NANNING, China — Ryan Giggs' first game as Wales coach got off to a flying start Thursday with a 6-0 demolition of China as Gareth Bale scored a hat-trick.

The Real Madrid forward scored his 29th international goal for his country to become the highest scoring Welsh player of all time, breaking Ian Rush's record.

Wales wasted no time asserting their dominance when Bale held off China defender Wang Shencao to place a shot into top left corner of the net after just two minutes.

It was one-way-traffic during a match between two teams which both failed to qualify for this summer's World Cup in Russia. Bale almost got a second in the 17th minute as he chased a ball forward, but Shanghai SIPG goalkeeper Yan Junling sprinted off his line to clear the ball.

It seemed a only matter of time before Wales scored again and in the 21st minute Sam Vokes capitalized on defensive sloppiness to put through Bale to score his second of the night. Wales continued to enjoy complete control and scored their third when Vokes flicked Andy King's knockdown past the outstretched fingers of Yan into the goal.

And just before half time Bale laid a pass into the path of Liverpool winger Harry Wilson who celebrated his 21st birthday by scoring his first international goal. China rang the changes with a raft of substitutions at half time but Wales came out unchanged after the interval and continued to dominate their hosts.

Burnley striker Vokes grabbed his second in the 58th minute with a close range finish after Wilson had sprung the offside trap to put him through on goal. Bale sealed his hat-trick in the 62nd minute after latching on to a long ball forward. He was promptly substituted before the restart and left the pitch to rapturous applause from the Chinese fans.

The four-team China Cup in Nanning sees Czech Republic play Uruguay, tomorrow night. The winners play Wales in the final next Monday. Speaking after the match, China coach Marcelo Lippi said, I don't want to talk about the attack and defense today, I want to talk about the players attitude and performance.

I will be 70 in a month's time. I'm still active in this role because of my passion for football, if the players I picked didn't show the same passion then that is my failure.

Hart welcomes battle

to be England's No. 1

England goalkeeper Joe Hart insists having to fight to retain his place as Gareth Southgate's No. 1 for the World Cup is nothing new. Hart's chances of maintaining a starting spot in this summer's showpiece in Russia have been damaged by a lack of playing time on loan at West Ham this season.

The 30-year-old made his first Premier League appearance since November in a 3-0 defeat by Burnley earlier this month in a match overshadowed by crowd trouble as West Ham slipped closer to the relegation zone.

Hart was at fault for Burnley's third goal, but is hoping to keep his place at club level for the rest of the season to boost his chances of making Southgate's World Cup squad.

Since Gareth has been in charge he's always said I've performed really well for him, said Hart. He seems like a loyal guy but the shirt is up for grabs. There are three goalkeeper places and there are some people performing well in the Premier League. Hopefully I've got my place back now and we'll see where we go with that.

Southgate has included three other goalkeepers in his squad for World Cup warm-up friendlies against the Netherlands and Italy this week in Jack Butland, Jordan Pickford and Nick Pope. However all three lack international experience compared to Hart's 75 caps, earned over a 10-year international career.

It is no different to any moment that I've been playing Football. Even when I was trying to get into my Sunday league team, it was the same script: people want to play Football. That's no different to the one here.

I am not here to answer critics. I am here to play Football, enjoy what I do and try and help my team the best way I can. — Agencies