Gareth Bale insists he is 'ready to play' in Wales' World Cup play-off against Austria
Daily MailGareth Bale aims to push Wales a step closer to their first World Cup for 64 years tonight/on Thursday as doubts swirl about his long-term future in top-level football. Few players from these islands are coveted by Spanish football’s big two of Real Madrid and Barcelona but in nearly nine years in Madrid, Bale has won 14 major trophies, including four Champions League titles. Gareth Bale has declared himself fit for Wales' World Cup play-off against Austria Bale is still only 32 but it has felt for some time that Wales’ bid to reach Qatar may prove decisive in his thinking. Everything is fine now, I have no issue.’ Bale dropped out of the Real Madrid squad for Sunday's El Clasico with a little niggle The 32-year-old will start Thursday's play-off semi-final against Austria in Cardiff Whatever the state of relations between Bale and Madrid, the fact remains that he is one of Britain’s finest sporting exports.