Former Wales striker Simon Church on BBC Radio Wales
What I can say about the atmosphere is that it's incredible, this will help them throughout the game.
Post update
Wales 0-0 Austria
Sam Vokes
Wales and Wycombe striker on BBC Radio 5 Live
The defence opened up a bit too easy there. I don’t know if that’s early-match nerves. He should
have scored.
Post update
Wales 0-0 Austria
Sam Ricketts
Former Wales defender on BBC Radio 5 Live
He should have scored. We thought Dan James had a good chance, this was even
better. Neco Williams deserves credit to put him off at the last minute.
CLOSE!
Wales 0-0 Austria
What a start we've had!
Wales close again as Daniel James - who can't be contained so far - crosses and Aaron Ramsey is inches away from converting.
So so close.
CLOSE!
Wales 0-0 Austria
What a let off for Wales!
Marcel Sabitzer splits them apart and Christoph Baumgartner races clear, but his shot smashes the crossbar and bounces away.
How did he get in so easily?!
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Post update
Wales 0-0 Austria
Nathan Blake
Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Wales
Good start from Wales, especially Dan James. Good pressing from Connor Roberts and the shot from Dan James is good, just needs to be a bit lower.
Post update
Wales 0-0 Austria
What an encouraging start for Wales, they are pressing Austria all over the pitch, the visitors can't settle.
Post update
Wales 0-0 Austria
A chance!
Connor Roberts presses David Alaba - of all people - into losing the ball and Daniel James is quickly onto it, but his shot is held by Heinz Lindner.
KICK-OFF
Wales 0-0 Austria
Polish referee Szymon Marciniak gets us under way here at
a raucous Cardiff City Stadium.
The players all took a knee.
Post update
Wales v Austria (19:45 GMT)
Nathan Blake
Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Wales
I'd expect Wales to go on and win this game. It will be a tight affair, but I think they'll win the game.
I'm smiling all day because I feel there's a result at the end of this match tonight.
Post update
Wales v Austria (19:45 GMT)
A nice moment as Wales fans hold up blue and yellow cards in a show of support for Ukraine.
Then the national anthem... just incredible.
Dafydd Pritchard/BBCCopyright: Dafydd Pritchard/BBC
Post update
Wales v Austria (19:45 GMT)
Simon Church
Former Wales striker Simon Church on BBC Radio Wales
There are a lot of players that are desperate to get to the World Cup but I think if Gareth Bale were to take us there, it would probably be his biggest achievement.
Big match stats
Wales v Austria (19:45 GMT)
● Wales
are unbeaten in their last three matches against Austria (W2 D1), winning 1-0
in the most recent meeting in September 2017 in a World Cup qualifier.
● Austria
are looking for their first away win against Wales since a March 2005 World Cup
qualifier under Hans Krankl, winning 2-0 at the Millennium Stadium with goals
from Ivica Vastić and Martin Stranzl.
● This
is Wales’ first World Cup play-off match since 1958, when they eliminated
Israel over two legs, winning 2-0 in both legs and 4-0 on aggregate.
● Austria’s
two World Cup play-off campaigns have seen them eliminated – they lost 2-1 to
Sweden in a single game in November 1973 and 6-0 on aggregate against Turkey in
November 2001.
● Wales
are unbeaten in their last 16 home matches in all competitions (W11 D5), their
longest unbeaten run on home soil in their history. They have only conceded
five goals in these 16 games and never more than once in this run (11 clean
sheets).
● Austria
have netted four goals in each of their last two games, a 4-2 win over Israel
and 4-1 win over Moldova. The Austrians last scored 4+ goals in three games in
a row in April/May 1927, although Wales haven’t shipped four goals at home in a
competitive international since a 5-1 defeat to Slovakia back in October 2006.
● Gareth
Bale has been directly involved in more Wales goals than any other player in
2022 World Cup qualifying (3 goals, 3 assists). Across the last three World Cup
qualifying campaigns, Bale has been involved in 42% of Wales’ 36 goals (11
goals, 4 assists).
Wales come into this match on the longest unbeaten home run in their history.
Wales are unbeaten in their last 16 home games (11 wins, five draws), conceding only five goals in the process.
When I posted this stat on Twitter last night, the reaction from Wales fans was almost entirely along the lines of: "You've cursed it now!"
I'm not saying 64 years of hurt have instilled an inherent pessimism but...
Bale a 'super cool' person, says Alaba
Wales v Austria (19:45 GMT)
Two potentially key players tonight, Gareth Bale and David Alaba, are team-mates at Real Madrid.
