Standing out with his penalty kicks in the 2016 European Championship, Welsh national team star Gareth Bale claims not to copy Cristiano Ronaldo's style of shooting and emphasized that both goals in France are the result of hard training.
The 26-year-old footballer scored a long-range penalty in the first group stage and helped Wales secure a 2-1 victory against Slovakia, but later Bale could not resist England's goalkeeper Joe Hart from about 35 meters away.
Asked if the success of his penalty kicks could have been influenced by lessons with C. Ronaldo, Bale responded: "No, definitely not. I do it with my own style."
"Obviously, we train together and practice penalty kicks, but our styles are different. Much depends on the distance. Sometimes standing by the ball, I ask it to go into the net, but it often doesn't work out.
"Of course, it's nice to see that hard work pays off, and now I've scored two great penalty kicks," Bale added.
Real Madrid's leader will have the opportunity today to extend his successful series of penalty kicks. At 10 PM in the last group stage match Wales will face Russia.
G. Bale's penalty kick against Slovakia:
G. Bale's penalty kick against England:
