Wales vs Austria LIVE: World Cup play-off result and reaction as Bale double has Wales one game from World Cup

Wales are just two wins away from a place at the 2022 World Cup. They haven’t qualified for the biggest tourament in international football since 1958 despite coming close numerous times.

Gareth Bale says he will use the "hurt" of previous near misses as inspiration for the team as they face Austria in the World Cup play-off semi-final tonight.

Bale was part of the team that lost to Republic of Ireland in 2017 and will be hoping to go one better this time around.

They winner of tonight’s match with play either Scotland or Ukraine in the play-off final. That match has been re-scheduled for June due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Gareth Bale has confirmed he is fully fit and ready to start for Wales despite Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti revealing he missed Sunday’s game against Barcelona because he "didn’t feel well".

Bale has played only two games for Real since his last international appearance in November 2021.

Midfielder Aaron Ramsey is also available after scoring his first goal for Rangers on Sunday since joining the Scottish club on loan from Juventus in January.

However, Wales will be without striker Kieffer Moore, goalkeeper Danny Ward, forward Tyler Roberts and defender James Lawrence because of injury. Midfielder Joe Morrell is suspended.

Austria have recalled Bristol City striker Andreas Weimann after a seven-year absence. Eintracht Frankfurt’s Stefan Ilsanker and Arminia Bielefeld midfielder Alessandro Schopf have also been added.

They replace Hoffenheim’s Florian Grillitsch, Union Berlin defender Christopher Trimmel, centre-back Philipp Lienhart of SC Freiburg and FC Cologne midfielder Dejan Ljubicic.

Lens defender Kevin Danso, formerly of Southampton, had also been added as cover but has since had to pull out with an ankle injury.

Welcome to The Independent’s live coverage as Wales host Austria in the World Cup play-off semi-finals.

Rob Page’s side come into the crucial tie as favourites, having gone seven games unbeaten and finished second in their qualifying group to ensure themselves of home advantage tonight. Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey are both expected to be fit to start, despite limited competitive minutes this season with their clubs, while Brennan Johnson has been in fantastic form for Nottingham Forest this season.

Austria endured an indifferent qualifying campaign, finishing fourth in their group behind Denmark, Scotland and Israel, but their place in play-offs had already been guaranteed thanks to their performance in the Nations League.

The winner of tonight’s tie will face either Scotland or Ukraine in the final, with that semi-final postponed due to Russia’s continued invasion of the latter.