Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales

Early days yet but Aaron Ramsey has already shown a couple of neat touches on his return to the Wales team.

The midfielder has been in fine form for Juventus lately and, after a particularly creative performance last month, one Italian newspaper described him as the "chocolate distributor" for his team-mates.

I can only imagine how excited Kieffer Moore is to link up with the former Arsenal confectionist.

Wales are allowing the Republic of Ireland defenders to have the ball and only pressing intently when they reach midfield.

Ireland, on the other hand, are pressing all over the field.

We are yet to have a chance at either end.

Image source, Getty Images

Daniel James crosses and Connor Roberts tries to head across goal, but the Republic of Ireland have plenty of bodies back and clear through Enda Stevens.

Both sides are looking to play out from the back and are finding some nice passes, but nothing threatening.

Wales just tried to hit a long ball over the top to Daniel James, but he was offside.

Slow start, low intensity, not much to report... I won't lie to you.

I wonder if the bonkers defending we have seen recently in the Premier League will be on show today?

No early signs here.

We are under way in Dublin at another magnificent stadium that is eerily empty.

This is what socially-distanced radio commentary looks like.

Former Wales striker Rob Earnshaw and ex-Republic striker Clinton Morrison are part of the BBC Radio 5 Live commentary team today.

But with travel limited for the media at the moment, they're doing it from BBC Sport's Salford headquarters - as you can see from producer Juliette Ferrington's tweet.

Wayne Hennessey becomes Wales' most capped goalkeeper after he is named in the starting line up against Ireland ⚽

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Covid-related withdrawals have been a massive problem for the Republic of Ireland this week, with Sean Maguire and Daryl Horgan being been added to the squad.

Preston striker Maguire and Wycombe winger Horgan replaced Aaron Connolly and Adam Idah.

Connolly and Idah were withdrawn from Thursday's Euro play-off semi-final in Slovakia minutes before kick-off.

They were deemed to have been in close contact with a member of the backroom staff who tested positive for Covid-19.

Read more here.

Image source, BBC Sport

A former Wales manager has been talking to us about the current Wales boss.

And Mark Hughes believes his former teammate for club and country could be a future Manchester United manager.

Image source, Rex Features

John Haughey
BBC Sport NI

Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny has just said on Sky Sports that the four close contacts of the player who tested positive for Covid-19 "would have started" today's game.

John Egan, Alan Browne, Callum O'Dowda and Callum Robinson are not in the Republic squad and were not reported to have any injuries so it is being assumed that those are the four players Kenny referred to.

Calling Manchester United and Wales fans....

BBC Sport Wales reporter Daf Pritchard has written a piece on Ryan Giggs' journey.

Get an insight into the mind of a football obsessive, a Manchester United legend who made his debut in 1991 and retired 23 years later, before making the transition to the dugout and aiming to prove himself anew.

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Wales manager Ryan Giggs expects a tough game against the Republic of Ireland and says concentration "will have to be at it's best."

Wales have made a strong start to their Nations League campaign and they lead League B, group four, with six points, ahead of Finland and the Republic of Ireland who have a point apiece and Bulgaria.

Wales have won their opening games 1-0, in Finland and at home against Bulgaria, while the Republic of Ireland drew in Bulgaria but lost 1-0 at home to Finland.

Image source, BBC Sport

It is fair to say one narrative dominated the talk around Wales' last Nations League games and that narrative was Gareth Bale's situation at Real Madrid.

Questions for Bale and Ryan Giggs were incessant on the same subject and while Giggs carefully used the media skills we saw him deploy over 26-years for Manchester United, the odd phrase like "not ideal," did sometimes creep in.

Bale was clear that he was not happy not playing and it seemed like an impasse that would benefit no one was likely... until the unlikely happened... and Bale moved back to Spurs.

Now he's going to be loved, you are going to be able to watch him in the Premier League and he seems happy again.

A happy Bale, a loved Bale, for his club as well as his country, playing regularly, that has to benefit Wales, right?

He's not involved in these games due to injury, but in terms of the Euros and beyond, Wales fans must be thrilled to see their talisman back at somewhere he will be appreciated.

Image source, Getty Images

It's been a chaotic start to the day for the Republic of Ireland with that earlier announcement about a further five players being ruled out after one of them tested for Covid-19.

That means they've only been able to name seven substitutes, as opposed to the 12 on Wales' bench.

It could be worse, though.

Last month, the Czech Republic had to name an all-new squad - including just two capped players - to face Scotland after a spate of coronavirus-related withdrawals.

At least the Republic's squad is comprised of recognised international players. That's something, right?

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Juventus are tweeting in Welsh.

That's the influence of Wales captain and Welsh speaker Aaron Ramsey for you.

The Republic of Ireland's defeat on penalties by Slovakia in Thursday's Euro 2020 play-off semi-final was "a harsh way to lose," according to boss Stephen Kenny.

The defeat ends the Republic's dream of reaching a third successive European Championship finals.

"The stakes are high, the prize is absolutely huge and we can't get it back, and that is difficult to accept," said boss Kenny.

Victory for the Republic of Ireland would have set up a final with neighbours Northern Ireland at Windsor Park.

Image source, Getty Images