Gareth Bale ready for more free-kick glory against Russia tonight- ‘I do it my own way not Ronaldo’s’

Bale and Ronaldo stand over a free-kick for Real Madrid

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.”

Bale scored the opener in Wales’ 2-1 win over Slovakia with a trademark left-foot effort to keeper Matúš Kozá?ik’s right.

He then scored in the opposite corner against Joe Hart in the England goal with an effort from 32 yards despite the keeper getting two hands to it.

Bale, who has 21 goals in 57 caps, added: “We did our research knowing Joe is not going to gamble as if it goes on the keeper’s side they really do get the blame.

“I was always going to go over the wall because I knew he wasn’t going to gamble. When I hit it against England it started in the middle and then just dropped fast.

“In the third game I don’t know what I am going to do – hopefully I can score another one. I hit it slightly different depending how close or how far I am.

“You always stand over it thinking: ‘please just go in’.”

Wales need a win tonight to be certain of going through but a draw will be enough if England beat Slovakia.

Asked about the possibility of exiting, Bale replied: “It would be devastating but we don’t want to really think about it to be honest, we are confident.”