Jakub Brabec crosses and Tomas Petrasek is inches away from connecting.

From the corner the visitors get a soft header on goal, so that's Wayne Hennessey's first touch.

In case you missed it, Wayne Hennessey tonight plays for Wales for the 100th time.

A quiet start, Czech Republic you would imagine come into this contest feeling pretty flat.

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales at Cardiff City Stadium

I can't think of many occasions - if any - where Wales fans have chanted Wayne Hennessey's name.

We've already had a few renditions for the centurion this evening.

Referee Paul Tierney gets us under way.

Nathan Blake
Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Wales

It's almost four years since they last lost here, and you want to carry on that momentum.

There's a lot going on tonight but it's far from a testimonial for Wayne Hennessey.

The players could be in the squad in June, they've got a chance to be on the plane for Qatar, there's a lot riding on tonight for the players.

12 people, 120 people, 1200 people, 12,000 people.... doesn't matter.

The Welsh national anthem will still stir your soul.

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales at Cardiff City Stadium

My colleague Dylan Griffiths, commentating on tonight's game for BBC Radio Cymru, has just come up with the stat of the night so far.

Not one of Wales' starting players tonight have scored a senior international goal.

That's quite a stark indication of how inexperienced a team Robert Page has selected.

● This will be only the second non-competitive encounter between Wales and Czech Republic (including as Czechoslovakia), and first since a goalless draw at the Millennium Stadium in March 2002.

● Wales have only won one of their last eight meetings with Czech Republic in all competitions (including as Czechoslovakia), a 2-1 World Cup qualifying win in March 2021 (D4 L3).

● Including as Czechoslovakia, Czech Republic have only won one of their eight international away games against Wales (D3 L4), a 3-1 European Championship qualifying victory in April 1971.

● Wales are unbeaten in eight matches in all competitions (W4 D4); they haven’t enjoyed a longer run without defeat since October 2017 (run of nine).

● After losing 1-0 in extra-time to Sweden last time out, Czech Republic are looking to avoid suffering back-to-back international defeats for the first time since March/June 2021, when one of those defeats was to Wales.

● Wales have only won one of their last six international friendlies (D3 L2), a 1-0 win over Mexico in March 2021. The Dragons have only scored one goal in those six matches.

● Gareth Bale has played 321 minutes of international football for Wales since August 2021, more than he has at club level for Real Madrid in 2021-22 (270). Bale has scored five goals in his last four international matches for Wales, more than he had in his previous 28 such appearances beforehand (four goals).

● Jan Sýkora has scored three goals in his last three internationals for Czech Republic, this despite coming on as a substitute in each of those matches. Sýkora netted a brace in a friendly against Kuwait and once against Estonia in a World Cup qualifier, both in November 2021.

Image source, Getty Images

Natasha Harding
Wales international on BBC Radio Wales

It's an amazing achievement to reach 100 caps - you'll go down in Welsh football history books.

It shows your dedication to the country ands the sacrifices you've made.

I'm at 98, God forbid nothing happens to me playing Chelsea on Sunday so I can get to the 100 to join the likes on Wayne and the rest of them!

Wales great Neville Southall has urged Wayne Hennessey to set his sights on an astonishing 150 caps for his country.

Burnley goalkeeper Hennessey, 35, becomes Wales' third male centurion this evening - and is being presented with a trophy to mark the occasion by Southall as we speak.

For many years Southall was Wales' record-cap holder with his haul of 92.

But in a message to Hennessey, former Everton keeper Southall said: "Well done, mate, there is another 50 in the bank if you want to try."

Speaking to BBC Sport Wales, Southall added: "There is no point sitting here and saying, 'I have 100'.

"You have to push on and get as many as you can because I know you can sit at home and have loads of memories. So you may as well just crack on."

Read more...Wales goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey should target 150 caps, says legend Neville Southall

Image source, Getty Images

Rabbi Matondo is one of the younger Wales players hoping to impress tonight having impressed in Belgium this season with Cercle Brugge.

