Image source, Reuters

By the way, since we mention Wales and Crystal Palace Joe Ledley, who has the best beard in football?

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David Cotterill takes it himself, almost picks out the wonderfully bearded Joe Ledley but Northern Ireland head clear. 

David Cotterill is starting to see more of the ball, and after a foray down the left for Wales, wins a corner. 

Dean Saunders
Former Wales striker on BBC Radio 5 live

Image source, Getty Images

"I can't understand why the Welsh FA haven't sorted out Chris Coleman's contract. We haven't qualified for such a long time and we have got a man who has taken us to our first finals.

"Get his deal done. Don't penny pinch. You've got to be reasonable but I'm sure Chris is being reasonable.

"They're going to lose him if they're not careful."

James Chester bursts forward, plays a nice one-two and surges towards the Northern Ireland defence before losing the ball. That leaves a gap for the visitors to exploit but David Vaughan is back to cover. Well done. I've always liked watching the Welsh midfielder play.

Here come Michael O'Neill's team, what have you got? A long range shot from Paddy McNair sails well wide. Worth an effort from the Manchester United youngster. 

David Cotterill opts to shoot rather than cross and it's a good decision as Michael McGovern dives to his right to paw the ball away. From the corner, Wales fashion another chance but Cotterill, who obviously fancies a goal, curls it well over. 

The visitors are knocking the ball around with some confidence at the back, but David Vaughan makes an interception and plays it forward to Tom Lawrence, who is tripped by Gareth McAuley. Free-kick on the right, about 30 yards out. 

Wales work a decent opening, the ball is waiting to be hit by Joe Ledley inside the penalty area, but he takes an extra touch and passes rather than hitting it first time. That was a waste. Now Northern Ireland win a corner. The first leads to a second and that is then cleared. 

Image source, Getty Images

Italy coach Antonio Conte, heavily linked with a move to Chelsea after Euro 2016, looks a bit glum. Perhaps the west London flat he had his eye on has been snapped up...

Anyway...his side have kicked off against current European champions Spain. Still goalless in the opening stages of their friendly.

Elsewhere, Ukraine are leading 1-0 against Cyprus at the break thanks to Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Taras Stepanenko.

The eastern European side host Wales on Monday, and face Northern Ireland in France this summer, remember.

Scotland, who won't be at the Euros, have taken an early lead against the Czech Republic, who will be there. Ikechi Anya has scored on the counter-attack for Gordon Strachan's side, teed up by the returning Ross McCormack.

You can follow that game here.

Image source, Reuters

Not much from Northern Ireland debutant Conor Washington so far. The game is missing some big players, and it shows. 

Wales skipper Ashley Williams leads the counter attack, but after a mis-placed pass, Northern Ireland recover. After those early Wales chances, the game has yet to find a rhythm. 

Gerry Taggart
Former Northern Ireland captain at Cardiff City Stadium

Image source, Reuters

"We're under no illusions - getting out of our Euro 2016 group will be difficult. But we have got to pinpoint the Ukraine game as one we can win. I think four points will give you a good chance of qualifying in third place, so we must look to the Poland game to squeeze a point out of. Anything out of Germany would be a big bonus."

As soon as I say that, the ball is fed out to Kyle Lafferty wide on the right, he wins a throw-in which Northern Ireland develop into a cross, but it's whacked away by Chris Gunter. 

The visitors, who will face Poland, Ukraine and Germany in Group C at Euro 2016, are going for a more direct route but have yet to pick out top scorer from their qualifying campaign, Kyle Lafferty. 

Northern Ireland's first attack and they win a corner. It's swung deep to Jonny Evans but the West Brom defender is penalised for climbing. 

Wales skipper Ashley Williams versus Northern Ireland striker Kyle Lafferty is a nice battle to relish for the rest of the evening. Round one and Williams comes out on top.  

Gerry Taggart
Former NI captain on BBC Radio 5 live at Cardiff City Stadium

"It was a great run into the box by Sam Vokes, but it was great defending. Northern Ireland are under the cosh a little bit, but they're just about coping."

Couple of tasty challenges from the Welsh players suggests they have taken their manager's advice to make it a "bit feisty". It's wet, too, which will aid the odd reducer!