Who can BALE out Ronaldo?

GARETH BALE trained away  from the rest of the Wales  squad ahead of Wednesday’s semi-final with Portugal.

 The Real Madrid star is not in any danger of missing the biggest game in his nation’s football history, but the coaching staff are taking precautions after a long season. Chris Coleman and his team are extremely aware that Bale suffered a number of injuries last season and has had muscle problems in the past. Last season Bale missed a total of 18 matches because of various injuries, while he also played top level football for longer than many of his team-mates after helping Real Madrid win the Champions League. Bale played 36 matches in all last season, not as many as some of his colleagues but had virtually no rest after the final on 28 May. He’s only missed eight minutes of the tournament so far and with fellow key man Aaron Ramsey missing through suspension, Bale will have to be even better if Wales are to progress. Wales are also missing Tottenham Hotspur left-back Ben Davies because of suspension. Ramsey is expected to be replaced by experienced Leicester City man Andy King, while West Ham United defender James Collins should come in for Davies. Bale will go head-to-head with Real Madrid team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo in what should be a fascinating duel between the pair. Portugal will be without holding midfielder William Carvalho but have a full squad otherwise. Coleman has previously said all the pressure is on the Portuguese. Bale He said last week: “The bigger countries have got to get into quarter-finals, semi-finals, final. We didn’t. We had to come and perform for us, for inside our camp. “Other countries who’ve been there before – the pressure is different for them. I’ve not really got any interest in other countries, whether that’s England, Spain or whoever. “It’s just about Wales and the next game in the campaign has always been our biggest one. We know Portugal are favourites, they have had tournament experience and played at World Cups, and we’ll go into it as underdogs. But that’s no problem at all.”