The 32-year-old attacker led Wales to the play-off final with two goals. The Real Madrid player fired a free kick into the crossbar in the first half flawlessly. In the second half he again found the net with his strong left leg, this time from the turn after a corner. Thanks to an own goal from Tottenham Hotspur defender Ben Davies, it became exciting in the last half hour, but no goals were scored.
Bale’s performance was remarkable. The 32-year-old Welshman will hardly play at Real this year. Partly due to various injuries, he trotted only five times for The Royal. In Madrid, the man, who won the Champions League with the club four times, is no longer in the plans in recent years.
Wales will face Scotland or Ukraine in the final. The duel between those two countries has been moved to June because of the Russian invasion.
Wales failed to qualify for a World Cup since 1958.
Sweden
Sweden and the Czech Republic will face each other on Thursday in the Friends Arena in Solna, where Ajax lost the Europa League final to Manchester United in 2017. After 90 minutes it was still 0-0.
The winner will face Poland on March 29. That country would play against Russia, but due to the suspension of the Russians, Poland automatically advanced to the final.
Former Willem II player Alexander Isak is disappointed with a missed opportunity for Sweden.
Ⓒ ANP/HH