Glenn Hoddle said on ESPN (10:11pm, March 11, 2021) that Gareth Bale should have scored for Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday evening.
The Tottenham legend believes that the chance that Bale had after he came on as a substitute against Dinamo Zagreb should have been converted by the Wales international winger, who returned to Tottenham on loan from Real Madrid in the summer of 2020.
Bale came on as a substitute in the second half of the Europa League game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and went close with a free kick.
The 31-year-old had another chance when Steven Bergwijn put in a lovely cross for him from the left, but the winger could not convert it with his favoured left foot.
Hoddle believes that Bale should have used his right foot, as Spurs won the game 2-0.
The Englishman said on ESPN (10:11pm, March 11, 2021): “This is the chance. I felt if he goes with his right foot, I know he is left-footed, put his hand up here, he wants the ball, he is alert, he wants it, he goes with his favoured left foot here. Just imagine him now going with his right foot to get that extra yard to just get it back in that goal.”
Sensible suggestion
Hoddle does make a valid point. If Bale had tried to convert the chance with his right foot, then he could have been successful.
However, the Welshman is left-footed, and one suspects that instinctively he went for his favoured foot.
Despite missing the chance, Bale should be pleased with his performance as a substitute, and perhaps the winger will start against Arsenal in the North London derby this weekend.
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