USA up against ‘100% fit’ Bale with points at a premium

The United States and Wales will head into Monday's World Cup clash knowing that victory could decide one of Group B's two qualifiers, with England fancied as heavy favourites to advance as group winners.

With a golden generation of talent spearheaded by Gareth Bale and playing at their first World Cup in 64 years, Wales will be out to echo their recent successes at European level, having reached the Euro 2016 semifinals and the last 16 at Euro 2020.

Manager Rob Page called up nine Premier League players to his World Cup squad -- which U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter said the Americans must not underestimate despite Wales's preparations being hampered by injuries to key players including Joe Allen and Aaron Ramsey.

"I think that, at least to the American media, Wales is under-rated," Berhalter told reporters. "When I look at their squad, it's basically a Premier League squad. To me, it's a really good squad, a formidable squad. They've been in international competition before, they know what it's like. And it's going to be a very difficult game."

The U.S. team endured a rocky run-up to Qatar and failed to score in September friendlies against Japan and Saudi Arabia, but Berhalter's youthful albeit unproven squad will look to silence critics when they return to the World Cup stage after eight years.

The Americans will be entering the contest with a rare clean bill of health with most of their first-choice squad healthy and available, and Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna and Weston McKennie will all be out to leave their mark in their first World Cup appearance.

But Bale warned ahead of the clash that he was 100% fit to play for his country at their first World Cup since 1958.

"I'm fully fit and ready to go. If I need to play three 90s (minutes), I'll play three 90s," Bale told a news conference on Monday. "It's been difficult, mentally more than anything. I guess for everybody, the last three or four weeks, it's been difficult, even hearing stories of players going down and knowing they're going to miss the World Cup.

"Speaking to a few of the boys, even for them having to play this weekend was tough mentally, and we're just praying not to have an injury at all because it's such a big occasion."

Bale also added that Wales were determined to speak out about human rights and LGBT issues surrounding the World Cup.