DEJECTED Gareth Bale vowed to carry on playing for Wales after their heartbreaking World Cup KO.
The Dragons skipper limped off at half-time during the sobering 3-0 defeat to England with a hamstring injury.
Bale, 33, insists he WON’T retire – as long as coach Rob Page still wants him around.
Wales finished bottom of Group B on just one point in their first World Cup since 1958.
They face Croatia in March when qualification for Euro 2024 begins.
And Bale said: “I hope to be there. I’ll keep going as long as I can and as long as I’m wanted.”
On their terrible tournament, he added: “We didn’t live up to expectations. It’s been difficult and we haven’t played very well.
“But we’re all very proud of what we’ve achieved to get here, to do something only one other Welsh team has done, to have qualified.”
Wales barely threw a punch in the Battle of Britain but held England off before two quickfire goals at the start of the second half.
A Bale penalty in the opening 1-1 draw against the USA was all the Red Wall had to celebrate in Qatar before heading home.
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On his captain, Page said: “Gareth wanted to come out for the second half but if he went back out, he would have been about 70 per cent.
“We couldn’t carry anyone but I don’t think that will be the last time we see Gareth in a Welsh jersey.
“We’ve got games in March and will want to get off to a flying start.”
Bale, 33, and Aaron Ramsey, 31, have led this Welsh side in recent years but were both well off the pace in Doha.
Asked if this is the time to replace his ageing stars with younger players, he added: “That will naturally happen when the time is right.
“I will not make the call on that now – we’ve got Euro qualifiers in March.
“If there are young players we need to push and promote, now is the time to do it.
“We haven’t shown our true colours, the players know that themselves, but I told them how proud I was of just getting to the World Cup.”
