In the searing midday heat Bale, the greatest ever Dragon, ran out of fire

WITH 15 minutes left, Gareth Bale waved his arms up and down in front of the Red Wall, imploring them to give more.

- DAVID McDONNELL

In fairness, the Wales fans would have been entitled to make the same gesture towards their skipper, such was the peripheral role he played for his country.

Four days earlier, at the same Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Bale was his nation’s hero once again, winning and converting a late penalty to earn a 1-1 draw with the USA.

Superlatives were lavished on him, from his ability to manage his energy levels throughout 90 minutes, to the cool head he kept in dispatching such a high-pressure spot-kick.