The Inevitable Gareth Bale vs. Captain Pulisic ‘America’

USA versus Wales, was surprisingly a fun affair for neutrals in a game that showed to the world a new look American side marshaled by Christian Pulisic, and a determined Wales side captained by Gareth Bale.

To the World, hearing that the United States of America was participating in a world cup tournament that involves kicking and playing an actual football on the pitch side for 90 minutes may be laughable but the USMNT side alongside Captain America—Christian Pulisic, showed the world shouldn’t show its teeth yet at the Americans.

They came to Qatar with a point to prove and if it was just a 45 minutes game like the Super bowl, they may just have made their mark in their very first game. But for some reason, Wales’ captain, Gareth Bale stood that inevitable wall to halt the Americans in their tracks at the 82^nd minute.

Gareth Bale scored a late equalizer for the U.S. men’s national team on Monday, resulting in an exciting 1-1 draw.

The young talents of the USMNT shone well throughout the majority of the opening World Cup match on Monday. The athletes didn’t display any signs of anxiety. They performed with the determination of a team that was prepared for a situation that many others believed would be overwhelming.

The Stars and Stripes never lost because they were outplayed or outmatched, yet they nevertheless lost games. Exactly how a World Cup operates.

And it continues to be that way when the opposing team possesses Gareth Bale, a man for the big moment. Since the World Cup is the biggest tournament of its kind, Bale was bound to stand out.

In addition to erasing Tim Weah’s first-half goal, he also eliminated a USMNT performance that could be called dominant.

But as the young USMNT discovered on Monday night, dominance wasn’t only the answer neither did it equate points.

When you least expected it to, it actually turns out not to matter, well not when there’s the inevitable Gareth Bale.

He had been restrained the whole evening while the USMNT midfield choked him for the majority of the contest. But then came the right time for him.

The entire world was aware of what would happen after Walker Zimmerman ran straight through him in the box. He scored the World Cup goal that his country had been waiting for with an emphatic slam.

He may be a washed up version of the previous Bale but the Monday night showing shows Gareth might still have it in him even though he no longer has the age.

There’s something about the Wales fans though in the world cup duel between Wales vs. the US in the Monday night showing, and it speaks much about the passion they have in their very first world cup tournament in years.

Wales would be winning the World Cup if this sport were solely based on emotion.

What a night for Welsh fans it was. They were raucous and proud, singing, dancing, and partying before the game. Why else would they not? For 64 years they had been waiting for this day.

Families, children, and adults of all ages were present to celebrate the nation’s first World Cup in a generation.

Nothing could equate their feeling and celebration when Bale leveled from the spot, or how they cheered every tackle the Cymru team made prior to the equalizer. The celebration was due to them. They waited for it.

For the American side, there stands the son of African’s only Ballon d’or winner, George Weah’s son, Timothy Weah, raising the American flag with assist from Captain America himself, Christian Pulisic to score the lead for the USMNT.

Weah’s overall performance and how he fits into this USMNT should come first.

He has proven himself a master at his role, and he played it flawlessly against Wales.

Weah’s responsibility is to provide that downfield option and keep the defense stretched as Christian Pulisic cuts in on the opposite side and Sergino Dest cuts in next to him. He accomplished it, and for good measure, added a goal.

His diagonal run was flawless. His conclusion was also. Even though his knee-side celebration may be improved, it was still his first World Cup goal.