The winger hopes to help Wales finish their March camp on a high.

Matondo, who is on loan from Schalke, has praised Cercle Brugge for their role in helping him regain fitness following injury last summer.

Nathan Blake
Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Wales

You've got to look to blood the younger players and tonight's the perfect opportunity, good opposition off the back of a great win and nothing riding on the game.

That next generation - it's time to see what they've got in the locker.

Defender Ben Davies and midfielder Dylan Levitt are absent tonight, as is Aaron Ramsey.

Davies has returned to Tottenham as a precaution, while Levitt - on loan at Dundee United from Manchester United - left Wales' squad due to illness.

Davies played the full 90 minutes of Thursday's 2-1 win over Austria in their World Cup play-off semi-final.

"He's played a lot of football recently and I think it's just common sense," said Wales manager Robert Page.

"I don't see any point in risking him whatsoever. It's no good sending him back to Tottenham injured.

"It's more of a precaution - he's not injured. We're showing them [Spurs] respect by sending him back fit and healthy for their game."

Image source, Getty Images

Real Madrid's Gareth Bale has received "unjustified criticism" from the Spanish media says former Wales and Barcelona striker Mark Hughes.

There have been suggestions in Spain that Bale is more committed to playing for Wales than he is to performing for Real Madrid.

"It's water off a duck's back for him, but he will react when he thinks it's unjust or out of order," said Hughes.

You can read more of Hughes' views below - and please enjoy this picture of Gareth Bale doing his best Sparky impression at the end of the Austria game.

Read more... Real Madrid's Wales forward 'bearing brunt' of media scrutiny - Hughes

Image source, Getty Images

Gareth Bale begins on the bench, but few would be surprised should Wales' talisman come on and make some more headlines this evening.

In the wake of his starring role in the Austria win, the Wales captain hit back at Spanish newspaper Marca over a column which described him as a "parasite".

Bale has been criticised in Madrid for being perceived to be more committed to playing for Wales than Real Madrid.

Bale says he wants to use his profile to "change the way we publicly talk and criticise people".

"The everyday pressure on athletes is immense," Bale wrote on social media.

Read more.... Wales and Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale hits back at Spanish media

Image source, Getty Images

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales at Cardiff City Stadium

Around 12,500 tickets had been sold for this match when I checked with the Football Association of Wales a couple of hours ago.

Apart from games with Covid restrictions, this would be Wales’ lowest home crowd since 7,666 watched the Belarus friendly in September 2019.

Wales are one game away from "living the dream" at the World Cup but remain uncertain about who they will meet in the play-off final and when it will be.

Thursday's win over Austria sets up a final against Scotland or Ukraine.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine led their Scotland semi-final to be postponed, with June a likely alternative, but a new date has not yet been confirmed.

"We've not really thought that far in front at the minute," said Wales manager Robert Page.

"We're just off the back of getting to the final so that's still sinking in.

"There's a lot of dates getting thrown around but nothing's set in stone, nothing's confirmed."

Read more...Wales' World Cup path uncertain

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Singer Dafydd Iwan was one of the stars of the show, at least in the build-up to the game, as Austria were beaten last Thursday.

Robert Page has since invited Iwan to come and meet his players following his performance of the squad's adopted anthem 'Yma o Hyd'.

Iwan was moved to tears by the capacity crowd's reception at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey said the squad missed the performance as they were in the dressing room preparing for the match but said the players are looking forward to meeting up with Iwan in the future.

Natasha Harding
Wales international on BBC Radio Wales

Austria was the first time I've watched a Wales men's game as a fan for years.

If myself and Rachel Rowe had drinks in hand during the game they would have gone over everyone!

It was a phenomenal free-kick from Bale - we knew straight away it was going in and it was a phenomenal time to be here as a fan. It was an amazing atmosphere.