Wales v Northern Ireland: Line-ups, stats and preview

After World Cup heartache last week – against Bosnia and Italy respectively – these two sides come together for a friendly meeting in Cardiff.

Wales boss Craig Bellamy insisted that while his “heart hurts” following the Dragons’ gut-wrenching exit from the World Cup play-offs, his side must look to the future and deliver a top performance.

Bellamy’s side suffered the ultimate footballing agony on Thursday, falling to a 4-2 penalty shootout defeat against Bosnia and Herzegovina after a tense 1-1 draw. The hosts were just minutes away from advancing to the play-off final before a late 86th-minute equalizer from 40-year-old Edin Dzeko cancelled out Dan James’ stunning opener.

While the Welsh were left to curse their luck after twice hitting the woodwork, this international break also brought severe disappointment for their upcoming opponents.

Michael O’Neill’s incredibly young Northern Ireland squad ultimately succumbed to a 2-0 defeat against Italy, ending their own hopes of making a first global finals in 40 years.

Asked about the difficulty of getting up for a friendly match directly after such heavy emotional deflation, Bellamy admitted the pain is real but stressed the importance of turning the page.

“My heart hurts. Just pain, we all feel pain,” Bellamy told reporters. “But it’s hard when you lose a game to realise the positives right away. There is plenty of potential within this squad. Now we have to fulfill this fixture, get back on the horse, and start looking toward the future.”

With both nations looking towards the next Nations League campaign and Euro 2028, fringe players on both sides are relishing the opportunity to test themselves on the international stage.

Team news for Wales v Northern Ireland

Wales enter the match missing several key veterans. Ben Davies, Chris Mepham, Kieffer Moore and Connor Roberts are all ruled out due to injury, while captain Aaron Ramsey was left out of the squad entirely. To make matters worse, midfielder Jordan James limped out of the play-off match against Bosnia and will not be available.

Northern Ireland are likewise navigating a depleted squad of established starters. Michael O’Neill remains without Conor Bradley, Jamal Lewis, Daniel Ballard, and Ali McCann. Expect the visitors to lean heavily on youth once more, with Liverpool teenager Kieran Morrison highly tipped to earn his first senior international cap

Predicted line-ups for Wales v Northern Ireland

Wales: Darlow; N. Williams, Rodon, Cabango, Beck; Sheehan, Savage; S. Thomas, Wilson, D. James; Cullen.

Northern Ireland: P. Charles; Hume, Donnelly, McConville, Spencer; S. Charles, Devenny; Galbraith, Price, Morrison; Marshall.

Where to watch Wales v Northern Ireland: TV and online streams

The match will be broadcast live on S4C (with Welsh commentary) and BBC One Wales and Northern Ireland in the UK. It can be streamed on the BBC Sport website or through the iplayer.

Stats for Wales v Northern Ireland

• This match marks the first time these two nations have met in a decade. Their last clash was at Euro 2016 in the Round of 16, where Wales edged out a 1-0 victory courtesy of a Gareth McAuley own goal.
• Wales’ Dan James is looking to score in three consecutive international appearances for the very first time
• Northern Ireland have struggled massively away from home, winning just one of their last 10 away games in all competitions (D2 L7).

Prediction for Wales v Northern Ireland

What To Do If You Have A Gambling Problem

We understand that gambling can be fun, but it is always important to gamble responsibly. If you are struggling with a gambling problem, please do not hesitate to ask for help. There are people who can help you get on the road to recovery. Below, we have listed some helpful resources to help aid you on the road to recovery.

Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: 101greatgoals.com