FINLAND V WALES
WALES return to action tonight for the first time since beating Hungary in Cardiff last year.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Nations League clash with Finland.
What time is kick-off?
The match at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium gets underway at 7.45pm.
Is it on TV?
Yes, the match will be screened live on S4C. Coverage will begin at 7.25pm.
It will also be screened live on Sky Sports. Coverage on their Main Event channel starts at 7pm.
Alternatively, you can follow our live match blog which will be on
WalesOnline’s Football page from around 5pm.
What is the latest team news?
David Brooks, Aaron Ramsey and Tyler Roberts have all pulled out of the squad due to injury.
Meanwhile, Ashley Williams withdrew from the double header due to personal reasons.
Ben Woodburn and Brennan Johnson have both been called up to the senior squad from the Under-21 side.
Norwich striker Teemu Pukki is set to lead the line for the Finns, with other familiar names including Rangers’ Glen Kamara and the Bayer Leverkusen duo of Lukas Hradecky and Joel Pohjanpalo.
What are the latest betting odds? Finland win 21/20; Draw 21/20; Wales win 11/8.
(Odds courtesy of The Pools, correct at time of publishing)
Match stats
Wales have played Finland 12 times, with four wins, four draws and four defeats.
■ The first meeting took place in May 1971 when a solitary goal from John Toshack separated the sides in Helsinki to earn Dave Bowen’s team three points in Euro qualifying. Toshack was also on target in the return match at the Vetch Field, Swansea later that year as Wales won 3-0. Alan Durban and Gil Reece completed the scoring.
Current manager Ryan Giggs represented Wales in three games against Finland, scoring in the 2-1 defeat in Cardiff in March 2000, which was the first international football match played at the Millennium Stadium. Giggs also faced Finland in Euro qualifying, winning 2-0 in Helsinki in September 2002 before being held to a 1-1 draw in front of over 70,000 fans in Cardiff a year later.
The last fixture between the two nations took place at the Cardiff City Stadium in November 2013 as Chris Coleman’s side were held to a 1-1 draw in an international friendly. Andy King opened the scoring for Wales early in the second half, but Riku Riski equalised in the final minutes for the visitors.