WALES captain spurned ANOTHER glorious chance to score – but was a relieved man after his country qualified for the Euro 2020 knockout stages anyway.
Robert Page’s side were 1-0 down to Italy and playing with ten men after defender Ethan Ampadu was sent off.
But with 75 minutes on the clock, Joe Rodon flicked a header towards the back post straight to star man and Real Madrid attacker Bale.
But the 31-year-old opted to take the shot on the volley, and blasted an effort well over the crossbar.
In their previous game against Turkey, Bale also blasted a penalty over the woodwork.
But despite a 1-0 loss to Roberto Mancini‘s Group B table-toppers, the Dragons are into the last-15.
They finished with a two-goal better advantage than third-placed Switzerland, who will now be relying on being one of the better placed third teams.
Speaking about THAT chance after the game, Bale told ITV Sport: “I saw the ball coming over, but I didn’t quite get over the ball enough.
“But it is what it is. It made no difference in the end because we still finished second.”
But former Wales striker Nathan Blake seemingly expected better of the former Tottenham man.
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He said: “It’s an awful finish if you’re Gareth Bale, he’s snatched at it, too hard, he didn’t need to put that power behind it.
“It’s a great header back across from Joe Rodon. That was a fantastic opportunity, the Italy defenders were ball watching.”
Matteo Pessina’s solitary strike five minutes before half-time gave Italy a deserved win – but Wales battled well against the in-form Azzurri.
Bale added: “We knew it would be very difficult from the start. A lot of running and defending, I am proud of the boys.
“We have made it through. We had to dig deep and we did that.
“We have to recover now and take the break and get ready to get going again.”
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