Gareth Bale urges team-mates to "give 100 per cent" in World Cup play-off semi-final; Bale was omitted from Real Madrid's 23-man matchday squad against Barcelona on Sunday but has confirmed he is fit to play; watch Wales vs Austria live on Sky Sports from 7pm on Thursday; kick-off 7.45pm
Thursday 24 March 2022 06:16, UK
Gareth Bale has labelled Wales' World Cup play-off semi-final against Austria as "one of the biggest games" of his career.
Bale has trained with Wales ahead of Thursday's showdown at Cardiff City Stadium and has been speaking about creating history by helping his country to qualify for a World Cup finals for the first time since 1958.
"It's going to be one of the biggest games I've played in for sure," Bale said. "Having not qualified for a World Cup before, it's something that I want to achieve, the country want to achieve and the fans want to achieve. I guess it's another big game we need to get ready for and take in our stride like we always do."
The forward's fitness was in doubt in the lead up to the tie, but Bale says he is "ready to play whatever is necessary".
"It's normal to have some niggles," he said. "I've been training for the last two and a half months. I'm in a lot better shape than I was in the last camp where I'd been out for about three months."
Bale was clear that the squad was focused on a positive outcome from the Austria tie, claiming that it would be "a regret" if his side did not give the game "100 per cent".
"I wouldn't say I'd regret it, it's not in my hands, it would be something I'd love to achieve for my country and the fans of Wales," he continued. "We kind of deserve to be in the World Cup, it's been a long time. It won't be a regret [if we don't qualify] but it will be a regret if we don't give it 100 per cent."
Bale missed Real Madrid's crushing 4-0 defeat to Barcelona at the weekend due to back pain, raising doubts over whether the forward would be fit for the do-or-die clash at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Speaking after their loss to Barcelona, Real boss Carlo Ancelotti said of Bale: "He didn't feel well yesterday after training. He tried this morning but he wasn't up to playing.
"He's now going to join up with his national team and they'll decide whether he plays or not."
Bale has endured a miserable season in what is set to be the last of his nine-year stay in Madrid.
The 32-year-old has played just 77 minutes of club football since featuring against Real Betis on August 28.
Bale suffered a hamstring injury in September and then sustained a calf complaint after winning his 100th Wales cap against Belarus in November.
His only club appearances since came last month, a La Liga start against Villarreal and a brief Champions League cameo as a substitute away to Paris Saint-Germain.
Aaron Ramsey has also joined up with Page's squad after making his first Scottish Premiership start for Rangers since his January loan move from Juventus.
Ramsey's lack of match fitness had seen him restricted to a couple of starts in the Scottish Cup and three other appearances from the bench.
But he played 84 minutes against Dundee on Sunday and scored his first Rangers goal in a 2-1 victory.
Austria boss Franco Foda has had to make four changes to his squad, with defenders Christopher Trimmel and Philipp Lienhart and midfielders Florian Grillitsch and Dejan Ljubicic dropping out.
Bristol City's Andreas Weimann returns to the Austria squad for the first time for seven years, with Lens' former Southampton defender Kevin Danso, Stefan Ilsanker and Alessandro Schopf also called up.
Goalkeeper: W Hennessey (Burnley), A Davies (Stoke), T King (Salford).
Defenders: C Gunter (Charlton), B Davies (Tottenham), C Roberts (Burnley), C Mepham (Bournemouth), J Rodon (Tottenham), B Cabango (Swansea), N Williams (Fulham, on loan from Liverpool), R Norrington-Davies (Sheff Utd), E Ampadu (Venezia, on loan from Chelsea).
Midfielders: J Allen (Stoke), J Morrell (Portsmouth), W Vaulks (Cardiff), D Levitt (Dundee Utd, on loan from Man Utd), A Ramsey (Rangers, on loan from Juventus), J Williams (Swindon), H Wilson (Fulham), S Thomas (Huddersfield), R Colwill (Cardiff).
Forwards: B Johnson (Nottingham Forest), D James (Leeds), G Bale (Real Madrid), M Harris (Cardiff), R Matondo (Cercle Brugge, on loan from Schalke 04)
