Northern Ireland meet Wales in an international friendly on Tuesday at Cardiff City Stadium, as both teams look to reset after World Cup heartbreak.
Northern Ireland arrived in Wales after a 2–0 defeat to Italy brought an end to their own World Cup qualification bid. Michael O’Neill’s side have now been beaten in four of their last six matches, underlining the need for a fresh start.
Northern Ireland team news
O’Neill also has selection problems, with four important players — Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Paddy McNair, Ruairi McConville and Ali McCann — having gone back to their clubs after the Italy loss. On top of that, Conor Bradley, Daniel Ballard and Jamal Lewis are unavailable, forcing Northern Ireland into a much-changed and youthful lineup.
19-year-old Liverpool midfielder Kieran Morrison is widely expected to make his senior debut, likely starting alongside Shea Charles in the middle of the park. This blend of inexperience and potential will be a key theme for the visitors as they look beyond the recent disappointment.
In goal, Pierce Charles is set to continue after featuring against Italy, while full-backs Trai Hume and Brodie Spencer should bring energy and width on either side of the defence. Up front, Dion Charles and Callum Marshall are strong candidates to lead the line, with both forwards hoping to show they can be the long-term solution in attack for Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland predicted lineup
Possible Northern Ireland starting XI: P. Charles; Hume, McConville, Toal; Smyth, Saville, McDonnell, S. Charles, Devenny; Marshall, D. Charles
When will the match kick off?
The match will kick off at 7:45pm BST on Tuesday, 31st March.
How to watch Wales vs Northern Ireland?
The match will be broadcast live in the UK on BBC One, BBC Three and S4C, and streamed live on the BBC iPlayer and S4C Online.
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