TEAM NEWS ' WALES V AUSTRIA ' MATCH THREAD

' World Cup Qualifier '

WALES v AUSTRIA

Saturday 2 September 2017 \ 19:45

Cardiff City Stadium


' WALES TEAM NEWS '

Wales have no fresh injury concerns for Saturday's vital World Cup qualifier against Austria, but midfielders Aaron Ramsey and Joe Ledley might struggle to play the full 90 minutes.

Ramsey has returned to training after a calf knock, while Ledley has not played yet this season as he is unattached.

Wales are without Stoke midfielder Joe Allen and Aston Villa left-back Neil Taylor because of suspensions.



Coleman has some selection issues to address. Midfielder Joe Allen is suspended, as is Neil Taylor. Gareth Bale is back to lead the forward line, while the Wales manager must also decide whether to gamble on starting Joe Ledley.

The midfielder is lacking match fitness and is without a club after being released by Crystal Palace. Ledley is likely to begin the game rather than be used from the bench, with Coleman a big fan of player's impact both on and off the pitch.



' AUSTRIA '

Austria's ex-Cardiff forward Guido Burgstaller is out with a bruised foot.

Stefan Hierlander, of SK Storm Graz, has been called up as the replacement for 11 times capped Burgstaller.





Wales lie third in Group D on eight points, ahead of Austria on goal difference.

Group pacemakers Serbia and Republic of Ireland lead the way on 12 points.



' WALES V AUSTRIA THIS SATURDAY NIGHT '


Full squad

Wayne Hennessey (Crystal Palace)
Danny Ward (Liverpool)
Adam Davies (Barnsley)

Ashley Williams (Everton)
Chris Gunter (Reading)
Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur)
James Chester (Aston Villa)
Neil Taylor (Aston Villa)
Jazz Richards (Cardiff City)
Ethan Ampadu (Chelsea)
James Collins (West Ham United)

Tom Lockyer (Bristol Rovers)
Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal)
Joe Allen (Stoke City)
Joe Ledley (Unattached)
David Edwards (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Lee Evans (Wigan Athletic)
Andy King (Leicester City)
Jonny Williams (Crystal Palace)

Gareth Bale (Real Madrid)
Sam Vokes (Burnley)
Hal Robson-Kanu (West Bromwich Albion)
Tom Lawrence (Derby County)
Marley Watkins (Norwich City)
Ben Woodburn (Liverpool)

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Aaron Ramsey: Wales confident midfielder will shake off calf knock

BBC

30th August 2017

Wales are confident midfielder Aaron Ramsey will be fit to face Austria in Saturday's vital World Cup qualifier at Cardiff City Stadium.

Arsenal's Ramsey, 26, missed Chris Coleman's squad's first training session on Tuesday morning.

He was substituted at half time of Arsenal's 4-0 defeat at Liverpool following a slight calf injury.

However, Football Association of Wales sources say his absence from training was precautionary.

Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale was among a group of Wales players who took part in a lighter session having played for their clubs on Sunday, along with Burnley's Sam Vokes, skipper Ashley Williams and Tottenham defender Ben Davies.

Stoke City midfielder Joe Allen and Aston Villa defender Neil Taylor also trained with the squad despite being suspended for the Austria match.

Both will come into contention for the second part of the World Cup double header, away to Moldova on 5 September.







Ledley working on fitness

Former Crystal Palace midfielder Joe Ledley also took part, with Coleman saying he will do extra work to prove his fitness.

Ledley has not had a pre-season build-up as he seeks a new club.

Wales lie third in Group D on eight points, ahead of Austria on goal difference.

Group pacemakers Serbia and Republic of Ireland lead the way on 12 points.

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Wales last 6 matches


11/06/2017 FIFA World Cup European Qualifying Group D
1 - 1 v Serbia (a)
24/03/2017 FIFA World Cup European Qualifying Group D
0 - 0 v Rep Ire (a)
12/11/2016 FIFA World Cup European Qualifying Group D
1 - 1 v Serbia (h)
09/10/2016 FIFA World Cup European Qualifying Group D
1 - 1 v Georgia (h)
06/10/2016 FIFA World Cup European Qualifying Group D
2 - 2 v Austria (a)
05/09/2016 FIFA World Cup European Qualifying Group D
4 - 0 v Moldova (h)

Austria last 6 matches


11/06/2017 FIFA World Cup European Qualifying Group D
1 - 1 v Rep Ire (a)
28/03/2017 International Match
1 - 1 v Finland (h)
24/03/2017 FIFA World Cup European Qualifying Group D
2 - 0 v Moldova (h)
15/11/2016 International Match
0 - 0 v Slovakia (h)
12/11/2016 FIFA World Cup European Qualifying Group D
0 - 1 v Rep Ire (h)
09/10/2016 FIFA World Cup European Qualifying Group D
2 - 3 v Serbia (a)

Hard to call this one really, hoping for a 2-1 win but get the feeling will be a dull draw 0-0

Have to win to have any chance looking forward to going to Moldova on Sunday think we need at least 10 points from the last 4 games in order to have a chance of finishing second in the group.

TEAM NEWS

Wales have no fresh injury concerns for Saturday's vital World Cup qualifier against Austria, but midfielders Aaron Ramsey and Joe Ledley might struggle to play the full 90 minutes.

Ramsey has returned to training after a calf knock, while Ledley has not played yet this season as he is unattached.

Wales are without Stoke midfielder Joe Allen and Aston Villa left-back Neil Taylor because of suspensions.

Austria's ex-Cardiff forward Guido Burgstaller is out with a bruised foot.

Stefan Hierlander, of SK Storm Graz, has been called up as the replacement for 11 times capped Burgstaller.

MATCH PREVIEW

There will be little room for error when third-placed Wales take on an Austrian side who are fourth, but only trail Chris Coleman's men on goal difference.

Both teams are four points behind Group D's joint leaders Serbia and the Republic of Ireland with four games left.

Only the nine group winners qualify automatically for next year's World Cup in Russia, while the eight best group runners-up will enter the play-offs.


Coleman has previously said Wales need to win their remaining four fixtures to have any hope of topping the group, and Austria will be similarly desperate for victory at Cardiff City Stadium.

"I don't think either team is going into the game looking for a draw," Coleman said.

"Both teams are capable of scoring goals with good, exciting players. I think it will be open and a great game.

"A draw doesn't do either of us any good so you would imagine something will have to give.

"This was always going to be a tight group, the teams are very similar and four teams are very strong.

" I feel it will go right to the wire."

Wales have not lost a competitive home game since 2013, when they were beaten by Serbia.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

Wales have won two of their previous nine meetings with Austria, drawing two and losing five.

Chris Coleman scored on his debut for Wales in a 1-1 draw against Austria in Vienna in 1992.

The last time Wales played Austria at home, a friendly at Swansea's Liberty Stadium in 2013, Coleman's side won 2-1.

Coleman has some selection issues to address. Midfielder Joe Allen is suspended, as is Neil Taylor. Gareth Bale is back to lead the forward line, while the Wales manager must also decide whether to gamble on starting Joe Ledley.

The midfielder is lacking match fitness and is without a club after being released by Crystal Palace. Ledley is likely to begin the game rather than be used from the bench, with Coleman a big fan of player's impact both on and off the pitch.

Allen is a big miss for us our midfield looks weak think its gunna be a draw 1-1 thus ending our qualfying hopes but I hope i'm wrong
My team

Hennesey
,
Gunter
Williams
Chester
Davies
Jazz

Ledley
Edwards
Ramsey

Bale
Vokes

Hal for the super sub hopefully

Players one game away from a ban: Ashley Williams, Joe Ledley, Ben Davies, Jazz Richards and Aaron Ramsey.

Watching Wales now. I'm in a bar

Massive win! Within 2 points of Ireland now who play league league leaders Serbia next!

Could have scored three in injury time!

IMG_6645.PNG

Were back in the hunt!

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Haven't seen any of the game but it was must win to keep the pressure on. Still to play Ireland home as well?

Haven't seen any of the game but it was must win to keep the pressure on. Still to play Ireland home as well?

Last game I think.

Looking at fixtures . Wales could and should be top probably by a point going into last game against ireland. Assuming a draw in the ireland v serbia game.
Cant see anything but 3 wales wins if im honest anything else would be a disapointment.

Looking at fixtures . Wales could and should be top probably by a point going into last game against ireland. Assuming a draw in the ireland v serbia game.
Cant see anything but 3 wales wins if im honest anything else would be a disapointment.

no chance mate you're forgetting when we play Georgia, Ireland have Moldova and Serbia have Austria. I think we can realistically only get second.

My predictions:

Moldova v Wales - Wales win
Austria v Georgia - draw
Ireland v Serbia - draw

Georgia v Wales - Wales win
Austria v Serbia - draw
Ireland v Moldova - Ireland win

Moldova v Austria - draw
Serbia v Georgia - Serbia win

If I'm correct, this will be the final table.

Serbia 20
Wales 17
Ireland 17
Austria 11
Georgia 5
Moldova 3

On to Wales v Ireland - a Wales win would see us through to be level with Serbia (20pts). If we have a superior goal difference by then, we top the group. If not, we get to the playoffs

A draw would see us both on 18 points, and we should have a better GD than Ireland, so we get playoffs.

An Ireland win would see us miss out.

So,

Fingers crossed!

Looking at fixtures . Wales could and should be top probably by a point going into last game against ireland. Assuming a draw in the ireland v serbia game.
Cant see anything but 3 wales wins if im honest anything else would be a disapointment.

no chance mate you're forgetting when we play Georgia, Ireland have Moldova and Serbia have Austria. I think we can realistically only get second.

My predictions:

Moldova v Wales - Wales win
Austria v Georgia - draw
Ireland v Serbia - draw

Georgia v Wales - Wales win
Austria v Serbia - draw
Ireland v Moldova - Ireland win

Moldova v Austria - draw
Serbia v Georgia - Serbia win

If I'm correct, this will be the final table.

Serbia 20
Wales 17
Ireland 17
Austria 11
Georgia 5
Moldova 3

On to Wales v Ireland - a Wales win would see us through to be level with Serbia (20pts). If we have a superior goal difference by then, we top the group. If not, we get to the playoffs

A draw would see us both on 18 points, and we should have a better GD than Ireland, so we get playoffs.

An Ireland win would see us miss out.

So,

Fingers crossed!

I think ireland will draw with serbia ( we will beat moldova ) leaving us 2 points off top

Serbia will draw/lose to austria who are a very good team at home. Ireland are twitching. Even if they scrape a win against moldova which i wouldnt bet on we will have a straight shootout for top place against ireland in the last game. I think serbia will fall off next two games

Who would predict we would draw so many games. I don't think we have been at it tbh and we need to improve to qualify. Which qualifies? Is it first then some of the seconds?

Who would predict we would draw so many games. I don't think we have been at it tbh and we need to improve to qualify. Which qualifies? Is it first then some of the seconds?

All but the worst second placed team when points against the the teams who finished last in the groups are removed qualify for the playoffs. Gunna be some tough games in that with Italy for example being in it. We need to win our last 3 games and hope that Ireland and Serbia draw on Tuesday and then Austria beat Serbia on the next match day thus meaning we finish top and avoid the playoffs.