Bale out of final Wales qualifiers

GARETH BALE has been ruled out of Wales’s final two qualifiers in a huge blow to his country’s hopes of reaching the 2018 World Cup. The Real Madrid forward has pulled out of Chris Coleman’s squad after a scan revealed more damage to his strained calf than expected. Bale missed Real’s game against Espanyol on Sunday but Zinedine Zidane said he’d be fit for Wales. Although he sat out training after arriving in Cardiff on Monday, Bale attended the annual FAW awards night and Wales staff were confident he would be fit. Dialogue with Real and a further test delivered a negative outcome yesterday morning. The importance of Bale’s absence cannot be understated: Wales have not won without their talisman since 2013, drawing three and losing three. Wales travel to Tbilisi today for Friday’s match in Georgia, then play the Republic of Ireland on Monday in Cardiff. They realistically need four points to secure second place in the group.