Watch Wales vs Ukraine live from 4pm on Sunday on Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Main Event; kick-off 5pm; winners qualify for 2022 World Cup in Qatar and will be placed in Group B alongside England, Iran and USA
Sunday 5 June 2022 17:04, UK
Wales manager Rob Page believes Gareth Bale will be ready for Sunday's World Cup play-off final against Ukraine after sitting out Wednesday's Nations League clash in Poland.
Live on Sky Sports, the Welsh have the chance to make their first World Cup finals appearance in 64 years when they take on Ukraine, who won 3-1 in their play-off semi-final against Scotland in Glasgow on Wednesday.
Wales lost away in Poland the same day at the start of the new Nations League campaign, letting slip a first-half lead in Wroclaw but also resting key players with the play-off final in mind.
Bale, who confirmed earlier this week he will leave Real Madrid this summer after a nine-year spell in Spain, has battled with injury again this season and had limited playing time.
"It was always part of the plan coming in," Page said. "With the senior players, we ask them what they need to get in the best place for game day. He's got a plan in place, and he didn't want to veer away from that.
"I've learnt one thing as Wales manager, that if you want your best players on the pitch, you've got to be able to adapt. They've never let me down."
Page will also welcome back the likes of Ben Davies and Aaron Ramsey for what will be a tough encounter with a place in Qatar at stake, with Ukraine riding a wave of support amid Russia's invasion of their country.
"I thought they gave a great account of themselves against Scotland," Page said.
"We've analysed the game and Ukraine pose a threat. They're there for a reason, they're a good outfit. Irrespective of what they've been through to get here."
Wales' only previous World Cup finals appearance was in Sweden in 1958 where they lost to Brazil in the quarter-finals.
"We're all excited," Page added. "The atmosphere in the training ground, you can see what they're all about as a group. We understand the importance, but we've got a plan in place and it's about trusting the plan now."
Bale says he would make no apology to war-torn Ukrainians were Wales to deny them their World Cup dream but understands what it would mean for the country should they progress.
Ukraine has now been at war for over 100 days since Russia invaded its territory in February, with horrific stories unfolding each day from the frontline.
Manchester City's Oleksandr Zinchenko has spoken of his dream of reaching the World Cup in Qatar later this year and giving the Ukrainian people some richly-deserved feelings of pride and happiness.
But Wales captain Bale, while expressing sympathy for the Ukrainians' plight, insisted that securing the Dragons' first appearance at a World Cup for 64 years was the only thing focusing Welsh minds.
Asked if he would apologise to Ukraine if Wales ended their World Cup hopes, Bale said: "As horrible as it sounds, no. As it is a game of football and it is a competition that we want to get to as well.
"Everyone in the world feels for Ukraine. It is sport that unites everybody. We understand what it will do for Ukraine, but we want to get to the World Cup.
"That is not coming from a horrible place. It is coming from our country and hearts as we want to deliver for our own fans."
Told that Ukraine could count on support from around the world, Bale replied: "We'll be the most popular team in the stadium, that's the main thing.
"We understand the awful things going on in Ukraine. Our hearts go out to the kids, families and people of Ukraine.
"We've all felt awful during this time and not been able to do too much. But come Sunday, it's a game of football. We want to win.
"It's difficult to say whether it's 'the' big game [of his career], we played in a semi-final of a European Championship.
"But it's a massive game. There's no hiding it. We've only ever played in one World Cup. This is a stepping stone onto the biggest level and we're desperate to win to achieve our goal.
"Everyone wants to play at a World Cup. It's no different for me - it is missing [on his CV] - or for every member of the squad and coaching staff."
Sky Sports News senior reporter Geraint Hughes:
Wales manager Robert Page has a few headaches to resolve ahead of kick-off against Ukraine, but fortunately it has nothing to do with any injury concerns within the squad. Every player at his disposal is fit, although whether they are ready for up to 120 minutes, nobody quite knows.
Wales' defence pretty much picks itself, so the area of debate is exactly how Page sets up his attacking threats. Does he begin the game against Ukraine as he did against Austria in the semi-final? That is with Harry Wilson linking with Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey and Dan James, or does he bring back Kieffer Moore now the Bournemouth striker is fully fit? It also won't be lost on any of Wales' backroom staff who have analysed Ukraine that goalkeeper Heorhiy Bushchan wasn't the most secure in certain situations against Scotland on Wednesday.
Page has other options now as well, with Brennan Johnson's form for Nottingham Forest elevating him into the reckoning. As far as Ukraine will be concerned he's a bit of an unknown quality. Wales have some strength in depth with attacking formations which, if the game is tight, will come in very handy.
Defensively it's perhaps an easier selection. Ben Davies has been a mainstay of Tottenham's defence under Antonio Conte and is a key senior figure for Wales. Although Davies' Tottenham team-mate Joe Rodon hasn't had as many minutes on the pitch at Spurs as he'd like, Rodon told me earlier this week that he's fit and ready to go - as is Ethan Ampadu. With Conor Roberts and Neco Williams surely shoo-ins at wing-back, it's about as strong a side as possible for Wales, who will also be able to draw on the backing of the home crowd inside the Cardiff City Stadium.
Wales are under no illusion that Ukraine are a very good side - they won't take them lightly, and they'll know that for periods of the game Ukraine will have controlled possession. Patience will be needed, along with the ability to take that potentially golden opportunity when it comes to score.
It's going to be a close game. Both sides want to win, and not just to get to a World Cup. For Ukraine it's obvious given the tragic events in their country and the boost any Ukraine victory gives the nation. For Wales, it's the chance to get to a World Cup for the first time in 64 years and in doing so exorcise some ghosts of near misses in 1977, 1985 and 1993 where Wales somehow fell at the final hurdle.
Manager Oleksandr Petrakov has revealed a Ukrainian flag from the battleground will hang in their dressing room for Sunday's game.
After setting up their Cardiff showdown by beating Scotland on Wednesday on a night of raw emotion, Petrakov dedicated that victory to troops who are defending their country against attacks from Russia.
"Our team wrote to soldiers and received a flag from the war, which they promised to hang in the dressing room," said Petrakov, who became visibly emotional discussing the situation in Ukraine and spoke little at his pre-match press conference.
"It's a really hard situation in Ukraine and not everyone can watch football because of the situation, but we will try to concentrate and play well."
Dynamo Kyiv midfielder Oleksandr Karavaev's family live in the southern city of Kherson, which is under Russian occupation.
Karavaev said: "They cannot watch the match because there is no connection and internet. But they communicate by messages and they read the news.
"I had my birthday on June 3 and, also my mum's, and it was a nice present for them.
"The occupation changed much for my friends, many of them lost work. But they hope the occupation and freeing of the lands and returning of normal routine will happen soon.
"They are all in positive mood because they see the cost of the war [to Russia] and see that it is possible for Ukraine to defend in this war.
"The game in Scotland was very emotional for us. But we know this is the most important game of our lives and we will do everything possible to win it."
The 2022 World Cup will begin with 32 teams in eight groups of four:
As well as watching the match live on Sky Sports, you will also be able to follow our live blog across the Sky Sports App and website, where we will have free in-game clips of all the goals and key moments, and free highlights shortly after full-time.
