Wales predicted XI against Austria with Cymru boosted by Bale news
Gareth Bale of Wales at full time. Wales v Estonia in a 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier at the Cardiff City Stadium on the 8th September 2021. Credit: Lewis Mitchell
Wales host Austria tomorrow night in the Path A semi-final for the FIFA World Cup play-offs at Cardiff City Stadium.
Rob Page’s side qualified for the play-offs with a second placed finish in Group E, winning four, drawing three and losing just one of their eight matches.
The game is without doubt Wales’ most important since the 1958 FIFA World Cup quarter-final, when they were edged out 1-0 in Gothenburg after Pele’s second-half goal.
The main focus in the build-up to the match has surrounded the team Page will select to take on Franco Foda’s side, who finished fourth in Group F and only qualified for the play-offs by dint of their performance in the Nations League.
We’ve taken a look at how we think Page will go in terms of team selection.
Wayne Hennessey
The Burnley stopper is almost certain to start in goal tomorrow night, following the news that Danny Ward underwent knee surgery last week.
Hennessey, 35, is vastly experienced on the international stage, with 95 caps to his name since making his debut in 2007.
While he has dropped down the pecking order for Wales in recent years, he remains a solid option at this level, and very rarely lets his country down.
Connor Roberts
The 26-year-old has become a regular fixture in the Wales defensive line in the last few years, earning 34 caps to date in an international career that has included some memorable moments – most notably his goal against Turkey at EURO 2020.
Roberts left his hometown club Swansea City in the summer to join Premier League side Burnley. Injury has meant that the full-back has only been able to make 11 appearances for the Clarets to date, but his place in the side for tomorrow night has not come into question.
His performances in a Wales shirt have led to him becoming the go-to option for the big matches, and he is once again likely to get the nod against Austria, most probably featuring as the right wing-back in front of a back three.
Chris Mepham
The Bournemouth defender has been a regular at the back for Wales in recent times, featuring in the preferred back three alongside Joe Rodon and Ben Davies.
His game time for the Cherries this season hasn’t been ideal, as he has started just 19 of the 36 league matches to date, making seven appearances from the bench.
If Wales’ preferred formation included four defenders, then the 24-year-old’s place in the side would be in serious doubt, however he stands a much better chance in a back three setup, and you would expect him to feature from the start tomorrow night.
Joe Rodon
It’s fair to say that preparations in the build-up to tomorrow’s big game have been far from ideal.
The 24-year-old has featured just eight times in all competitions for Tottenham Hotspur this season, appearing just once in the Premier League.
However, given his importance to the Wales team when it comes to his defensive attributes and composure on the ball, he is widely expected to take up his place in the defensive line against Austria.
The fact he has already proven that he can come into the national team and turn in numerous excellent displays, despite a lack of game time at club level, will surely count in his favour – and Wales fans will be more than happy to see him feature from the start.
Ben Davies
It’s a different story with Rodon’s Spurs teammate Ben Davies.
The 28-year-old has been an important part of Antonio Conte’s defence, as the London side have gradually improved as the season has gone on.
With 69 caps to his name, the Ynysygerwn product is one of the most experienced players in the Wales squad, and Page will be counting on all of that tomorrow night.
Neco Williams
From an elder statesmen of the team to one of the up-and-coming prospects.
The 20-year-old burst onto the scene with some stand-out displays in the red of Wales. Having gained invaluable experience in the early stages of his career with Liverpool, Williams has already proven his worth in the senior team after moving up very quickly from the youth setup.
His loan move to runaway Championship leaders Fulham in January has helped his development no end, allowing him to play week in, week out in a winning team that is playing with confidence.
While his natural position is on the right side of defence, he his likely to fill the left wing-back berth – something he is more than capable of doing – with Roberts on the other side.
Ethan Ampadu
The Chelsea youngster is part of a crop of talented young Welsh players who have been tipped to go on and achieve big things in their careers, with his 31 caps at the age of just 21 paying testament to this.
While game time at the Blues has been hard to come by, his various loan moves in the last few seasons have helped to continue his development, with his latest club – Venezia – perhaps being the biggest help so far.
Ampadu has been a regular for the Serie A side this season, featuring almost exclusively in midfield. While he is also more than capable of taking up a place in defence, playing him in the middle of the field allows him to make use of his full array of talents: namely his aerial and passing ability.
Joe Allen
A key cog in the Wales machine for so many years, Joe Allen’s influence on the team has not wained one bit, with his composure in the middle of the pitch vital to allowing the side to keep ticking over.
While his club side, Stoke, have not reached the heights expected of them before the season started, his game time and general performances have been a positive for Wales fans, with the 32-year-old featuring in 33 of the Potters’ 38 games in the Championship to date.
One of the first names of the team sheet, his reassuring presence at the heart of midfield will go a long way towards helping Wales in their quest of reaching the World Cup.
Aaron Ramsey
One of Wales’ most influential players over the last decade or so, Ramsey recently made the decision to join Rangers in the January window in a bid to get more regular game time, with matches hard to come by at Juventus.
While the logic behind the move was understandable, things haven’t panned out as Ramsey and Wales fans would have hoped, with injuries limiting his on-field action.
One positive, though, is that the midfielder has recently returned, and he started in the Gers’ last outing against Dundee on Sunday.
There is no doubt that the 31-year-old will feature from the start for Page’s men tomorrow, with the main question being whether he starts in a more advanced role, or closer to the likes of Allen and Ampadu.
Dan James
The Leeds United flyer has given Wales fans some memorable moments in his 30 outings in red to date.
After breaking onto the scene with some stand-out displays for Swansea City, the winger wowed fans with his pace and general attacking threat, before earning a move to Manchester United.
Despite some promising displays for the Old Trafford side, his career stalled somewhat, with his recent move to Leeds United helping to rebuild his confidence as he features regularly for the Whites.
The 24-year-old has been a regular starter for Wales in recent times, however he is not guaranteed a place in the starting 11 tomorrow night, with Page having to decide whether or not to include the in-form Nottingham Forest winger Brennan Johnson. Formational choices will also have a role to play.
Gareth Bale
And finally, the most important player of all. The build-up to this match has been much the same as it has in the last few years for Wales’ talisman, who has not played nearly enough as he would like for Real Madrid.
However, this has not hindered his performances for his country and, despite some scares over his fitness in the last week or so, it is expected that Wales’ greatest ever player will be in the team from the start tomorrow.
It has been suggested in some places that Bale would be better utilised as an impact player from the bench, but the sheer belief and inspiration he provides means that it is essential to have him on the pitch for as long as possible, and Wales fans will be hoping for more big-game magic from the 32-year-old tomorrow night.
(Featured image: Lewis Mitchell)
