Giggs full of praise for record-breaker Gareth Bale

Ryan Giggs has hailed Gareth Bale for becoming Wales' record goalscorer after the Real Madrid forward's hat-trick against China got his managerial reign off to the perfect start.

Wales' biggest win since a similar 6-0 success over San Marino in 1996 saw them through to the China Cup final against the Czech Republic or Uruguay on Monday.

Bale's maiden international hat-trick - and the first by a Wales player since Robert Earnshaw against Scotland 14 years ago - took him to 29 goals from 69 appearances.

It moved him one above former Liverpool striker Ian Rush, who scored his 28 goals from 73 games during a Wales career lasting from 1980 to 1996.

Wales' other scorers, Sam Vokes and Harry Wilson, also enjoyed landmark nights as Marcello Lippi's China were swept aside in the first-ever fixture between the two nations in Nanning.

Vokes' brace took him into double figures for his country, while Wilson - winning his second cap more than four years after becoming Wales' youngest-ever player in 2013 - celebrated his 21st birthday in style.

Giggs was encouraged by the performances of Wilson and Declan John, while he gave several other youngsters an opportunity with the game won.