Gareth Bale winger will watch the games in Russia from home after yet another physical problem kept himout of his national side's last qualifying gameGareth Bale is Wales.
There is no denying the Real Madrid star's importance to his national team.
With Bale in the team, the Dragons are a side capable of reaching the semi-finals of major tournaments, just as they did in the summer of 2016 when the one-time world's most expensive player inspired Chris Coleman's men to the Euro 2016 last four.
With Bale out of the team, the Dragons are a side unable to reach major tournaments, just as they now have done following the Republic of Ireland'sdetermined and disciplined 1-0 win in Cardiff.
The €100 million man watched from the stands, having to sit out Wales' last two qualifiers with a calf injury, which is also could rule him out of Madrid's Champions League clash with Bales' former club Tottenham on October 17.
James McClean's goal in Cardiff sent Ireland intothe playoff, leaving Wales in third in Group D and out of the 2018 World Cup.
Wales dominated Ireland throughout, keeping possession, putting Ireland on the back foot but always lacked a killer instinct.
The kind of killer instinct that Bale can provide.Bale is often pilloried for his performances with Madrid, where he has received boos from the fans as well as criticism from pundits who attack the 28-year-old for failing to live up to his lofty price tag. When he returns home to Wales, he is rightly seen as a national hero.
The country's best-ever player and a real difference maker for Coleman's side.
With the former Spurs attacker in the team, Coleman's side have won 48 per cent of their games.
Without Bale, Wales under Coleman have now won just 15 per cent of their matches.
He has 26 goals in 68 international appearances, including key strikes against Georgia and Serbia in the current campaign which should have put Wales on the road to Russia.
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