Image source, Getty Images

Croatia, ranked seventh in the world, will be expected to chalk up a comfortable victory by a sell-out crowd in Split tonight.

Home confidence is understandable given that their only defeat in the last 13 games was in the World Cup semi-final, when they were beaten by Lionel Messi's Argentina.

In Qatar they progressed from a group featuring Belgium, Morocco and Canada, then overcame Japan and Brazil - albeit on penalties - in the knockout stages.

There was another meeting with Morocco in the third-place play-off, which Zlatko Dalic's team won 2-1.

Oh, and Croatia have never lost a home European Championship qualifier.

A Welsh win tonight would surely rank as one of their finest qualifying triumphs.

Nathan Blake
Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Wales

Rob Page is under no illusions, he knows that the World Cup performances weren't great.

We want to see a good performance, win, lose or draw, if we come out of this with a good performance that's a positive.

Wales are "resetting and reframing", according to manager Robert Page, at the start of this new era.

It is a big moment for the men's national side, who are looking to extend a golden period in their history without some of the players who have been central to their success.

So are Wales set for a bright new era, or a return to their footballing dark ages, or something in between without their record appearance-maker and star player?

BBC Sport Wales has assessed the situation.

Read more: Euro 2024 qualifying: Wales' new era begins in Croatia

Michael Pearlman
BBC Sport Wales at Stadion Poljud, Split

There is a fabulous atmosphere here in Split.

This is the Croatian fans' first chance to pay tribute to their side for their superb performance at the 2022 World Cup and the fans are making themselves heard and seen as they wave scarves that have been left on every seat in the stadium.

We are expecting a full house, or close enough, with 34,000 fans packed in.

Image source, BBC Sport

Helen Ward
Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Wales

It's disappointing to have lost Brennan Johnson in the build-up to camp, he is the next one to step in to those shoes.

With his options already reduced by the absence of Gareth Bale, Joe Allen and the rest, Robert Page could have done with some good fortune on the injury front for this particular international camp.

He has not had it.

The vastly experienced Wayne Hennessey, Wales' first-choice goalkeeper at the World Cup, is absent because of injury, as is their most influential defender, Ben Davies.

And as well as being without two more older heads, Wales were left disappointed this week by news that Hennessey's Nottingham Forest team-mate Brennan Johnson would not be joining up with the squad because of a fitness issue.

Page made it clear at his pre-match press conference that he was unhappy with the Johnson situation, saying: "As we know, playing for your country is something very special, it shouldn't be taken for granted, by anyone.

"Everybody who has got a responsibility for Brennan should respect that and help him in any way they can."

Read more: Brennan Johnson: Nottingham Forest forward out of Wales squad

Tom Bradshaw is not on the list of Welsh players eyeing a first cap tonight, but he feels almost like a new face having returned to the squad after five years away.

Bradshaw, 30, has been rewarded for his fine form Championship play-off contenders Millwall this season.

The Lions striker says he is ready to take his club from on to the international stage.

Image source, Getty Images

Gareth Bale may have retired at 33, but his former Real-Madrid team-mate Luka Modric is still going strong at 37.

Croatia's talisman will lead his team out tonight hoping this is the start of a run to success at the European Championship.

Croatia have proved they can compete with the very best, having knocked out Brazil en route to the World Cup semi-finals last year.

They also reached the semi-finals at Euro 2020, losing to England, and the final of the 2018 World Cup.

Still, Modric says Wales will provide a stern challenge tonight - even without Bale leading their attack.

"Of course it is a blow to the Welsh team not having Gareth Bale any more," Modric said.

"Every individual will need to give more, they can't rely on Gareth doing something on his own. They have to rely on each other as a team."

Croatia go to Turkey in three days' time for their second qualifier, while Wales are at home to Latvia. Armenia are the other side in Group D.

"We feel Wales and Turkey are our biggest competitors for a place at the Euros, so we want to start well," Modric added.

Image source, FAW

There are plenty of familiar names in that Wales side, but there is no doubt this game represents the beginning of a new chapter in Welsh football.

Gareth Bale, the talisman who has played such a huge part in Wales' recent successes, has gone, having retired in January.

So too have Joe Allen, Chris Gunter and Jonny Williams, three more stalwarts of the Wales squad.

Allen, like Bale, will be badly missed on the field of play.

In the place of some of the older heads come a crop of younger players, with no fewer than seven uncapped men in Page's squad this week.

Jordan James, Nathan Broadhead, Luke Harris and Ollie Cooper are younger players looking for a chance.

Then come three more experienced players - at club level at least - in Tom King, Morgan Fox and Liam Cullen, who were added to the squad late but crave international opportunities.

Can they, between them, help fill the void left by Bale and company? It is a mighty challenge.

Nathan Blake
Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Wales

We are going to see what sort of plan of action, what sort of tactical awareness Rob Page and his team have picked up over the last four months.

This is an incredibly difficult place to come and get a result.

Michael Pearlman
BBC Sport Wales at Stadion Poljud, Split

Wales boss Robert Page has selected a positive-looking XI for this daunting game.

Danny Ward starts in goal despite losing his place in the Leicester team, with Joe Morrell and Ethan Ampadu anchoring the midfield in what looks like a 4-2-3-1 formation with Kieffer Moore leading the Wales attack.

Aaron Ramsey plays in his favoured number 10 role.

Wales: Ward; Roberts, Williams, Rodon, Mepham; Ampadu, Morrell, Wilson, Ramsey, D James; Moore

Subs: King, Davies, Fox, Cabango, Cooper, Bradshaw, Harris, J James, Lockyer, Burns, Thomas, Broadhead

Image source, Getty Images

Michael Pearlman
BBC Sport Wales at Stadion Poljud, Split

Croatia are led by captain Luka Modric as they line up in the familiar 4-3-3 formation which has brought them so much success.

Modric is part of an outrageously talented midfield trio with Inter Milan's Marcelo Brozovic and Chelsea's Mateo Kovacic.

Tottenham wing-back Ivan Perisic starts as a left-sided forward, while Hajduk Split striker Marko Livaja leads the attack at his home ground.

Croatia: Livakovic, Juranovic, Sutalo, Gvardiol, Sosa; Brozovic, Kovacic, Modric; Kramaric, Perisic, Livaja.

Subs: Grbic, Labrovic, Stanisic, Barisic, Erlic, Majer, Vlasic, Pasalic, Ivanusec, Musa, Orsic, Vida.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, FAW

Good evening and welcome to night one of Wales' bid to qualify for a third successive European Championship.

It is the beginning of a new era for Wales, who are led by skipper Aaron Ramsey following the retirement of the great Gareth Bale.

And Robert Page's new-look squad are going straight in at the deep end as they face Croatia, who finished third at last year's World Cup and remain a formidable force.

We'll guide you through all the action, but let's start by having a look at tonight's teams.