Wales go close again. Chris Gunter delivers this time and Sam Vokes makes the break forward but nods just wide under pressure. Good start for the hosts. 

Northern Ireland's Kyle Lafferty loses the ball in midfield, and it leads to an early chance for Wales as George Williams crosses from the right and it's just wide of the far post. That was begging to be nodded in.  

After a minute's silence to remember those who died in Belgium this week, which is impeccably observed, we are under way. 

Image source, Reuters

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales at the Cardiff City Stadium

Image source, PA

"Around 21,000 tickets were sold by the start of the day so, in a 33,000-capacity ground, the atmosphere is not quite at its crackling best at the Cardiff City Stadium.

"But with the unofficial Welsh anthem, Zombie Nation, blaring out of the sound system and a drummer among Northern Ireland's travelling supporters, it is getting pretty lively in the Welsh capital."

Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill speaking to BBC Sport: "We've only made two changes because we want consistency in the team, and we've gone with the shape we played in the last game. 

"It's an opportunity for Conor Washington coming in, while Paddy McNair will play in midfield. We have one or two injuries and have been cautious with the players with knocks ahead of the second game [against Slovenia]."

Wales manager Chris Coleman speaking to BBC Sport: "Ideally we will give everybody some time on the pitch tonight, we're building towards the summer.

"We are missing a few players but it gives us chance to look at others. 

"It is a tough game but we're looking forward to it. It will be interesting to see how these younger players get on."

The teams are almost ready, so a quick reminder of who is starting tonight. QPR striker Conor Washington makes his debut for Northern Ireland.

Wales XI: Hennessey, Gunter, Mathews, A Williams, Chester, Ledley, Vaughan, Cotterill, G Williams, Lawrence, Vokes.    

Northern Ireland XI: McGovern, McLaughlin, McAuley, Evans, Cathcart, Dallas, McNair, Davis, Norwood, Lafferty, Washington. 

Former Wales assistant manager and defender Kit Symons speaking to BBC Sport: "With a few senior players missing for Wales, it is a great chance for the younger players to stake their claim to get on that plane to France."

Image source, Reuters

Five World Cups, four European Championships. Not a bad trophy haul between them, eh?

Two of international football's heavyweights - Italy and Spain - go toe-to-toe in Udine tonight.

Southampton striker Graziano Pelle is named in Azzurri boss Antonio Conte's starting XI, which is led by Juve keeper Gianluigi Buffon.

Premier League stars David de Gea, Cesar Azpilicueta, Cesc Fabregas and Juan Mata all start for the visitors, along with prolific 35-year-old Athletic Bilbao striker Aritz Aduriz.

Aduriz deservedly earns his second cap - six years after his debut - after bagging 31 goals for his club this season. Read his remarkable story, which we published earlier this year, here.

The teams are out at a very wet Cardiff City Stadium as the national anthems begin.

A reminder that coverage is under way now on BBC Two Wales and BBC Two Northern Ireland. You can watch via the live coverage tab at the top of the page.

Image source, AFP

Former Totttenham and QPR boss Harry Redknapp has enjoyed a winning start to his tenure as the manager of Jordan. They thrashed Bangladesh 8-0 in one of the two Asian Football Confederation qualifiers that Redknapp will be in charge. 

We are in the full throws of international week, so a couple of other tales to mark your card. Republic of Ireland boss Martin O'Neill, whose team face Switzerland on Friday, was asked at a news conference today if his players' partners would be welcomed at the team base in France.

"I think it depends on how good looking the girls are really," he joked. "If they're really attractive, they're very, very welcome."

Er, I'll leave that one right there. You can watch the video above.

Image source, David Rawcliffe

Gareth Bale was one of the players to miss out on the Welsh song for the European Championship, which is called 'Together Stronger (C'mon Wales)' and recorded this week with the Manic Street Preachers. 

Wales boss Chris Coleman said: "Manic Street Preachers have been passionate Welsh football supporters and all the lads enjoyed the experience and joined in."

I might be stereotyping, but you can't beat a Welshman in full voice! 

As you might already know, Wales forward Gareth Bale has been left out of the squad in a joint decision between the Football Association of Wales and his club Real Madrid.

He's had trouble with his calf, but he has just welcomed another daughter into his family, with a Spanish-sounding name. Perhaps Bale is set to stay in Madrid for a while yet! 

Of course, Jason and his Welsh compatriots will be heading over to France this summer, with Chris Coleman's side facing Russia in Toulouse in their final group game.

Admittedly, Ukraine v Cyprus is hardly a fixture that sets the pulses racing of most British football fans. Unless you're a super-cool soccer hipster. Or you're of Ukrainian or Cypriot stock. One of my colleagues reckons he fits the bill on both counts. 

But tonight both Welsh and Northern Irish fans might have a passing Ukraine-focused interest in that friendly. Wales continue their Euro 2016 preparations when they travel to Kiev on Monday, while Northern Ireland - of course - face the Eastern European side in the main event over in France this summer.

That humdinger is already rolling in Odessa. It is goalless.

By the way, we've also got live text commentary of Scotland's game against Czech Republic this evening - another friendly involving e Euro 2016 qualifier.

Sadly for Scotland, though, it's not them.

The Scots give a debut to Aberdeen midfielder Kenny McLean, Fulham striker Ross McCormack starts up front and Hull attacker Robert Snodgrass returns after missing the whole qualifying campaign through injury.

You can follow that game with Keir Murray here.

Image source, Getty Images

Maybe it says something about the relative calm around the Welsh camp after qualifying for their first tournament since 1958, but the biggest story this week has been the ongoing negotiations, or lack of, surrounding Chris Coleman's contract. 

As it stands, his current deal runs out after Euro 2016 and the former Fulham boss says the two parties remain "apart" in their respective demands. 

Coleman insists it won't be a distraction in the build up to the tournament and yet Michael O'Neill says that he was pleased to sign a new four-year deal with Northern Ireland because of the "stability that it brings to me, the staff and the players". 

Image source, get

Only two months separates the difference in time that Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill and Wales manager Chris Coleman have been in charge but some of their views are quite contrasting. 

O'Neill doesn't expect the two teams to go overboard tonight with Euro 2016 on the horizon. "Competitive, but common sense will prevail," he says. 

Coleman, on the other hand, thinks: "It will be a bit feisty."

It's not the only subject they disagree on.