Wales biggest World Cup game for many years takes place on Thursday night. With a world wide audience ready to take in the game there is huge expectation on Robert Page and his chosen squad for this one.

Gareth Bale was omitted from the Real Madrid squad last night who lost embarrassingly at home to Barcelona 4-0. Los Blanco’s boss Carlos Ancelotti indicated he would be a potential replacement for team mate David Alaba but that never transpired. We do know Bale is expected to join up with his team mates In Wales later today. However, there are rumours of a slight back injury which is as yet unconfirmed. His omission from Real Madrid’s starting eleven and squad is not thought to have been for major reasons. The thirty two year old has already come to an agreement that he will leave Madrid In the summer.

Aaron Ramsey made his league debut for Glasgow Rangers in a 2-1 win over Dundee. He also scored and came through the game relatively unscathed. He was substituted late in the second half. Bale and Ramsey will be seen as crucial to gaining a victory over Austria on Thursday night. As it stands both are reporting no issues.

Wales exploits in world cup qualifiers haven’t gone to plan over past qualifications since 1958. Heartbreak against Scotland on two occasions and even more so when Paul Bodin hit the bar against Romania in an attempt to qualify for USA 1994. Having beaten Germany and Belgium before this last match Wales were seen as favourites, but it wasn’t meant to be.

As it stands here is the Wales squad to face Austria, and as yet and quite bizarrely a yet to be announced opposition on Tuesday 29th March.

Wales v Austria kicks off at 7.45 pm on Thursday 24th March in Cardiff. The fixture is sold out.

Wales reports all week on Swansea Independent.

Photographs licensed from Reuters (PA)

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