Wales captain Bale joked yesterday that he has been avoiding Alaba during training sessions in Madrid so the Austria defender or midfielder can't "kick" him.
Bale also spoke of his friendship with the former Bayern Munich player, and the respect seems to be mutual.
“He
is a really super cool person outside of the pitch and great on the pitch as
well," says Alaba.
“We have a very good relationship. We talk a lot in English.
“We talked about the game now and then and joked about it.
“He is looking forward to the match and I am too. I think it will be very interesting.
“He can decide games himself and is not always easy to be stopped.
“I expect Wales to be aggressive and we have to be really awake for the match.”
'Not a lot of excitement about this Austria side'
Wales v Austria (19:45 GMT)
BBC Radio 5 Live
Austrian journalist Tom Middler: "It was initially seen as a positive draw in Austria - avoiding Italy and Portugal. And the final will be played in Vienna if they win.
"When the dust settled and they looked more closely at Wales they realised it will be a
tough, close game.
"It’s been quiet in Austria. There hasn’t been much in the papers about
this game. It’s probably been very different to Cardiff. There’s not a lot of excitement about
this Austria side. Fans are excited about some generational
talents playing at a high level but the coach has defensive tendencies."
Zombie Nation... the other national anthem
Wales v Austria (19:45 GMT)
The lights are out and the unofficial national anthem of Welsh football is belting out.
Zombie Nation.
Austria look to end 24-year World Cup wait
Wales v Austria (19:45 GMT)
While Wales are in the World Cup play-offs courtesy of a second-placed finish - behind Belgium - in their qualifying group, Austria owe their place to success in the Nations League.
The Austrians finished a disappointing fourth in their World Cup qualifying group, behind Denmark, Scotland and Israel.
But Franco Foda's team are still in with a chance of reaching a first World Cup since 1998 having secured a play-off place by winning their Nations League group.
They head into this game on the back of three wins in their last four World Cup qualifiers - although the victories came against Moldova, Isreal and the Faroe Islands.
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Post update
Wales v Austria (19:45 GMT)
Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales at Cardiff City Stadium
There are more Wales fans than usual at the Cardiff City Stadium tonight, with Austria returning some of their tickets, which have then been snapped up by Wales' supporters.
The few hundred Austrians who are here are making a good noise, though.
Live Reporting
Michael Pearlman
All times stated are UK
Post update
Wales 0-0 Austria
Simon Church
Former Wales striker Simon Church on BBC Radio Wales
What I can say about the atmosphere is that it's incredible, this will help them throughout the game.
Post update
Wales 0-0 Austria
Sam Vokes
Wales and Wycombe striker on BBC Radio 5 Live
The defence opened up a bit too easy there. I don’t know if that’s early-match nerves. He should have scored.
Post update
Wales 0-0 Austria
Sam Ricketts
Former Wales defender on BBC Radio 5 Live
He should have scored. We thought Dan James had a good chance, this was even better. Neco Williams deserves credit to put him off at the last minute.
CLOSE!
Wales 0-0 Austria
What a start we've had!
Wales close again as Daniel James - who can't be contained so far - crosses and Aaron Ramsey is inches away from converting.
So so close.
CLOSE!
Wales 0-0 Austria
What a let off for Wales!
Marcel Sabitzer splits them apart and Christoph Baumgartner races clear, but his shot smashes the crossbar and bounces away.
How did he get in so easily?!
Post update
Wales 0-0 Austria
Nathan Blake
Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Wales
Good start from Wales, especially Dan James. Good pressing from Connor Roberts and the shot from Dan James is good, just needs to be a bit lower.
Post update
Wales 0-0 Austria
What an encouraging start for Wales, they are pressing Austria all over the pitch, the visitors can't settle.
Post update
Wales 0-0 Austria
A chance!
Connor Roberts presses David Alaba - of all people - into losing the ball and Daniel James is quickly onto it, but his shot is held by Heinz Lindner.
KICK-OFF
Wales 0-0 Austria
Polish referee Szymon Marciniak gets us under way here at a raucous Cardiff City Stadium.
The players all took a knee.
Post update
Wales v Austria (19:45 GMT)
Nathan Blake
Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Wales
I'd expect Wales to go on and win this game. It will be a tight affair, but I think they'll win the game.
I'm smiling all day because I feel there's a result at the end of this match tonight.
Post update
Wales v Austria (19:45 GMT)
A nice moment as Wales fans hold up blue and yellow cards in a show of support for Ukraine.
Then the national anthem... just incredible.
Post update
Wales v Austria (19:45 GMT)
Simon Church
Former Wales striker Simon Church on BBC Radio Wales
There are a lot of players that are desperate to get to the World Cup but I think if Gareth Bale were to take us there, it would probably be his biggest achievement.
