Wales coach Robert Page has called up Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey on Wednesday to play in the semi-finals of the Champions League play-off. Qualifiers for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
Bale, who became the second Welshman to pass the 100-game mark for the national team in November against Belarus, has had his season marred by injuries.
The 32-year-old national team captain played just two games for Real Madridone as holder against the Villarreal in the championship last month.
Ramsey, 31, has played just two games for Glasgow Rangers since his January loan from Juventus.
“They are important players for us and obviously we want them to play before they join us,” admitted Page. “But the positive point is that the two are in good shape, very motivated and eager to join the national team. The great players are always present at the big events. They have shown this over time and on countless occasions”,’ he added.
Wales, which have not played a World Cup since the one held in Sweden in 1958, face Austria in Cardiff on 24 March, and the winner will have to beat Scotland or Ukraine in September to go to Qatar.
The Scotland-Ukraine match, originally scheduled for March 24 in Glasgow, was postponed due to the Russian invasion and will take place in June.
The Welsh side recently lost goalkeeper Danny Ward to injury following knee surgery and 35-year veteran Wayne Henessy, who plays for Burnley and is expected to represent his country for the 99th time against Austria, has been called up.
Strikers Kieffer Moore and Tyler Roberts, as well as defender James Lawrence, are also out with injuries.
Source: Gazetaesportiva
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