Gareth Bale set for limited role in Wales' Euro 2016 warm-up against Sweden
Sunday 5 June 2016 14:30, UK
Chris Coleman says Gareth Bale will play no more than 45 minutes of Wales' final Euro 2016 warm-up game against Sweden on Sunday.
The Wales manager revealed the Real Madrid forward will either start and play the first half, or come on as a substitute for the final 30 minutes.
With Wales' Euro 2016 opener against Slovakia coming just six days later, Coleman is mindful of Bale's Champions League final exertions last weekend when he played 120 minutes and suffered severe cramp in the extra-time period before scoring a penalty in the winning shoot-out.
"Balo will play a part, whether starting or coming on as sub," said Coleman. "He's had a tough season, he missed a little time through injury, and just had 120 minutes in the Champions League final.
"He might get half-hour as a sub or start and get 45. But what I do know is that he won't get 90 minutes, he doesn't need that."
Sweden have confirmed their own superstar, skipper Zlatan Ibrahimovic, will play in their final pre-Euro 2016 friendly at the Friends Arena.
"We picked the game for certain reasons and I'm glad to see they're going very strong," said Coleman. "That's why we're here.
"There's no point in playing these games if you're going to be guaranteed an easy 90 minutes. But that's when these players are at their best, when they've got a good test in front of them."
Injured trio Joe Allen, Joe Ledley and Hal Robson-Kanu will all miss out in Stockholm but Coleman hopes they will all be fit for the Slovakia game in Bordeaux on June 11.
"We feared for Hal in Portugal at one point when the incident occurred," said Coleman of the striker's training camp ankle injury.
"But he's had a good week and both Joes have trained with the group."
