Joy in wide areas, I said that.

The validation of wise ex-pros like Danny Gabbidon agreeing with me.

I live for it.

Danny Gabbidon
Former Wales defender on BBC Radio Wales

Based on the first few minutes of this game, Wales are going to have plenty of joy in the wide areas.

Poland are very narrow - there is space out wide. The two wide centre-backs are the out-balls.

If they can switch play quickly, they will cause Poland plenty of problems.

Joe Morrell and Dylan Levitt are going to need to maintain an incredible intensity tonight.

First glimpse for Poland, but Wayne Hennessey grabs the ball at the second attempt.

Lots of space out wide for Wales.

Connor Roberts down the right is having some joy.

Frantic stuff.

Wales pressing really high.

Nathan Blake
Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Wales

The Polish fans are in good voice. I am looking forward to this game - it's a great atmosphere.

Wales on the front-foot early.

You would, however, expect Poland to see a lot of the ball with so many players in the centre of the pitch.

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales at Cardiff City Stadium

The atmosphere is properly crackling here. Poland's fans were chanting loudly as Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau started, got drowned out and seemingly awestruck by the a capella din and started applauding.

Two rousing anthems... a fantastic atmosphere at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Latvian referee Andris Treimanis gets us under way under the lights.

Poland and Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny says his side will not take Wales' threat lightly.

"Wales is a team at our level and has the same goal, which is to stay in the top division of the Nations League," Szczesny said.

"Gareth [Bale] is always a threat. He is one of the best players I have played against. If he is well prepared physically, he will be very dangerous.

"It will be an important game for both teams, but we have the World Cup at the back of our minds. We want to win and stay in League A, but we also want to be healthy and avoid injuries.

"We will do everything to bring home a favourable result for us, not only to stay in the elite, but also to improve the mood before the preparations for the World Cup."

Image source, Getty Images

Danny Gabbidon
Former Wales defender on BBC Radio Wales

For Wales to win they have to play better than they did in the first half on Thursday.

There are one or two changes again which is never ideal for Rob Page, but hopefully we will see a team that comes out on the front foot.

This Poland team are no great shakes for me, if we can keep Lewandowski quiet.

Nathan Blake
Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Wales

This is the first time we have been to a World Cup in 60-odd years.

You dream of this when you are a kid. There is no way for me that the Welsh team go to the World Cup and don't perform, so I wouldn't measure us on tonight.

It would be nice to get a result, but if we win 3-0 or lose 3-0 tonight, it wouldn't matter to me.

Well he is in the starting XI tonight, but will Gareth Bale get to both start and finish a game?

In the build-up, the Wales captain declared himself ready to start the Nations League match against Poland having gone a year without playing a full game.

The Los Angeles FC forward, 33, has not lasted an entire match for club or country since Wales' goalless draw with Estonia in September 2021.

"I'm ready to start if the manager [Robert Page] selects me," said Bale.

"I am closer [to being fully fit] than I have been in the last few years, for sure. It's about playing minutes and games and I'm starting to do that a lot more often now.

"The more I play, the fitter I'll get. Hopefully, I can start to peak and get stronger and stronger as quickly as possible."

Read more: Wales captain ready to start against Poland after year without full game

Image source, Getty Images

Danny Gabbidon
Former Wales defender on BBC Radio Wales

I guarantee the manager hasn't talked about a World Cup send-off with the players this week.

I am sure they will understand the importance of this game.

They will all want to be in League A when this competition comes round again.

Rob Page will learn more about his players from this game than he would from a World Cup send-off, that's for sure.

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales at Cardiff City Stadium

Michael Sheen's team talk (you know, the rabble-rousing one from A League of Their Own which went viral on social media) has just been playing on the big screens at Cardiff City Stadium, and it went down well with the crowd.

Get him on the pitch in Qatar.

Nathan Blake
Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Wales

We should have got something from the game out in Poland. We created enough chances.

Poland were good and Robert Lewandowski obviously was brilliant.

But Wales at home, I keep saying it, we have only missed out on one of the last four major tournaments.

We have had so many huge home games against class opposition and we tend to come out on top.

This has become a fortress for Wales.

Wales defender Joe Rodon says leaving Tottenham Hotspur this summer was "something he had to do".

He joined French side Rennes on loan in August after struggling for game time at Spurs, fearing he would not be ready for the World Cup.

Now Rodon is making up for lost time with just two months before the tournament kicks off in Qatar.

"No player wants to be going to a World Cup having hardly played a minute of football," the 24-year-old said.

"Everyone is aware I haven't played that much over the last two years. I think it was really important for me and my development to be exposed and be put in a position where I play a lot of games."

Read more: Wales defender Joe Rodon on the rise at Rennes

Image source, Getty Images

Danny Gabbidon
Former Wales defender on BBC Radio Wales

I think Daniel James is in the team and stays in the team because of what he gives the team in terms of his work-rate.

I think he will want to improve on the attacking side.

Manager Robert Page says Wales' focus is on staying in the top tier of the Nations League by beating Poland tonight and not the upcoming World Cup in Qatar.

I promise I haven't just recycled this headline from Angharad James' 100th cap last month!

There is nothing like watching a player play football, whose father you also remember playing football, to make you feel old.

Brennan Johnson has already been giving us that chance in this campaign, as any of us of a certain vintage will remember his father, David Johnson.

Well possible Wales debutant tonight, Jordan James, is also a player with football in his blood.

His father Tony James was a professional player who had a spell with Newport County that included their promotion back to the Football League in 2013.

I covered the Exiles at the time, so Jordan James potentially playing for Wales tonight makes me feel about 104 years old.

Below are images of son and father and I think it's fair to say there is a strong family resemblance.

Born in Cwmbran, I know for a fact that Tony is unbelievably proud that his son could be about to become a full international aged just 18.

What a day for the James family.

Image source, FAW

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency