Gareth Bale brilliance puts Wales one win away from reaching first World Cup in 64 years as much-maligned Real Madrid star proves country’s saviour once more

Gareth Bale was the hero for Wales once again as he scored two stunning goals to put them on the verge of a first World Cup finals appearance in 64 years.

Despite being outcast at Real Madrid, Bale stepped up and delivered a monumental performance to lead his country to a 2-1 win over Austria in their play-off semi-final.

Wales will now play Scotland or Ukraine for a place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

That play-off semi-final is now expected to be played in June, with the final set to follow later the same month.

Bale came into the game against Austria with doubts over his fitness after missing Sunday’s El Clasico between Real Madrid and Barcelona and having been mauled by the Spanish media for his alleged lack of interest at the club.

He also knew that, with his 33rd birthday fast approaching, this year’s World Cup acts as the last chance of him appearing on football’s biggest stage.

But he stood up when his country needed him, extending his own goals record for Wales to 38 in 101 games.

His first goal was a stunning free-kick 25 minutes into the first-half that had pace, power and pinpoint accuracy.

THAT. IS. SENSATIONAL. 😍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

This is world-class from Gareth Bale 👏 pic.twitter.com/DXHMonDMVy

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) March 24, 2022

And early in the second half he doubled Wales’ lead with a sweet strike into the top corner in the box after collecting the ball off teammate Aaron Ramsey.

A goal from Marcel Sabitzer halved Wales’ lead to set up a nervous finish but Rob Page’s men held on to go within 90 minutes of a first World Cup since 1958.

It just had to be Bale, given all the recent noise about his future at Real Madrid.

The 32-year-old is out-of-contract at the Bernabeu this summer and it’s very unlikely he’ll be offered a new deal.

He’s won a bucket load of trophies with Real Madrid, however, his spell at the club hasn’t gone to plan with the fans generally not taking to him during his eight-and-a-half year stay there.

There’s been no reference to Bale’s heroics on Real Madrid’s Twitter account, who have been praising Serbian striker, Luka Jovic, who scored in their clash against Hungary.

Bale is very much a fringe player in the squad, having made just five appearances all season – although injuries have set him back this term and in previous campaigns.

The former Tottenham man missed Real Madrid’s 4-0 humiliation at home to Barcelona, Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti citing Bale ‘not feeling well’ as the reason for his absence.

There were fears he wouldn’t be available for the Wales match but Bale confirmed earlier in the week he would be playing.

It led to a furious backlash in Spain, with Spanish media launching a scathing attack on him – Marca referring to him as a ‘parasite.’

Bale insists the criticism is water off a duck’s back and showed he’s still got plenty to offer on the pitch.

And he could be having the last laugh if he’s representing his nation in Qatar later this year.