Gareth Bale putting international football first as Wales push for World Cup

The infamous flag read “Wales, golf, Madrid, in that order". It did not escape attention in the Spanish capital, or in Marca, the newspaper most associated with Real Madrid, that Gareth Bale declared himself unfit for Sunday’s Clasico defeat to Barcelona but that his back pain did not prevent him from training with Wales. The expectation is he will face Austria on Thursday evening.

Bale’s priorities have long been questioned at a club where he has won four Champions Leagues. In some respects, he ranks as Britain’s most successful ever footballing export. And yet he may regard his defining achievements as those in his country’s colours. Wales were semi-finalists in Euro 2016, Bale turning their first major tournament in 58 years into the greatest in their history.

Now he is eyeing a crowning glory. Wales’ lone World Cup was ended by a quarter-final defeat inflicted by Pele and Brazil. It was in 1958. Real won their third European Cup that year. They have secured a further 10 since. That Wales have not returned to the World Cup indicates what a historic feat it would be if Bale could lead them past Austria and then either Scotland or Ukraine in June.

Mathematically, anyway, they stand a one in four chance. Perhaps it is their best opportunity in 28 years: Paul Bodin’s infamous missed penalty in their last group game allowed Romania to instead qualify for the 1994 World Cup, beat Argentina and reach the quarter-finals.

Some of that Welsh side, from Ryan Giggs to Ian Rush to Neville Southall, figured in the various hypothetical teams of the best players to miss out on various World Cups. So, later, did Bale. He finished 12th in the Ballon d’Or voting in 2014: the 11 ahead of him each had a World Cup to bolster their case. In