Preview: Wales vs. Austria - prediction, team news, lineups

Wales and Austria will resume their efforts to qualify for the 2022 World Cup on Thursday evening with their semi-final playoff tie in Cardiff.

Whoever prevails will set up a showdown with either Scotland or Ukraine, but that final will be played at a later date due to Russia's military invasion of the latter.

Match preview

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Having been drawn in a group alongside Belgium, the best that Wales could realistically hope for was a spot in the World Cup playoffs, and Robert Page deserves huge credit for getting his team over the line.

Their efforts in the UEFA Nations League had already guaranteed a playoff spot, but edging out Czech Republic for second spot ensured that they secured home advantage for Thursday's semi-final.

The Dragons posted a record of two wins and two draws on familiar territory in Group E and although one of those stalemates came at home to Estonia, the fact that they avoided defeat to Belgium and Czech Republic highlights the potential importance of playing their upcoming fixture in Cardiff.

Last time out, Wales posted a 1-1 draw with the former, extending their unbeaten record to seven matches and making it just two defeats in 12 outings, both of which came at Euro 2020.

The fitness doubts over talisman Gareth Bale is an obvious talking point, the 32-year-old playing just 77 minutes of competitive football since November, but this united group will back themselves to set up a final with Scotland or Ukraine regardless of the performance of the Real Madrid forward.

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Nevertheless, there are injuries to other key men in the Welsh camp, and that is something that Austria will look to feed off as they bid to cause what would be regarded as an upset.

Although Unsere Burschen have their qualities, this is a team which finished fourth in a group behind Denmark, Scotland and Israel, only sealing their place due to their performances in the Nations League.

Franco Foda's team ended their qualification campaign with home victories over Israel and Moldova, scoring eight goals in the process but conceding three of their own, and that is the only time during 2021 that they posted successive wins.

Marko Arnautovic netted three times during that double-header and with nine strikes coming in Serie A this campaign, he represents the obvious danger to the Wales backline.

Team News

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While Bale is expected to take his place in attack, Wales are without Danny Ward and Kieffer Moore through injury and Joe Morrell through suspension.

Second-choice goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey should deputise between the sticks, with Ethan Ampadu back in contention replace Morrell.

With Aaron Ramsey likely to get the nod in a creative role further forward, Dan James should feature ahead of Harry Wilson and Brennan Johnson in the final spot in the front three.

Despite playing in the wins over Israel and Moldova, Philipp Lienhart may drop out of the Austria backline to allow Aleksandar Dragovic and Martin Hinteregger to resume their partnership.

Goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann will hope to retain his spot, despite his lack of game time for Watford, while Louis Schaub will expect to feature after impressing in the most recent double-header.

Wales possible starting lineup:

Hennessey; Mepham, Rodon, Davies; Roberts, Ampadu, Allen, N. Williams; Ramsey; James, Bale

Austria possible starting lineup:

Bachmann; Trimmel, Dragovic, Hinteregger, Alaba; Laimer, Grillitsch; Schaub, Sabitzer, Baumgartner; Arnautovic

We say: Wales 2-1 Austria

This can only be a close game, surely. Both teams have their pros and cons, and it should make for a nerve-wracking 90 minutes, potentially even longer. However, with a home crowd behind them, we feel that Wales will eventually get the job done, perhaps with a winner in the closing stages.