Finishing first an advantage for Wales, insists Bale
By Press Association
Gareth Bale feels Wales have given themselves a Euro 2016 advantage by winning their group on a night he put on a par with winning the Champions League.
Wales guaranteed their place in the last 16 by beating Russia 3-0 in Toulouse on Monday night, Bale sealing victory with his third goal in as many games to become the tournament's top scorer.
And there was an added bonus when England's failure to beat Slovakia saw Wales top the group, even though Chris Coleman's side were the fourth seeds in the section.
It means Wales will now play a best third-placed team at the Parc des Princes in Paris on Saturday evening, with Albania, Northern Ireland, Czech Republic and Turkey all possible opponents.
> > It definitely does \[bring an advantage\], there are no easy games but this might give us a slightly easier game. Finishing top is better than second or third. > > > "It is good for us and we want to concentrate on ourselves and getting it right for the next game. > > > "It was an unbelievable occasion, right up there with anything I have done. > > > "Given the pressure of the game that was one of the best team performances I have ever been a part of. > > > "We spoke after the England game that we needed to be better in keeping the ball, and we did that. > > > "Obviously that created the space that allowed me, Rambo \[Aaron Ramsey\] and the midfielders to get on the ball more. > > > "And when you do that you get the chance to do what we do best. > > > "It was a great team performance, everything was spot on. There was pressure on the game and that makes the performance even better. > >