2. Maintain possession
The old adage that the best defense is a good offense certainly rings true for this match. Keeping the ball for long stretches of time will greatly aid England in their quest to keep Bale from punishing them.
In particular, England will need their front three to play much better than they did in the draw against Russia. Specifically, they need Harry Kane to do a much better job holding up play than he did in the opener. His ability to hold on to the ball will be key in sucking Bale back into his own defensive half.
The more that Bale has to contribute defensively, the less time he has to punish England on the offensive side of the pitch. Keeping Bale quiet doesn’t have to be overly complicated.
Even players of Gareth Bale’s caliber struggle to score when their team doesn’t have the ball. England would do well to play a strong game of keep away to neutralize the Wales attack.
Next: 3. Avoid counter-attacks