Gareth Bale is ready for his final shot at glory on the world stage

It’s all about the money in sweltering Doha – the £12 beers and the £3 Qatar World Cup stamps – but Gareth Bale’s new commercial tie speaks to something more subtle, about the place his native Wales occupies in his life.

When the team came to terms with much more aggressive heat here than they anticipated, Brecon Beacon-based Penderyn Distillery announced that Bale had become one of their shareholders. They will be putting down Gareth Bale whiskeys in the future after his involvement in the company has revitalized Welsh whiskey production.

Bale didn’t need much convincing. The country and its national team have provided the fun he missed in so much of his club football. While he may not have Joe Allen’s bilingualism, the 33-year-old is at the center of a Cymru World Cup campaign in which Welsh national identity plays a strikingly important role.

There are doubts, of course, due to Bale’s lack of playing time: only two starts in the US with Los Angeles FC since June, and not a single 90-minute run-out.

It was announced this week that Gareth Bale has become a shareholder in Brecon Beacon-based Penderyn Distillery, reviving whiskey production in his home country

Despite playing in the MLS these days, Bale remains one of the biggest names in the World Cup

But many in the Welsh team see significance in the 128th-minute goal Bale scored for LA in their MLS final against Philadelphia Union last week, given that he was only introduced in the 97th minute. It resulted in a winning penalty shootout.

“He had only just entered the field and yet he did what he always did,” notes teammate Dan James. “When he’s on the field, we know he can come up with anything at any time.”

It was the look in Bale’s eyes that said the most when he sat down to discuss Wales’ hopes earlier this week, at the Vale Resort – the team base 15 miles west of Cardiff where Gary Speed ​​declared 12 years ago: The goal is simple : to qualify for the World Cup.’

Some of the spark seemed to have faded from Bale in the public sphere during last summer’s European Championship campaign, where he was clearly fed up with questions about his future.

On Monday, echoes of the legendary summer rang out in Dinard, on the coast of Brittany, as he took on almost daily media duties during the rush to the semi-finals.

His 128th-minute goal in the MLS Cup final for LAFC was not lost on his Wales teammates

Bale (right) is well aware of fulfilling the ambition of the late former manager Gary Speed

He has spoken of Speed ​​in recent weeks in a manner that suggests he is well aware of fulfilling that wish of the late manager with style, although he also appears to be possessed by the feeling that time is running out.

“It’s such an important moment in my career,” he said during the excellent ITV documentary Against All Odds, shown this week. “It’s possibly my last World Cup, so there’s even more pressure for me. It’s one of those times when you don’t get another chance.’

The unexpected dimension is the support he and his teammates will receive from the United States, Monday’s opponents, given the deep ties between the two countries.

Delaware, the Carolinas, and Ohio have particularly strong connections to Wales, thanks to the country’s many early settlers. On Monday, in Washington DC, the Welsh Government will co-host a screening of Wales’ opening match against the US, as part of the city’s DuPont Festival. There will be plenty of other Wales events in the United States to coincide with their group stage matches.

Bale has been Wales’ main man despite his lack of starts and has been a star since his debut in 2006

Bale’s performances in Los Angeles have built a support base there, and the nation’s American awareness has soared since the purchase of Wrexham by Hollywood superstars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

“Drink the blood of your enemies, boys!” Reynolds pushed for Rob Page’s side in a video message this week. ‘Beat England. Beat Iran. Lose to the US – or draw,” McElhenney added diplomatically. As usual, their clip went viral.

There have been times since last summer’s European Championships when Page’s team looked very ordinary, but she – and Bale – do have the ability to pluck something from the depths of utterly pedestrian performance.

Bale seemed reluctant to talk about the heroics of 2016 last summer, in a tournament that ended when he stormed out of a BBC interview as Wales lost in the last 16. But this feels very much like the final gathering of friends who always have a refuge found in Wales.

“It doesn’t matter what it was like at our clubs, everyone was just looking forward to leaving,” said Bale, reflecting on his many years at Wales, who he has represented since 2006.

Wales at a major tournament brings back memories of their historic semi-final at Euro 2016

“Everyone was just looking forward to getting away, laughing at the hotel and even enjoying travelling. At most clubs it’s hard when you travel, but somehow we make it fun and enjoyable when we’re here.’

Brotherhood is no guarantee of success in the group stage. There’s no getting around the fact that Wales, strong in attack and highly skilled in defence, look weaker in midfield.

But Bale is still standing. A 9-metre-tall image of him has been wrapped around a skyscraper at the end of the waterfront Corniche and he has attracted a great deal of interest from locals, with motorists stopping their cars to see him as he strolled through the West Bay, near the team hotel. He also spends some of his free time using a golf simulator at the team hotel.

“From where we were when I started with Wales to where we are today – if you’d offered me half of that I’d have bitten your hand off,” he said.

“This is something everyone dreams of.”