Nathan Blake
Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Wales

Part of Rob Page's set-up is clearly to let South Korea have the ball but it does tire you out, especially in this heat.

A difficult night for Wales without the ball but the plan has to be to nick it and counter-attack.

Simon Church
Former Wales striker Simon Church on BBC Radio Wales

There's going to be long spells of the game without the ball, you can see that's the way Wales have set up.

The way Wales are going to hurt them is to hit them on the break.

Brennan Johnson is Wales' central striker tonight, with Harry Wilson offering support from the right and Nathan Broadhead on the left.

Ethan Ampadu is at the base of midfield alongside Jordan James.

A bright opening from Wales as Brennan Johnson wins possession and feeds Harry Wilson.

He tries to roll in Nathan Broadhead but South Korea clear.

We are under way at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Can Rob Page's Wales claim what would be a welcome win, even if this is only a friendly?

Rob Phillips
BBC Wales Football Correspondent and Commentator

I don't think Wales can afford to sack Rob Page at the moment, particularly with all the money Noel Mooney has earmarked for grassroots football.

If Wales lose on Monday (against Latvia) he's in danger.

I'd expect to see him going to the play-offs in March but Page is well aware of the pressure that's building.

Nathan Blake
Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Wales

There's a lot of factors why the crowd is so small tonight.

After what we've seen over the past decade or so and with some of the opponents we see today I'd have expected 20-25,000 but it wasn't to be.

I understand times are difficult and the Welsh squad hasn't performed well since pre-World Cup, but one way to get the fans back is by winning games.

Image source, FAW

We do not know the exact numbers yet, but suffice to say tonight’s attendance will not be remotely close to a sell-out.

Is that simply because Wales are struggling for form right now? Recent struggles are bound to be a factor, but there is almost certainly more to it than that.

BBC Sport Wales has had a look at what other reasons may be behind a fairly meagre turn-out.

Read more: Wales v South Korea: Why crowds are dwindling for friendlies in Wales

Simon Church
Former Wales striker Simon Church on BBC Radio Wales

For the coaching staff this game is a bit of an inconvenience but for the young lads like Nathan Broadhead there's opportunities and you've got to take those.

It's a bit of a transition at the minute, we went through something similar previously 10 years ago with the younger generation coming through and it took a bit of time to mould.

We've lost top players so it's going to take some time but we've got some good young players coming through as well.

As we mentioned earlier, Rob Page has made no secret of the fact that he would rather his team were not in action tonight.

But Uefa rules stipulate that Wales had to play somebody, so prepare for plenty of substitutions as Page eyes the Latvia game as the one his team really need to win.

"I've already got a plan in place, what players, what minutes they've played this season, who needs more minutes than others," Page said.

Read more: Wales face South Korea friendly but focus on Latvia, says boss Robert Page

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Ethan Ampadu spoke to the media this week and explained how he has happy to be putting down roots in Yorkshire following his permanent summer move to Leeds United.

Ampadu was sent out on various loan spells during six years at Chelsea – but this is a stadium which has long felt like home, of course, for the versatile 22-year-old.

Read more: Ethan Ampadu: Maturing Leeds United player can give Wales fans hope

Brennan Johnson is a key man for Wales following the retirement of Gareth Bale, and the forward will have to deal with expectation at club level, too, following his move to Tottenham Hotspur.

Rob Page is convinced the 22-year-old can cope.

Image source, Getty Images

Son Heung-min and Brennan Johnson are in opposing camps tonight, but they will soon be sharing a dressing room following the latter's deadline-day move from Nottingham Forest to Tottenham Hotspur.

Johnson has joined fellow countryman Ben Davies at Spurs - while Joe Rodon is also on the books, though he is on loan for the season at Leeds - and Son is excited to see another Welshman in north London.

"I haven't played with him and I haven't seen him in action but I can't wait to see him on Thursday," Son said in a pre-match press conference held yesterday.

"Obviously we are playing against each other but then a few days later we are playing together and I can't wait to play with him."

Read more: Son Heung-min: Spurs forward 'can't wait' to play alongside Brennan Johnson

Image source, FAW

We mentioned that Rob Page has taken some flak as a result of Wales’ recent struggles – but captain Aaron Ramsey has led the players in backing his manager this week.

With Gareth Bale, Joe Allen and Chris Gunter no longer around, Ramsey is one of the leaders in the Wales squad.

And the Cardiff City midfielder says Page’s squad can revive their Euro 2024 qualification bid.

