Two quite different international minnows face off in Cardiff today as British rivals Wales and Northern Ireland resume preparations for their first ever appearances at a European Championship.
Whereas Wales boast stars like Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale and Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey, Northern Ireland’s success has been constructed in homelier fashion, their squad a blend of grizzled professionals and emerging talents.
It is, respectively, 58 and 30 years since Wales and Northern Ireland graced a major tournament and this week’s friendly will give an indication of how the two nations are shaping up ahead of Euro 2016.
“Friendlies are a chance for players to step in, show what they can do and stake a claim for a place at the Euro,” said Wales midfielder Joe Allen, whose side also tackle Ukraine in Kiev next week.
“We face two strong teams. They’re two very different games, but variety is key to our preparation. We can’t wait to get to France and show the world what we can do.”
Wales manager Chris Coleman will be without both Bale and Ramsey for the meeting with Northern Ireland—the former left out in agreement with Real Madrid, the latter nursing a thigh strain.
West Ham United defender James Collins, Leicester City midfielder Andy King and Newcastle United full-back Paul Dummett will also be absent at the Cardiff City Stadium.
But the squad still teems with Premier League know-how in the form of Liverpool’s Allen, skipper Ashley Williams, the Swansea City centre-back, and Crystal Palace pair Wayne Hennessey and Joe Ledley.

‘Dream come true’
“You don’t replace Aaron and Gareth, but that’s not to say that we haven’t got strength in depth,” said Coleman.
“This gives us a chance to look at one or two other guys and I see that as a positive, not a negative.”
There is Premier League experience, too, in Michael O’Neill’s Northern Ireland squad, but no-one with the cachet of a Ramsey or Bale.
The stalwarts of their qualifying campaign were 36-year-old centre-back Gareth McAuley and 34-year-old utility man Chris Baird, while Kyle Lafferty, a fringe player at Norwich City, top-scored with seven goals.
O’Neill, who recently signed a new four-year contract, has been obliged to cast his net wide, resulting in an unlikely first call-up for Queens Park Rangers striker Conor Washington.
The 23-year-old was born and raised in England, made the grade with Welsh club Newport County and has never previously set foot in Northern Ireland, who he qualifies to play for through his grandparents.
“I would love nothing better than to make the Euros, but there are a lot of quality strikers ahead of me at the minute, so I have to be realistic,” Washington told the BBC.
“If I did manage to make it to France with Northern Ireland, it would be a dream come true.”
Baird and Corry Evans will miss the trip to south Wales through injury, while West Bromwich Albion left-back Chris Brunt has been ruled out of Euro 2016 with anterior cruciate ligament damage.