Live match preview – Wales vs Ukraine 05.06.2022

Wales manager Rob Page believes Gareth Bale will be ready for Sunday’s World Cup play-off final against Ukraine after sitting out Wednesday’s Nations League clash in Poland.

Live on Sky Sports, the Welsh have the chance to make their first World Cup finals appearance in 64 years when they take on Ukraine, who won 3-1 in their play-off semi-final against Scotland in Glasgow on Wednesday.

Wales lost away in Poland the same day at the start of the new Nations League campaign, letting slip a first-half lead in Wroclaw but also resting key players with the play-off final in mind.

Bale, who confirmed earlier this week he will leave Real Madrid this summer after a nine-year spell in Spain, has battled with injury again this season and had limited playing time.

“It was always part of the plan coming in,” Page said. “With the senior players, we ask them what they need to get in the best place for game day. He’s got a plan in place, and he didn’t want to veer away from that.

“I’ve learnt one thing as Wales manager, that if you want your best players on the pitch, you’ve got to be able to adapt. They’ve never let me down.”

Page will also welcome back the likes of Ben Davies and Aaron Ramsey for what will be a tough encounter with a place in Qatar at stake, with Ukraine riding a wave of support amid Russia’s invasion of their country.

“I thought they gave a great account of themselves against Scotland,” Page said.

“We’ve analysed the game and Ukraine pose a threat. They’re there for a reason, they’re a good outfit. Irrespective of what they’ve been through to get here.”

Wales’ only previous World Cup finals appearance was in Sweden in 1958 where they lost to Brazil in the quarter-finals.

“We’re all excited,” Page added. “The atmosphere in the training ground, you can see what they’re all about as a group. We understand the importance, but we’ve got a plan in place and it’s about trusting the plan now.”

Wales at full strength for crunch game

Sky Sports News senior reporter Geraint Hughes:

Wales manager Robert Page has a few headaches to resolve ahead of kick-off against Ukraine, but fortunately it has nothing to do with any injury concerns within the squad. Every player at his disposal is fit, although whether they are ready for up to 120 minutes, nobody quite knows.

Wales’ defence pretty much picks itself, so the area of debate is exactly how Page sets up his attacking threats. Does he begin the game against Ukraine as he did against Austria in the semi-final? That is with Harry Wilson linking with Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey and Dan James, or does he bring back Kieffer Moore now the Bournemouth striker is fully fit? It also won’t be lost on any of Wales’ backroom staff who have analysed Ukraine that goalkeeper Heorhiy Bushchan wasn’t the most secure in certain situations against Scotland on Wednesday.

Page has other options now as well, with Brennan Johnson’s form for Nottingham Forest elevating him into the reckoning. As far as Ukraine will be concerned he’s a bit of an unknown quality. Wales have some strength in depth with attacking formations which, if the game is tight, will come in very handy.

Defensively it’s perhaps an easier selection. Ben Davies has been a mainstay of Tottenham’s defence under Antonio Conte and is a key senior figure for Wales. Although Davies’ Tottenham team-mate Joe Rodon hasn’t had as many minutes on the pitch at Spurs as he’d like, Rodon told me earlier this week that he’s fit and ready to go – as is Ethan Ampadu. With Conor Roberts and Neco Williams surely shoo-ins at wing-back, it’s about as strong a side as possible for Wales, who will also be able to draw on the backing of the home crowd inside the Cardiff City Stadium.

Wales are under no illusion that Ukraine are a very good side – they won’t take them lightly, and they’ll know that for periods of the game Ukraine will have controlled possession. Patience will be needed, along with the ability to take that potentially golden opportunity when it comes to score.

It’s going to be a close game. Both sides want to win, and not just to get to a World Cup. For Ukraine it’s obvious given the tragic events in their country and the boost any Ukraine victory gives the nation. For Wales, it’s the chance to get to a World Cup for the first time in 64 years and in doing so exorcise some ghosts of near misses in 1977, 1985 and 1993 where Wales somehow fell at the final hurdle.

Opta stats – Wales must end Ukraine hoodoo

• Wales have never beaten Ukraine in three previous meetings (D2 L1), losing the most recent one 1-0 in March 2016 in a friendly in Donetsk.
• Ukraine’s only previous match against Wales on Welsh soil was in a 2002 World Cup qualifier in March 2001, drawing 1-1 with Andriy Shevchenko cancelling out a John Hartson goal. Current Wales manager Rob Page played the full 90 minutes that day.
• Wales are looking to qualify for their first World Cup since 1958, which they qualified for with a play-off victory over Israel (4-0 on aggregate).
• Ukraine are looking to qualify for a World Cup via a play-off for the first time, having failed to reach the tournament on each of the four previous times they’ve featured in the play-offs (1997 vs Croatia, 2001 vs Germany, 2009 vs Greece, 2013 vs France).
• Should Wales qualify, it would represent the biggest gap between qualifying for a World Cup tournament, with their last appearance coming at the 1958 finals, 64 years ago.
• Ukraine are yet to lose in qualifying for the 2022 World Cup and are unbeaten in all nine games (W3 D6). Indeed, the Ukrainians didn’t lose any of their eight games in qualifying for EURO 2020 and are one of only two European nations to have lost none of their matches in qualifying for the last two major tournaments, along with Belgium (18 games unbeaten).

What is the World Cup group draw?

The 2022 World Cup will begin with 32 teams in eight groups of four:

• Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands
• Group B: England, Iran, USA, Ukraine/Wales
• Group C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland
• Group D: France, Australia/UAE/Peru, Denmark, Tunisia
• Group E: Spain, Costa Rica/New Zealand, Germany, Japan
• Group F: Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia
• Group G: Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon
• Group H: Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea

Wales vs Ukraine: How to follow

As well as watching the match live on Sky Sports, you will also be able to follow our live blog across the Sky Sports App and website, where we will have free in-game clips of all the goals and key moments, and free highlights shortly after full-time.