Summary

Excited? Nervous? Your views & images before WC play-offs

Live Reporting

Written by Ben Ramsdale, Holly Bacon & Tasnim Chowdhury.

  1. Get Involved

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    Go on boys, do it for yourselves and your nation. Good luck to Northern Ireland, hopefully we’ll see you in Cardiff next week

    Martin

  2. Green and White Army in Bergamo

    Italy v Northern Ireland (19:45 GMT)

    Faith Harper
    BBC Sport NI in Bergamo

    The Green and White Army are confident

    There may only be roughly 1200 tickets for Northern Ireland fans to tonight's game but it's fair to say there's a few more than that already in the streets of Bergamo.

    I caught up with a few of them who have made the trip over.

  3. Get Involved - 'Strike that match'

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    Northern Ireland go... strike that match and set it on fire...

    June

    I'll be cheering for Northern Ireland. Not because of a love for them, but rather a festering disdain for Italy. Best of luck to everyone watching tonight.

    Harry

  4. Get Involved - 'We are coming to America'

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    Taking my boy to his first Welsh game tonight should be a cracker! We may not be the biggest footballing nation but no one can beat our support and passion! Come on Wales!! We're coming to America!!

    Nathan

    Wales fan here, sat waiting for the train to Cardiff. Feeling very very confident! Bellamy the man!

    Matthew

  5. 'The expectation and the hope is for a Wales win'

    Wales v Bosnia and Herzegovina (19:45 GMT)

    Hal Robson-Kanu
    Former Wales forward on BBC Radio 5 Live

    It’s part of being a professional footballer - those nerves, that anticipation, the expectation and weight on your shoulders but for the players in the squad, this is what they do week in week out.

    They’re fortunate to have a manager in Craig Bellamy who has played at the highest level, experienced these types of games and that type of pressure to win things in professional football.

    It’s going to be an amazing night. Everyone is really looking forward to it. The expectation and the hope is for a win.

  6. 'There's no fear for Northern Ireland'

    Italy v Northern Ireland (19:45 GMT)

    Michael O'NeillGetty Images

    Former Northern Ireland striker Conor Washington on BBC Radio 5 Live: "That's the beauty of football - you always stand a chance.

    "I think the one-legged play-off probably suits Northern Ireland. You go out there, give it everything and like Michael O'Neil said, there’s no fear, no repercussions for Northern Ireland here. It's a huge opportunity to go and get through to the next stage."

  7. Get Involved - 'Feels great knowing Scotland have qualified'

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    Feels great knowing Scotland have already qualified. Can't wait to cheer on my Bosnian, Czech & Italian brothers tonight...not that I'm bitter!

    Kevin

  8. Get Involved

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    Wilson needs an almost perfect week for Wales, if they are to make it to the World Cup. As for Northern Ireland, they need an almost perfect game to beat Italy in Italy.

    Hassan

  9. Wilson watch

    Wales v Bosnia and Herzegovina (19:45 GMT)

    Kath Morgan
    Former Wales captain on BBC Radio Wales

    Wales' Harry WilsonHuw Evans Picture Agency

    We have to be careful, there's a target on his back.

    We used to do it with Gareth Bale who was a world-class player.

    Harry Wilson is proving to be very consistent, but there are 10 other guys out there, so let's not put all of the pressure on him.

    Tonight, you're looking for someone to write those headlines in the morning, and why not him?

    He's been fantastic for us and he will want to contribute. He should have a good night.

  10. 'We can be a match for anyone'

    Italy v Northern Ireland (19:45 GMT)

    Northern Ireland

    Northern Ireland and Swansea City midfielder Ethan Galbraith speaking to BBC Sport NI: "I've thought about it a few times and they are going to be tough games, but to even be a part of those games is huge.

    "We can go out there, give it our all and hopefully it will be enough on the night.

    "It's a bit of a pinch me moment. To be involved in this squad is unreal, but to be two games away from a World Cup is crazy.

    "You have to prepare for their [Italy] best team and we did that with Germany.

    "Germany are a top side and so is Italy with a number of superstars, so having those games against Germany in the group has put us in good stead for this game.

    "If we can go out and give it 100%, we can be a match for anyone."

  11. Get Involved - 'Galbraith key for Northern Ireland'

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    Ethan Galbraith is going to be key! Premier League sides should be looking at him.

    Luke

  12. Get Involved - Bosnia have a 'very strong squad'

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    A lot of Wales fans are looking through Bosnia. Bad idea. Our record against them is poor and they have a very strong squad. Wales will be lucky to edge a result tonight.

    Lewis

  13. 'Be calm' and take inspiration from recent experience

    Wales v Bosnia and Herzegovina (19:45 GMT)

    Dafydd Pritchard
    BBC Sport Wales

    Wales' Head Coach Craig Bellamy applauds the fansGetty Images

    Wales have been here before. They successfully navigated the play-offs to qualify for the last World Cup, securing their place in the finals for the first time in 64 years.

