the white of Madrid, but was there a chance of Bale lining up to sing 'God Save The Queen' in the white of England?
No, there was not. That comes from the man himself as he was speaking to WalesOnline.co.uk in the aftermath of Wales' qualification celebrations, but it wasn't for the want of trying on the FA's part. Bale recalls a very brief conversation when he was a young player where the idea of declaring for England was suggested:
Literally it was a one-second conversation. I just said stop: I’m from Wales and love Wales and everyone knows how much I love playing for Wales.
In case it wasn't clear from the above quote, Gareth Bale loves playing for Wales.
You've got to love his use of "Just stop.." as well. Considering Bale listed his footballing hero as Ryan Giggs growing up, it's easy to see why he followed in the Manchester United legend's footsteps regarding eligibility for England.
And we would say that Ryan Giggs is every Welsh footballer of the current generation's favourite player, but that wouldn't be true for Aaron Ramsey and his love for the graft of an Irish midfielder with 16 international caps.
