The first leg of the sporting night in Cardiff has gone the way of Wales - the rugby union side have just beaten Argentina 24-20.

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales at Cardiff City Stadium

Wales need no reminding about their 6-1 thrashing in Serbia in 2012 – and it has been mentioned quite a few times this week.

Things have changed quite a bit since then, not least Wales’ newfound lofty standing in world football following their historic run to the Euro 2016 semi-finals.

However, manager Chris Coleman says that mauling in Novi Sad four years ago still “haunts” him. Tonight is the night to exorcise those ghosts.

Not as big as Shane Long's.

I used to keep an acoustic in the lounge as well, until I got married. Now we've got some candles. 

Just 25 minutes until kick off in Cardiff then. Wales will surely be aware of what the Republic of Ireland have just done in Vienna. They were looking for a win anyway but now they really, really need one...

BBC Radio 5 live

You can follow coverage of this match on BBC Radio 5 live with commentator Ian Brown, alongside former Wales striker John Hartson.

Alternatively, you can listen on BBC Radio Wales, with commentator Rob Phillips who is joined by former defender Danny Gabbidon and ex-captain Kevin Ratcliffe.

• Wales have lost both their previous matches against Serbia, with an aggregate score of 9-1.
• The only goal Serbia have conceded against Wales was a free-kick by Gareth Bale in 2012.
• Wales' 6-1 defeat by Serbia in 2012 was their heaviest for 16 years.

Republic of Ireland winger James McClean: "It's huge. There are no world class teams in this group, we will all take points off each other so to win in Austria is no easy feat. We are delighted.

"Hopefully that gives us a platform to believe that we can win this group. We have got momentum, we are top of the group so we are delighted.

"Roy Keane hammers us in training about always hitting the target so that is all I was thinking about when I was running through. If I'd missed he would have killed me."

There's still a long way to go of course but the Republic of Ireland have had three away games out of four and they have 10 points on the board.

A first World Cup appearance since 2002?

Republic of Ireland midfielder Harry Arter: "It was a great result. We knew that getting a win would put us in a really good position and Austria will find it tough now to qualify.

"In the second half we showed what we are about. There were a few words from the manager at half time and the pitch took some time to get used to."

Image source, Getty Images

Wales manager Chris Coleman says Aaron Ramsey is a talent worthy of "any team on the planet" with the midfielder back in the side tonight.

A hamstring injury means Ramsey has not played for Wales since their Euro 2016 quarter-final win over Belgium.

The 25-year-old was named in Uefa's team of the tournament and Wales have been hindered by his recent absence.

"Take him out of any team and it's a loss," said Coleman.

"That's not a biased opinion because I'm a Welshman and we all love Rambo. I'm looking at it clinically. Playing in tournament against the top teams, he was head and shoulders above.

"In my personal opinion there's not a team on the planet he couldn't play for."

The next big match to tell you about is Albania versus Israel. Both teams have six points after three Group G games and Albanian police say they have taken extreme steps to secure everyone's safety for the match. 

The venue was changed for "security reasons" from the northern city of Shkoder, near the border with Montenegro, to Elbasan, nearer to Tirana.

The decision followed media reports that an alleged terror group of 15 persons, arrested in Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia, planned an attack during the match.

 A statement on Friday said 2,000 police, many more than in other matches, would be involved around the match from Friday.

Richard: If Wales don't win, Wales don't qualify. It's as simple as that. Luckily, the big guns are back. 2-0 Wales.

JavelBleach: Woohoo! #Ireland, external 10 points from 12! Incredible! Down to you now, #Wales, external

Image source, EPA

Spain are in action at 19:45 GMT and the former World Champions are red-hot favourites against Macedonia. Julen Lopetegui’s men top Group G with seven points, while Macedonia have lost all three of their qualifying games – and lost in their previous five meetings against Spain.

Elsewhere in Group G, Italy take on Liechtenstein and it’s an ominous task for the hosts, who are on a seven-game competitive losing streak, as Italy are unbeaten in 53 qualifiers, their last loss being to France in September 2006.

Ukraine and Finland have never played each other in a men’s international so history can’t be our guide in this Group I clash. What I can tell you is that Ukraine are unbeaten in five qualifying matches, while Finland have picked up just one point so far in this campaign.

Image source, Reuters

Branislav Ivanovic, in a back three, against Gareth Bale? This could be fun. 

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales at Cardiff City Stadium

Wales manager Chris Coleman has raised some eyebrows with a switch in formation from 5-3-2 to what looks like a 4-2-3-1. There are three changes from October’s 1-1 home draw against Georgia. Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey is back from injury and starts alongside the returning Joe Allen, while forward Hal Robson-Kanu is recalled. Injured defender Ben Davies makes way, as do midfielders David Edwards and Andy King.

Serbia boss Slavoljub Muslin makes three changes from the 3-2 win over Austria, with Nikola Maksimovic, Ivan Obradovic and Nemanja Matic replacing suspended Manchester City left-back Aleksandar Kolarov, Stefan Mitrovic and Ljubomir Fejsa.

Wales XI: Hennessey; Gunter, Chester, Williams, Taylor; Allen, Ledley; Bale, Ramsey, Robson-Kanu; Vokes.

Serbia XI: Stojkovic; Ivanovic, Maksimovic, Nastasic; Rukavina, Matic, Milivojević, Obradovic; Kostić, Tadic; Mitrovic.

So a huge win for Martin O'Neill.

Only one team qualifies automatically for Russia, don't forget. And it means that Wales must really win now against Serbia...

Image source, .

Branislav Ivanovic says Wales will want to avenge their previous two defeats against Serbia when they meet tonight.

The 32-year-old knows Chris Coleman's side will be tough to beat having improved hugely since two defeats by Serbia in the last World Cup qualifying campaign.

The Chelsea defender, who has led Serbia to the top of Group D, says they face a difficult match ahead of them.

"This is the hardest game since we started qualification," he said.

Ivanovic scored in the 6-1 thrashing of Wales in 2014 World Cup qualifying at Novi Sad, in September 2012 - the heaviest defeat in Coleman's reign.

A massive result, that. The Irish have 10 points and will be top of the group into the new year unless Serbia win in Wales. 

Image source, Reuters

Gary Lineker
Ex-England striker

Marvellous result, and performance, from the Republic of Ireland. Martin O'Neill once again proving what an excellent manager he is.