    The current 26-man squad includes 12 members of the matchday 23 when Wales beat Ukraine 1-0 in their play-off final in June 2022 – and there would be more were it not for injuries.

    So, when they face Bosnia, Wales can take encouragement from the knowledge that so many of their players have experience of winning these big matches.

    "It's just normal for this group of players. It's ingrained in them," said Craig Bellamy.

    "It's not for us to ride the rollercoaster. Everyone in these play-offs wants to get to the World Cup. We completely understand that and our fans will play a big part.

    "Their experience in these games will play a big part, but us as coaching staff and the players, we have to be able to separate ourselves at times from it.

    "We feed off it when we need to, because there will be moments where we definitely will, but let's be clear, be calm."

  14. Get Involved - 'An almost impossible task'

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    Northern Ireland losing Ballard and Bradley - possibly our two best players - makes this feel like an almost impossible task. I think this World Cup has come a year or two too early for this exciting young squad.

    James

  15. Get Involved - 'Place is buzzing'

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    In Prague. Place is buzzing. Loads of parrots. COYBIG

    Andrew

    Pics or lying

  16. McCann out for NI

    Italy v Northern Ireland (19:45 GMT)

    Northern Ireland

    Bit of news from Bergamo - and Northern Ireland midfielder Ali McCann has been left out of the matchday squad for tonight's game.

    Manager Michael O'Neill was hopeful that the Preston midfielder would be fit to face the Italians, but it seems he has not recovered from the knock he picked up against Coventry City a fortnight ago.

    No Ballard or Bradley already for Northern Ireland - how much of a loss is McCann?

    Let us know your thoughts!

    Ali McCann outBBC Sport

  17. One of Wales or Northern Ireland will definitely NOT make it

    Ruairi McConville (39) of Northern Ireland shows frustration during the friendly match between Denmark and Northern Ireland at Parken StadiumGetty Images

    With all that said...

    Should Northern Ireland beat Italy - something they have not done since 1958 - they will face the winner of Wales v Bosnia and Herzegovina.

    This means, should Wales make it through this evening, along with Northern Ireland, we will have an all-British final on our hands.

    One way or another, at least one of the home nations will be staying at home this summer.

  18. Have all home nations ever played in same World Cup?

    Ask Me Anything

    It's funny you should ask that, Tim...

    The 1958 World Cup in Sweden was the last and in fact only time all home nations have played at the same World Cup.

    Qualifying was a much more simple process back then, with nine automatic qualification spots up for grabs for the 27 European nations competing.

    Scotland, Northern Ireland and England all topped their groups, but Wales qualified in unusual fashion after finishing second in qualifying but then being selected at random to compete in a play-off against Israel.

    Wales advanced with a 4-0 aggregate victory over two legs to book their place at their first World Cup.

    The tournament did not go to plan for England and Scotland though.

    England, who were in a group with the Soviet Union, Austria and eventual winners Brazil, failed to make it to the knockout stage, while Scotland fared little better.

    The Tartan Army were also eliminated at the first hurdle following defeats to France and Paraguay, and a draw against Yugoslavia.

    However, Wales and Northern Ireland performed comparatively better. Both made it to the quarter-finals, with Northern Ireland eventually knocked out by France and Wales eliminated by a Brazil squad that included 17-year-old Pele.

    Brazil beat hosts Sweden 5-2 in the final, with Pele scoring a brace to mark his emergence on the world stage.

    France's Just Fontaine scored 13 goals across the competition - a record that still stands today.

    Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales have never all appeared in the same Women's World Cup tournament.

  19. Get Involved - Have all home nations qualified before?

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    I know its a long shot but how great would it be to have England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland ALL at the same world cup. Has this ever happened before?

    Tim

  20. No-one can replace Bale - but Wilson's giving it a go

    Wales v Bosnia and Herzegovina (19:45 GMT)

    Dafydd Pritchard and Chris Wathan
    BBC Sport Wales

    One player cannot replace Gareth Bale – Wales' greatest is simply irreplaceable – but Harry Wilson is giving the impossible job a pretty good go.

    It is difficult to overstate the void Bale left. More international goals and appearances than any other Welshman, and the stats only hint at the transformational effect the former Real Madrid forward had on his country.

    Since Bale retired in 2023, Wilson has scored more goals than any of his countrymen. In fact, 12 of his 17 career international goals have come during that time.

    Many have been spectacular, adding to a showreel of long-range strikes to rival Bale's back catalogue.

    Most have come with Wilson's left foot too, a source of magic akin to the one Bale possessed.

    There is even a slight suggestion of a physical resemblance. Well, maybe that's pushing the comparison, but Wilson's flowing locks now require an Alice band like Bale's. A nod to the hair apparent?

    Where Wales used to rely on Bale in their most important moments, now they turn to Wilson.

    When Wales beat Austria and Ukraine in play-offs to reach the 2022 World Cup, Bale scored all three goals.

    Could Wilson do similar this time?

    Harry Wilson celebrates after scoring for WalesGetty Images