The Netherlands completed their preparations for last summer's World Cup by beating Wales 2-0 in a friendly in Amsterdam with goals from Arjen Robben and Jeremain Lens.

Wales gave a decent account of themselves but lacked any cutting edge.

It was the last time, before tonight's match, that Chris Coleman was without Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey.

Kevin Ratcliffe
Former Wales and Everton captain on BBC Radio Wales

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales at the Cardiff City Stadium

Image source, BBC Sport

Welsh football seems to have been in a permanent state of celebration for the past month, and tonight's friendly against Netherlands is the latest opportunity for the fans to toast Wales' qualification for Euro 2016.

While manager Chris Coleman and his staff consider training bases and future friendly fixtures, fans have been brushing up on their French and preparing their itineraries for next summer.

There has also been child-like excitement among many about the prospect of a Wales squad sticker album for Euro 2016 and, judging by tonight's match programme, that looks like it will soon become reality.

Now, who's got that Gareth Bale 'shiny'?

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales at the Cardiff City Stadium

Tonight's message outside Cardiff City Stadium is 'diolch' - Welsh for thank you.

Wales host Netherlands in a friendly as they step up their preparations for Euro 2016, while the Oranje are looking to rebuild after failing to qualify for next summer's competition in France.

The pictures either side of the 'diolch' banner show Wales' players in their home and away kits for their first major tournament since the 1958 World Cup. 

For fans and players alike, the prospect of Wales at Euro 2016 is beginning to sink in.

Image source, BBC Sport

The record book makes grim reading for Wales fans. All seven of the past meetings between the sides have resulted in wins for the Dutch, with Wales conceding 21 goals and scoring just three. My maths is even good enough to work out Wales have conceded an average of three goals a game.

However, one thumping in Eindhoven skews matters slightly. The 7-1 defeat under Bobby Gould's reign in 1996 remains the stuff of nightmares for Wales fans. Amazingly, goalkeeper Neville Southall was man-of-the-match. It could've been double figures without him.

Image source, Getty Images

The Welsh youngsters have shown the way for the seniors tonight, with Harry Wilson's stoppage-time goal securing victory for Wales Under-21s in their Euro 2017 qualifier earlier this evening in Bangor.

Despite being the form side by far, can Wales really be classed as favorites to beat the Netherlands tonight?

The home side scored 11 goals in winning six of the 10 Euro 2016 qualifying games. Gareth Bale scored seven, Aaron Ramsey contributed two and Hal Robson-Kanu and David Cotterill pitched in with one apiece. All four are missing tonight.

Manager Chris Coleman has also lost Sam Vokes to injury, leaving Simon Church as the only striker in the squad with an international goal to his name.

The Netherlands may be reeling from a miserable qualifying campaign that yielded two wins from 10 games, but there's no denying the class and attacking threat of Arjen Robben, Klaas Jan Huntleaar and Memphis Depay.

Image source, Getty Images

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales at the Cardiff City Stadium

Wales make five changes from October’s 2-0 Euro 2016 qualifying win against Andorra as manager Chris Coleman reverts to his favoured 5-3-2 formation. Neil Taylor, Joe Ledley, Joe Allen, Andy King and Tom Lawrence - the Leicester forward who makes his first Wales start - replace David Vaughan, Aaron Ramsey, Gareth Bale, Hal Robson-Kanu and Sam Vokes.

Netherlands, meanwhile, make seven changes from last month’s 3-2 defeat at home to Czech Republic. Jeffrey Bruma, Virgil van Dijk, Daley Blind and Wesley Sneijder are the only players who keep their places from the final match of their ill-fated Euro 2016 qualifying campaign.

Wales: Hennessey; Gunter, Chester, A. Williams, Davies, Taylor; Ledley, Allen, King; J. Williams; Lawrence.

Netherlands: Cillessen; Janmaat, Bruma, van Dijk, Blind, Kongolo; Clasie, Sneijder, Promes; Robben, Dost.

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Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Tonight's friendly in Cardiff has a familiar ring to Wales fans - one team preparing excitedly for the finals of a major tournament and the other picking up the pieces after a disastrous qualifying campaign.

But there's one huge difference this time of course. Wales are the ones contemplating playing in Euro 2016 next summer, while the Dutch will be kicking their heels at home.

Has it sunk in yet?