Big match stats
Wales v Austria (19:45 GMT)
● Wales are unbeaten in their last three matches against Austria (W2 D1), winning 1-0 in the most recent meeting in September 2017 in a World Cup qualifier.
● Austria are looking for their first away win against Wales since a March 2005 World Cup qualifier under Hans Krankl, winning 2-0 at the Millennium Stadium with goals from Ivica Vastić and Martin Stranzl.
● This is Wales’ first World Cup play-off match since 1958, when they eliminated Israel over two legs, winning 2-0 in both legs and 4-0 on aggregate.
● Austria’s two World Cup play-off campaigns have seen them eliminated – they lost 2-1 to Sweden in a single game in November 1973 and 6-0 on aggregate against Turkey in November 2001.
● Wales are unbeaten in their last 16 home matches in all competitions (W11 D5), their longest unbeaten run on home soil in their history. They have only conceded five goals in these 16 games and never more than once in this run (11 clean sheets).
● Austria have netted four goals in each of their last two games, a 4-2 win over Israel and 4-1 win over Moldova. The Austrians last scored 4+ goals in three games in a row in April/May 1927, although Wales haven’t shipped four goals at home in a competitive international since a 5-1 defeat to Slovakia back in October 2006.
● Gareth Bale has been directly involved in more Wales goals than any other player in 2022 World Cup qualifying (3 goals, 3 assists). Across the last three World Cup qualifying campaigns, Bale has been involved in 42% of Wales’ 36 goals (11 goals, 4 assists).
Post update
Wales v Austria (19:45 GMT)
Superstitious? Wales fans?
Wales v Austria (19:45 GMT)
Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales at Cardiff City Stadium
Wales come into this match on the longest unbeaten home run in their history.
Wales are unbeaten in their last 16 home games (11 wins, five draws), conceding only five goals in the process.
When I posted this stat on Twitter last night, the reaction from Wales fans was almost entirely along the lines of: "You've cursed it now!"
I'm not saying 64 years of hurt have instilled an inherent pessimism but...
Bale a 'super cool' person, says Alaba
Wales v Austria (19:45 GMT)
Two potentially key players tonight, Gareth Bale and David Alaba, are team-mates at Real Madrid.
Wales captain Bale joked yesterday that he has been avoiding Alaba during training sessions in Madrid so the Austria defender or midfielder can't "kick" him.
Bale also spoke of his friendship with the former Bayern Munich player, and the respect seems to be mutual.
“He is a really super cool person outside of the pitch and great on the pitch as well," says Alaba.
“We have a very good relationship. We talk a lot in English.
“We talked about the game now and then and joked about it.
“He is looking forward to the match and I am too. I think it will be very interesting.
“He can decide games himself and is not always easy to be stopped.
“I expect Wales to be aggressive and we have to be really awake for the match.”
'Not a lot of excitement about this Austria side'
Wales v Austria (19:45 GMT)
BBC Radio 5 Live
Austrian journalist Tom Middler: "It was initially seen as a positive draw in Austria - avoiding Italy and Portugal. And the final will be played in Vienna if they win.
"When the dust settled and they looked more closely at Wales they realised it will be a tough, close game.
"It’s been quiet in Austria. There hasn’t been much in the papers about this game. It’s probably been very different to Cardiff. There’s not a lot of excitement about this Austria side. Fans are excited about some generational talents playing at a high level but the coach has defensive tendencies."
Zombie Nation... the other national anthem
Wales v Austria (19:45 GMT)
The lights are out and the unofficial national anthem of Welsh football is belting out.
Zombie Nation.
Austria look to end 24-year World Cup wait
Wales v Austria (19:45 GMT)
While Wales are in the World Cup play-offs courtesy of a second-placed finish - behind Belgium - in their qualifying group, Austria owe their place to success in the Nations League.
The Austrians finished a disappointing fourth in their World Cup qualifying group, behind Denmark, Scotland and Israel.
But Franco Foda's team are still in with a chance of reaching a first World Cup since 1998 having secured a play-off place by winning their Nations League group.
They head into this game on the back of three wins in their last four World Cup qualifiers - although the victories came against Moldova, Isreal and the Faroe Islands.
Post update
Wales v Austria (19:45 GMT)
Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales at Cardiff City Stadium
There are more Wales fans than usual at the Cardiff City Stadium tonight, with Austria returning some of their tickets, which have then been snapped up by Wales' supporters.
The few hundred Austrians who are here are making a good noise, though.
Dafydd Iwan's big in Austria, I hear.