Wales star Bale ruled out of crucial World Cup qualifiers
LONDON: Gareth Bale has been ruled out of Wales’s final two crucial World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Ireland, the Football Association of Wales said yesterday.
Bale’s fitness has been a source of concern for the national side since he suffered a calf muscle strain against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League last week.
“The Football Association of Wales can confirm that Gareth Bale will miss the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Republic of Ireland,” said an FAW statement.
“Bale — who missed Real Madrid’s game against Espanyol on Sunday — arrived with the rest of the Wales squad on Sunday and attended Monday’s annual FAW Awards dinner at the team headquarters in Cardiff.
“But following dialogue with Real Madrid, Bale was sent for a scan and results confirmed that he wouldn’t be fit to feature.”
Wales are currently second in Group D, four points behind leaders Serbia and one point above Ireland.
Two wins in the matches on Friday, away to Georgia, and next Monday, at home to Ireland, are likely to guarantee them at least a place in next month’s play-offs for a place in Russia.
Bale’s absence could open the door for Liverpool teenager Ben Woodburn to make his first Wales start.
The 17-year-old made a dramatic introduction last month when he scored the winner within five minutes of coming on as a second-half substitute against Austria.
Meanwhile, Spain and Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata’s hamstring problem could leave him sidelined for several weeks after tests with the national team revealed he has a grade two tear.
Morata had an MRI scan on Sunday after limping off during Chelsea’s 1-0 Premier League home defeat by Manchester City on Saturday.
According to British media reports yesterday, the injury could keep him out for at least six weeks.
Spain manager Julian Lopetegui on Monday called up 36-year-old Athletic Bilbao striker Aritz Aduriz to replace Morata, with the Blues forward missing Spain’s final World Cup 2018 qualifying matches against Albania and Israel.