Craig Bellamy, the current head coach of the Wales national team will continue in his position until 2028 and the Euros that year he hopes. That competition is being held on home ground in the UK and Ireland over June and July with Wales hosting numerous matches.

Before that he has a Nations League campaign to negotiate and of course qualification for those Euros. Having missed out on 2024 after going out at home to Poland for the last Euros on penalties, and of course the same scenario occurred last week for this years World Cup, it all feels like those unglamorous years between the late seventies into the new century. To account for all the penalty woes and drama would take a book at least. Back then Wales were always expected to lose out either in the group phase or any method thereafter for the Euro campaigns and World Cup for years. It all brought it back last Thursday evening,

On that Bellamy has commented, "The heartbreak is actually more than I anticipated, but the energy to refocus and go again is definitely still there. I really enjoy this. We'll talk more after it [Tuesday's friendly against Northern Ireland] probably because my mind is just so focused on the present moment. But it's the best role in the world. Nothing will ever compare to this so why would I want to wish it away? I've really enjoyed doing this and I still do."

Tonight in what is a friendly between the two losers in the semi final play offs we see Wales play Northern Ireland in Cardiff (7:45pm) The expectation of a sold out crowd and the possibility of a tie against Italy to qualify for the World Cup gripped the imagination. Well, before Thursday. Those younger elements who witnessed the 2024 and 2026 penalty shoot outs are only just now learning that following Wales is a bruising pastime.

Paul Bodin (below) quote after missing an in play penalty in the last group game v Romania to qualify for the 1994 World Cup in the USA. Wales had to win. "I have had to live with that hurt and it never quite goes away". (2015)

The sold out crowd will not all turn up that’s for sure, there are no refunds though that was clearly stated on buying your tickets for the semi and final play offs over this International break. Northern Ireland fans have been refunded by their FA if they so wish.

Tonight we expect to see the likes of Ben Cabango and a few of the Cardiff academy players, that should happen - and we also expect to see keeper Karl Darlow on the bench. Josh Sheehan and Nathan Broadhead we hope will feature. In a way it’s nice to see the opportunity for Bellamy to mix it up a bit and take the pressure off.

We will have coverage of the game later on the Indy before turning to the last seven games of the season in the Championship. We kick that off tomorrow morning. It feels like this break has gone on forever.

Ground plan

Photographs : Swansea Independent, Reuters and Open Source