Ukraine will face Wales for a place in the World Cup after beating Scotland 3-1 on an emotional evening at Hampden Park.
Goals from Andriy Yarmolenko, Roman Yaremchuk and Artem Dovbyk secured a famous victory for Ukraine in what was the country’s first international football match since Russia’s invasion on 24 February.
After dispatching Scotland in Glasgow, Ukraine will now hope to do the same against Wales in Cardiff on Sunday night, with the winner joining England, USA and Iran in Group B in Qatar.
Wales qualified for the final back in March by beating Austria 2-1 in Cardiff with Gareth Bale scoring twice including a trademark free-kick from distance.
How to watch the World Cup 2022 play-off
Date: Sunday 5 June
Kick-off time: 5pm
Venue: Cardiff City Stadium
TV: Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football, coverage begins at 4pm
Live stream: Watch it live on Now. Day passes are £11.98 or a monthly pass is £33.99
Ukraine qualified for the first and only time in 2006 and a side spearheaded by Andriy Shevchenko surpassed expectations by reaching the quarter-final in Germany.
Wales, meanwhile, are looking to qualify for the first time since 1958 when they too were quarter-finalists in Sweden.
Wales also played on Wednesday night, losing 2-1 to Poland in Wroclaw in the Nations League, with Jakub Kaminski and Karol Swiderski cancelling out Jonny Williams’ opener.
Rob Page named an experimental line-up for the game in Poland and took the opportunity to rest a number of key players ahead of Sunday’s play-off with Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey and Ben Davies among those to be given a night off.
What next for Gareth Bale after Real Madrid exit?
An intriguing sub-plot to the game surrounds the future of Gareth Bale.
The 32-year-old has confirmed his departure from Real Madrid, bringing to an end a hugely successful nine-year spell.
Bale scored 106 goals in 258 games for the club, winning five Champions Leagues, three La Liga titles and a Copa Del Rey among other honours.
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“On Sunday, Wales have that World Cup play-off final against either Scotland or Ukraine,” Sheth said on Sky Sports News. “The winner of that match will go to the World Cup in Qatar this winter.
“Now if Wales do make that World Cup, the information we are getting is that Gareth Bale will sign a short-term deal with a club, even a Championship club, some have even suggested a club in the Championship in south Wales. That leaves two and it’s well-known he was a boyhood Cardiff City fan.
“However, if Wales were not to make the World Cup then there is a possibility that, at 32, Gareth Bale could call it a day and retire from football. But as we speak his focus is with the red shirt and that World Cup play-off final on Sunday.”
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