Zinedine Zidane believes Gareth Bale will help Wales become a real force at Euro 2016 by delivering moments of “brilliant inspiration.”

The world's most expensive player will make his tournament debut with the Dragons fresh from capturing his second Champions League title with Real Madrid and his French manager says he can be the difference.

The former Ballon d’Or winner said: “One player cannot make a team, but one player can inspire a team. With the way Gareth has been playing his Welsh team mates will be looking to him for inspiration.

Bale has enjoyed perhaps his best season in Madrid since arriving in Spain three years ago with 19 goals and 11 assists in only 23 La Liga appearances.

After playing a pivotal role in Madrid’s 11th European crown, Zidane is thrilled the former Spurs winger finally has the opportunity to showcase his talent on the international stage at a tournament.

He said: “I am so pleased that Gareth will be playing in France this summer. He is a phenomenal player, one of the best in the world. For him not to have played in a major international tournament would not have been right.

“The tournament will be a better tournament with Gareth there. Personally I am so happy for him that he gets to experience what it is like to play in a European Championship, and after that I hope he gets to play in a World Cup next.”

Bale and Wales face Sweden in their final warm-up friendly before their first game of Euro 2016 against Slovakia - England and Russia are also in group B.

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