Austria head coach Marcel Koller says up to three players will be marking Gareth Bale in their World Cup qualifier against Wales, who he believes were lucky to reach the Euro 2016 semi-finals. Wales continued their strong showing at this summers European Championship into qualifying for the 2018 World Cup, beating Moldova 4-0 in their opening Group D fixture, and will be looking for further success when they take on Austria on Thursday, live on Sky Sports 1.Austria were much fancied heading into Euro 2016 after winning nine of their qualifying games but crashed out in the group stage in France without a win. However, Kollers side also opened their bid to reach the World Cup in Russia in two years time with a 2-1 win over Georgia last month, and the Austria coach suggested Wales current higher standing may be down to fortune. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ￡6.99. No contract. It will be a close match tomorrow and I think we can win the game, Koller said at his pre-match press conference.You need to be lucky as well. That is what we saw in the Euros. Wales were lucky sometimes and sometimes you need to be lucky such as when a striker shoots against the crossbar or the post.During the Euros they were lucky that a match did not turn in another direction. I think that helped the Welsh team get a really good portion of self-confidence.Nobody really expected the Welsh team to be in the semi-finals before the European Championships. Gareth Bale celebrates one of the two goals he scored in Wales victory over Moldova Gareth Bales brace in the opening World Cup qualifier took his international scoring record to 24 goals in 62 appearances and within four of equalling Ian Rushs record Wales tally. Koller denied that Wales are dependent on the Real Madrid forward but revealed he will be taking special measures to stop Chris Colemans match winner. What needs to be added is I think [Wales] are actually the favourites for this group, Koller said.At the Euros they showed discipline in defence and they were very dangerous in offence. Highlights from Group D as Wales faced Moldova in their opening World Cup qualifier I dont think Wales is only Bale. Al the players try to create offensive possibilities and they are very dangerous.But we saw during the Euros [Bale] can win games on his own.We will not only have only player chasing after him. We will have two or three players in close vicinity to disturb him as soon as possible.Austria are without injured Hannover 96 striker Martin Harnik, who has scored 14 international goals, with Sturm Grazs Deni Alar taking his place in the squad. You can watch Englands tour of Bangladesh, plus Premier League football and the Japan Grand Prix on Sky Sports. Upgrade now and enjoy three months at half price! Also See: King draws blank from Fuchs Wales face crucial trip Table Live on Sky Alec Burks Jersey . "Opinion: Womens World Cup is the best Soccer of the year," Hanks tweeted to his 8.73 million followers on Friday. "Hey FIFA, they deserve real grass. Put in sod. Tom Gola Jersey . The league-leading New York Rangers outhit and outmuscled the Maple Leafs during a 3-0 victory on Saturday. Backup goalie Martin Biron stopped all 20 shots he faced to complete a nice workmanlike effort by the visitors. https://www.cheapwarriors.com/1039o-tom-meschery-jersey-warriors.html . Giants manager Bruce Bochy told The Associated Press of the decision before NL West-leading San Francisco opened a 10-game homestand Monday night with the first of three games against second-place Arizona. Tim Hardaway Jersey . The 19-year-old from Westmount, Que., was edged 7-5, 6-7 (5), 6-3 by third-seeded Alize Cornet of France. Cornet broke Bouchard twice in the last set and saved six break points in the three-hour match. Jack George Jersey . -- Arizona came out of its last meeting with California a bit discombobulated, hurting from its first loss and the loss of forward Brandon Ashley for the rest of the season.WINTERBERG, Germany -- Germanys Sandra Kiriasis drove to a World Cup bobsled win on her home track on Sunday, edging Elana Meyers of the United States by the slimmest of margins. Kiriasis and brakeman Franziska Fritz finished two runs in one minute 55.41 seconds -- a mere 0.01 seconds ahead of Meyers and Lolo Jones, who likely bolstered her Olympic hopes by helping give USA-1 a huge push in the second heat. Anja Schneiderheinze and Stephanie Schneider were third for Germany, 0.07 seconds back. Meyers has now finished no worse than second in all five races this season, though this one wasnt easy. She and Jones had a bit of trouble at the start of the first run, then tied for the fastest start in the field to begin their second trip down the track. "We like to keep everybody on the edge of their seats," Meyers said after extending her World Cup standings lead to 68 points over reigning Olympic champions Kaillie Humphries of Calgary and Heather Moyse of Summerside, P.E.I., who finished fifth. "We had a little slip-up in the beginning of the first run. I didnt run far enough and she followed me, so it caused us to drop some time, but we came back in the second one." Jenny Ciochetti of Edmonton and Chelsea Valois of Zenon Park, Sask., finished in 14th place, 1:36 behind the winning duo. Kiriasis victory came one day after she celebrated her 39th birthday. It was the first medal of the season for the German whos widely considered the best womens driver ever, and came in whats widely expected to be her final year in a sled. Kiriasis was emotioonal crossing the finish line, raising one of her index fingers skyward, then took a long swig of a celebratory beer while standing atop the medal stand.dddddddddddd. For the U.S., Jamie Greubel and Aja Evans led after the first run but finished fourth. Jazmine Fenlator and Lauryn Williams were ninth, despite solid start times of 5.62 and 5.59 seconds. Evans is expected to be a lock for one of the three push-athlete jobs on the U.S. womens team that will compete in the Sochi Olympics next month, while Jones and Williams -- both of whom have competed in multiple Olympics as track stars -- are in a group competing for the other two spots. Later Sunday, Germany swept a four-man race, dominating once again on home ice. Maximilian Arndt won his second gold medal in as many days, prevailing in 1:50.09 to extend his lead in the World Cup four-man standings. Francesco Friedrich drove to silver in 1:50.32 and Thomas Florschuetz took the bronze in 1:50.49. Olympic champion Steven Holcomb and his team of Steve Langton, Curtis Tomasevicz and Chris Fogt finished seventh for the U.S., wrapping up a tough, crash-filled week in Winterberg for the Americans. Also for the U.S., the team of Cory Butner, Adam Clark, Andreas Drbal and Chris Langton placed 13th, while pilot Nick Cunningham and push athletes Dallas Robinson, Johnny Quinn and Abe Morlu were 16th. The World Cup bobsled tour continues next weekend at St. Moritz, the next-to-last weekend of competition before the Americans will decide which athletes will be on the team for next months Sochi Olympics. ' ' '