Gareth Bale admits his ability at free-kicks makes him feel sorry for goalkeepers after insisting his technique is deliberately different to Cristiano Ronaldo’s.
Bale has scored from dead-ball attempts in both of Wales’ Group B games so far in France.
The £85million Real Madrid superstar could become the first player to score from three free-kicks in a European Championships tonight and has Russia keeper Igor Akinfeev in his sights with Wales needing a victory to be certain of a last 16 spot.
Bale practises them at Madrid alongside club-mate Ronaldo but says he is is his own man.
Asked if he had picked up any pointers from Portugal’s Ronaldo, ex-Spurs ace Bale replied: “We practise together in training. But no, I do it my own way – I like my own style.
“I put a lot of practise in, even now after training I am there hitting balls doing what I normally do when I was in Madrid and at Tottenham.
“Nothing has changed, I just carry on my routine. But the Euro 2016 ball is definitely different from the La Liga ball or the Premier League ball.
“When you do hit this one nice it does move a lot. You do feel for the keepers a little bit – but it is good for us.
“When they do go in it is nice to see the hard work pay off, it was great to see two goals go in so far.”
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