World Cup News

GARETH BALE hit back at Spanish press who labelled him a “parasite” – saying “they should be ashamed.”Wales secured their place in the World Cup play-off final on March 29 with a 2-1 win over Path A favourites Austria.
Gareth Bale hit back at the Spanish press after his match-winning performance against WalesCredit: PA
And Real Madrid outcast Bale produced the goods for his country AGAIN, scoring an stunning free-kick before striking again in the second half to extend Wales’ lead.
Marcel Sabitzer pulled one back for the visitors, but Austria were unable to muster a second – bowing out of the World Cup qualifiers.
Wales will now face either Scotland or Ukraine – who play in June – for a place at the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
Bale was not fit for Sunday’s El Clasico thrashing at the hands of Barcelona – but was fit enough to play for his country.
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Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-i1acvs:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Wales 2 Austria 1 .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Watch Bale’s STUNNING dipping free-kick fire Dragons closer to World Cup
And Spanish media have since savaged Bale with headlines including ‘The Miracle of Wales’ and ‘It doesn’t hurt any more’ while the out-of-favour star was also mocked up as a ‘parasite’.
Bale said: “No. I don’t need to send a message, honestly. It’s a waste of my time.
“It’s disgusting and they should be shamed of themselves. I’m not fussed  – end of.”
And Bale is ready to wind his continental critics up even more as he admitted he is ready to “run into the ground” for his country.
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On the win over Austria, he added: “It was a massive game.
“We spoke about how we needed to perform and we knew we needed to dig in deep and look at our experience in big  games. It’s the perfect scenario.
“I can always hit a free-kick if I’m able to play. Nice to see it go in and give us that momentum. The second one was nice as well.
“I had some cramp at the end but I’ll run into the ground for this country and we all did that.”
The Welsh hero insists the job is not finished, with either Scotland or Ukraine left to play before fans can dream of a December trip to the Middle East.
But Bale insists he and his team-mates will be ready when the time comes to fire Wales to their first World Cup tournament since 1958.
He admitted: “It’s half the job done but we’ll enjoy this.
“There is still another tough game against either Scotland or Ukraine and we will be ready for that when it comes.”
Marca’s front page read ‘now it doesn’t hurt’ after Bale’s recovery to play for Wales More

DIOGO JOTA helped send Portugal into the play-off final – by the skin of their teeth.The hosts looked like they had an iron grip on the game when the Liverpool striker slotted home his 42nd minute header after Otavio broke the deadlock. 
Porto’s Otavio scored the opener as Portugal reached the World Cup play-off finalCredit: GETTY
Diogo Jota scored a sensational header at the back postCredit: GETTY
The Liverpool man stepped up as Cristiano Ronaldo had an unusual off-night in his country’s coloursCredit: GETTY
Matheus Nunes killed the game off in added timeCredit: REUTERS

But veteran Turkey striker Burak Yilmaz went from hero to villain by clawing one back then MISSING a crucial last-gasp penalty. 
Cristiano Ronaldo had a hand in the first-two goals but was in a strop throughout the night for missing a string of golden chances. 
And to make matters worse for the Manchester United icon, it was Matheus Nunes who spared his country’s blushes with a precious third goal in the last kick of the game. 
Portugal were in the driving seat early on and Bruno Fernandes whipped a peach of a free-kick into the box but Jota skied the sitter from three-yards. 
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Otavio made up for the Liverpool man’s blunder with a sweetly struck opener 15 minutes in. 
It all began with Ronaldo’s charging run down the right flank before he teed up Jota who linked up with Bernardo Silva. 
The Manchester City star rattled the far post with a rasping shot before the ball fell to Otavio to sweep home the rebound for his first competitive goal for Portugal. 
Turkey finally woke up and Berkan Kutlu fired a warning shot with a header into the side netting, fractions away from goal. 
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The steady hands of Diogo Costa then did well to keep out a fierce, low drive from Orkun Kokcu. 
The hosts hit back strongly and Manchester United midfielder Fernandes whipped in another inch-perfect free-kick but Ronaldo overshot his run and blazed his header wide. 
A razor sharp move from Ronaldo and Otavia then led to Jota doubling the lead with a thunderbolt header on 42 minutes and his ninth international goal.
But Turkey had a spring in their step after the restart and it was only a matter of time before they rained on Portugal’s parade. 
It fell to Yilmaz to hand the visitors a lifeline with his 31st goal for his country on 65 minutes as he latched onto Cengiz Under’s cute through ball and rifled home.
Tempers flared late on when Jose Fonte hacked Enes Unal down with an outstretched leg. 
The penalty shout was initially turned down before referee Daniel Siebert who went to check the pitchside monitor and then pointed to the spot. 
Yilmaz stepped up – but Fonte thanked his lucky stars when the normally ice-cool finisher blazed over the bar. 
Portugal dominated play
But in the final seconds Nunes put it beyond the visitor’s reach with a red hot finish following Rafael Leao’s through ball on 94 minutes.
Portugal will face underdogs North Macedonia in the play-off final after Euro 2020 winners Italy were STUNNED in added time.
Aleksandar Trajkovski fired into the bottom left corner to set up a date with Portugal on March 29. More

WALES and European champions Italy will fail to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar – a supercomputer has predicted. Rob Page’s Wales are looking to qualify for the highly anticipated tournament for the first time since 1958.
wales have not played in a World Cup since 1958Credit: REUTERS
Euro 2020 winners Italy are predicted to miss this year’s World Cup
But they face a tough route to Qatar, having to face favourites Austria in the play-off semi-final.
But should Wales upset the favourites from Path A, they will go on to face either Scotland or Ukraine in the final.
However, Scotland and Ukraine’s match has been pushed back to June due to to Russian invasion.
Like Wales, Euro 2020 winners Italy are predicted to sit out this winter’s spectacle whilst favourites Portugal – spearheaded by Cristiano Ronaldo – go through.
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Qatar could be Manchester United forward Ronaldo’s last World Cup.
The 37-year-old icon told beIN Sports: “I expect Qatar could be my final World Cup. I often go on holidays there, to Qatar as well as Dubai.
“I am happy because for sure it will be last international tournament.”
By the time the next major international tournament comes around in 2024, Ronaldo will be 39.
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But they would have to get past Turkey in the semis and then either Italy or North Macedonia on March 29.
The supercomputer also predicts that the 2021 Ballon d’Or runner-up Robert Lewandowski will be in Qatar.
Poland are in the play-off Path B.
They’re favourites to qualify, ahead of Sweden and the Czech Republic.
Once the winners from Path B and C are determined, they’ll learn who their group stage opponents on April 1.
The teams have been divided into four pots owing to their current Fifa ranking.
Hosts Qatar will be in Pot 1 alongside the top seven seeds, which includes England. More