"I think we are all behind the gaffer," captain Aaron Ramsey said.

"What he has done has been quite remarkable - coming in [in] the circumstances that he did, getting to a European Championship and getting to the World Cup.

"Now we are going through a transitional period, we have lost some big players and it was always going to be difficult. We have lost some staff as well. That has been a bit of a change.

"We've been in this position before. We had to take it to the Hungary game in the last one to qualify [for Euro 2020] so hopefully this can be a similar case."

Image source, Getty Images

South Korea went one step further than Wales at the 2022 World Cup, where they beat Portugal and drew with Uruguay – as well as losing to Ghana – to progress from their group before being thumped by Brazil in the round of 16.

Paul Bento stepped down after the tournament, with Jurgen Klinsmann appointed as his successor on a three-and-a-half-year deal in February.

Since then, South Korea have played four home games, drawing against Colombia and El Salvador and losing to Uruguay and Peru.

Klinsmann, who has been criticised for not spending enough time in South Korea since taking charge, could do with a change of fortune with the start of World Cup qualifying to come in November and the Asia Cup also on the horizon.

Read more: Jurgen Klinsmann: Is time running out for winless South Korea boss?

Wales defender Neco Williams says the players are not concerned by criticism over their form.

Image source, FAW

Rob Page has come under fire as a result of Wales’ recent form, with their solitary win in a dozen games since they beat Ukraine to qualify for last year’s World Cup coming against Latvia in March.

They endured a hat-trick of Nations League defeats – albeit against quality opposition in tier one of the competition – before that underwhelming display at the World Cup.

A draw in Croatia to begin Euro 2024 qualifying offered hope as Wales began coming to terms with life after Gareth Bale – not to mention Joe Allen, Chris Gunter and Jonny Williams – and the 1-0 success over Latvia left Page’s side top of the group after the opening matches.

But defeats in June to Turkey and, more damagingly, at home to Armenia, have left Page open to criticism.

He could do with a couple of positive results in this window to ease the pressure.

Like Page, South Korea boss Jurgen Klinsmann could do with a result this evening, even if it is only a friendly match.

After all, the German World Cup winner is yet to win a game in four attempts since being appointed by South Korea six months ago.

His team tonight is led by Tottenham skipper Son Heung-min.

There are some other big names involved too, such as Bayern Munich's Kim Min-jae at the heart of defence.

South Korea: Kim Seung-gyu; Seol Young-woo, Jung Seung-hyun, Kim Min-jae; Hong Hyun-seok, Lee Jae-sung, Park Yong-woo, Hwang In-beom; Son Heung-min, Cho Gue-sung

Substitutes: Kim Joon-hong, Jo Hyeon-woo, Kim Ju-sung, Lee Dong-gyeong, Hwang Hee-chan, Kang Sang-woo, Ahn Hyun-beom, Hwang Ui-jo, Yang Hyun-jun, Oh Hyeon-gyu, Kim Young-gwon, Moon Seon-min, Lee Soon-min, Kim Ji-soo

Image source, BBC Sport

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales at Cardiff City Stadium

Robert Page declared on the eve of this game that given the choice – and there was not one because of Uefa regulations – he would prefer his team not to be playing tonight as their focus is Latvia.

It's a bit of a surprise, therefore, the Wales boss has made only three changes from June's 2-0 Euro 2024 qualifying defeat in Turkey.

One of the recalled players, Ben Davies, captains the team with Aaron Ramsey rested on the bench.

Birmingham City midfielder Jordan James and Ipswich Town forward Nathan Broadhead earn their first Wales starts.

Kieffer Moore and Joe Morrell, who will be suspended in Latvia on Monday, are the other two players who drop out.

Wales: Ward; Mepham, Rodon, B. Davies; Roberts, Ampadu, J. James, Williams; Wilson, Johnson, Broadhead.

Substitutes: A Davies, King, Fox, Brooks, Ramsey, Matondo, Moore, Morrell, Cabango, Bradshaw, Burns, Sheehan

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, FAW

Good evening and welcome to the Cardiff City Stadium, where Wales are in friendly action against South Korea.

The big game for Wales in this international window comes on Monday night, when they take on Latvia in a Euro 2024 qualifier.

A win in Riga looks essential for Wales as they look to revive their hopes of reaching a third successive European Championship.

But first comes a chance to secure what would be just a second victory in 13 games – even if Rob Page would rather his team were not playing.

Let’s start by having a look at tonight’s teams.