GARETH BALE has backed Wales to reach successive World Cups for the first time.
Craig Bellamy‘s Dragons host Bosnia in Thursday’s Cardiff semi-final play-off, bidding to qualify for only a third time after appearances at the 1958 and 2022 finals.
Wales legend Bale ended a 64-year World Cup wait for his country with his play-off heroics four years ago.
Bale scored twice in the 2-1 semi win over Austria before his free-kick winner downed Ukraine to reach Qatar.
Now the former captain has backed Bellamy’s boys to qualify again.
Should Wales overcome the Bosnians, they would face either Italy or Northern Ireland in Cardiff next Tuesday for a spot in USA, Canada and Mexico.
When asked if his nation will qualify, Bale said: “I hope so. It’s going to be two tough games but we need to get past Bosnia first.
“The semi is a final, you know if you lose, you’re out. It’s a tough feat.
“But we’ve been playing good football. We have had a good campaign. It was a great result in the last match (7-1 win over North Macedonia) as well.
“So confidence is high and there’s no reason why not.”
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Bale was the talisman during Wales’ golden period of the last decade, which resulted in two Euros qualifications in 2016 and 2021 before finally ending that long wait for a global tournament appearance.
But the Dragons’ all-time caps holder (111) – and record goalscorer (41) retired after a disappointing finals in the Middle East.
He scored the only goal for Robert Page’s men in a 1-1 group stage draw with USA which was followed by defeats to Iran and England.
Wales then lost to Poland on penalties in the Euro 2024 play-off final, leading to Page losing his job and Bellamy taking charge.
But Bale, 36, believes the euphoric feeling of qualifying previously will help Bellamy’s squad this time.
Ex-Real Madrid and Spurs superstar Bale, who played in the Icons Series in Bangkok last month, added: “Qualifying in 2022 was a massive achievement.
“The country had been craving it for so long. Finally doing it was a monkey off our back.
“Hopefully it can now lead to more World Cups we qualify for.
“That first one is always the most difficult. It was the same with the Euros. Once we qualified, then we did it again.
“So hopefully we can qualify again by getting through this.
“When we qualified it was the springboard for the future. It inspired our country, one who always gets behind us no matter what.
“We have the most loyal and amazing fans. Hopefully we can qualify and I’ll be cheering them on in America, Mexico and Canada this year.”
Harry Wilson replaced Bale with seven minutes left in the 2022 play-off final in Cardiff, coming off the bench.
And the 67-cap attacker says the final whistle remains his favourite moment in a Wales shirt.
Fulham star Wilson, 29, said: “Qualifying for the World Cup against Ukraine.
“Baleo scored a free-kick, it took a deflection, but Ukraine were the better team and we were hanging on.
“It was in June but it was pissing down with rain. The fans got us through.
“When the whistle blew, being on the pitch and realising you are taking your country to a World Cup, was an incredible moment.”
Wales have searched for a new main man since Bale hung up his boots following the Qatar exit.
Wilson has taken on that mantle, scoring 12 of his 17 international goals in the last three years, including a hat-trick in the thrashing of North Macedonia last November which secured home advantage against Bosnia.
He prepared for this crunch World Cup play-off by netting his tenth Prem goal of the season in Fulham’s 3-1 win over Burnley last Saturday.
Wilson told the Peter Crouch podcast: “They are huge games. Being at home is massive.
“Playing in front of our home fans, I feel that we have to be confident.
“I’m excited and nervous. But I know we have the chance to create history and be part of the squad that gets our country to back-to-back World Cups.
“Considering some of the players and teams Wales have had in the past, they have not been able to do it.
“If I can be part of the team that is able to do that will be an incredible achievement.”
