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When the draw came out I think it was one of the best Wales could have got.

Finland didn't have a great group stage, they didn't finish strongly. They picked up a couple of wins but that was against teams they are expected to beat and we were pushing for automatic qualification - we only just missed out on that.

For us, it's a game we're looking forward to it and hopefully we can set something up for Tuesday [play-off final], not that we can talk about that yet.

Aaron Ramsey [not starting] is a blow. He's a great figure to have in the camp though.

The forward line are on fire at the moment. Keiffer Moore, Dan James, Brennan Johnson and David Brooks could all be key.

Moore should start down the middle and his presence alone will hopefully scare Finland.

The toughest thing for Rob Page is he has to pick three or four from five or six attackers that are in great form.

Guy: The international break is dull as an English fan. The games should be used to test out new players, new combinations, new formations.

Instead we get the same out of form players picked, in the same formations, which lead to boring draws.

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One thing you haven't been able to say about Wales in the past is that they are spoilt for choice going forward.

Keiffer Moore has got a good record recently against Finland, he's in great form for Ipswich and scored a terrific goal at the Cardiff City stadium a few weeks ago for Ipswich. He could be the man tonight.

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England and Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has been speaking to BBC football correspondent John Murray in the build-up to the friendlies against Brazil and Belgium.

The Three Lions face Brazil on Saturday and Belgium on Tuesday - both games are at Wembley.

It's a final opportunity for manager Gareth Southgate to cast his eye over players before he names his 23-man squad for Euro 2024 in the summer.

One fresh face in the set-up is defender Jarrad Branthwaite after impressing at Everton this season.

“Jarrad make his debut for us when Carlo [Ancelotti] was the manager and I think he was Man of the Match against Sheffield United," Pickford said.

“We knew what a player he was then, but he went out [on loan] to Blackburn and then he went to PSV.

“Being in the Under-21s set up as well for the last 18 months, he has been getting watched closely and his performances for Everton have been great.

“He’s been really good, he’s a bit of a Rolls Royce.

“He’s been quality this season and it’s a massive honour for him and his family to get called up for England, but it is fully deserved as well.”

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Former Manchester City and Real Madrid forward Robinho must serve a nine-year rape sentence in his home country of Brazil, a court has ruled.

Robinho, 40, was found guilty by an Italian court in 2017 of taking part in the 2013 gang rape of a 22-year-old Albanian woman.

He has been living in Brazil, which does not extradite its nationals.

Judges in Brasilia ruled on Wednesday that he should serve his sentence in Brazil following a request from Italy.

He will remain free pending a possible appeal against the ruling, lawyers said.

The former Brazil international, who has 100 caps for his country, was playing for AC Milan at the time of the crime.

After being found guilty he lost an appeal in 2020 before Italy's highest court upheld his sentence in 2022.

Northern Ireland defender Conor Bradley says his meteoric rise at Liverpool this season has been "a bit of a whirlwind'.

The 20-year-old scored his first Liverpool goal in January and won the Carabao Cup a month later.

"To get out there playing for Liverpool is brilliant but to get my first goal and first couple of assists has been unreal," he told BBC Sport NI.

"It's pretty special what's happened and I just want to keep it going."

January was a breakthrough month for the right-back after replacing the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold in Jurgen Klopp's side.

Bradley provided an assist as he made his full Premier League debut against Bournemouth before delivering a man-of-the-match display in a4-1 win over Chelsea.

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I don't think [Aaron Ramsey] will be starting. They are going to have to cope without him, until at least late on in the game.

He's played just 90 minutes of football since he got injured in September when he was in fine form for Cardiff and playing well for Wales too.

Wales have got this far largely without him for the six or seven months and I think they'll have to cope without him, but what a player to be able to bring on for the last 20 minutes if you're trying to see out the game or looking a goal to make a difference.

He is there and is around the camp. The other players really like him and he's a big figure off the field as well as on it.

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It's huge. The excitement has been building for a while now around Wales. Players will be waking up this morning knowing the job in hand they'll probably know the team too.

It's just last minute preparations before the game. They'll be pretty chilled out, unlike the rest of Wales.

The play-offs do bring a bit of nerves but being at home is massive. That home draw is huge. The atmosphere at the Cardiff City stadium is like nothing else, it's almost like a cauldron.

Warren: The international break is just a void between league games and I just count the days until the next game next week.

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It's absolutely huge [for Wales].

We all wondered what life would be like after Gareth Bale. Well, this would be the first qualification that Wales have achieved since his retirement and the first one without Bale.

Wales ended a run from 1958 to 2016 by qualifying for France and Euro 2016, which was a fairy tale. That was groundbreaking but this would be hugely significant because the absence of Bale. I just don't think you can underestimate how Wales' greatest ever player can be replaced, but Rob Page, in a period of transition, has got Wales to the brink again.

If they qualify to a third consecutive European Championships it would be something amazing.

Wales are unbeaten in their past four meetings with Finland in all competitions, most recently a 0-0 draw in a friendly in September 2021.

However, they have never won a European Championship play-off match, drawing and losing against Hungary in 1962-1963, Yugoslavia in 1976 and Russia in 2003.

Although of course did qualify for the 2022 World Cup via the play-offs.

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Finland supporter Rich Nelson was speaking with BBC Radio 5 Live breakfast this morning in the build-up to tonight's Euro 2024 qualifying play-off semi-final against Wales.

Nelson said: "A lot of people know Teemu Pukki from his time at Norwich but Joel Pohjanpalo is the top scorer in Italy's Serie B at the moment. It's probably about the strongest squad Finland could name.

"It has been pretty positive over the last five or six years.

"The last Euros, 2020, was the first tournament that Finland had ever qualified for and then there's a bit of confidence and expectation.

"Not finishing in the top two in the [Euro 2024 qualifying group] was a bit of a shame but that's what happens when you lose at home to Kazakhstan. There's a lot of optimism, though.

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Wales captain Aaron Ramsey is expected to be on the bench this evening, having only made a brief substitute appearance for Cardiff City last Saturday following a calf strain.

Tottenham Hotspur defender Ben Davies is set to wear the armband again, having led Wales in October and November when Ramsey was ruled out with a knee injury.

Ipswich Town winger Wes Burns, Swansea City centre-back Ben Cabango and Wycombe Wanderers central defender Joe Low have withdrawn from Wales' squad because of injury.

Niall Huggins, Joe Morrell and Tom Bradshaw were already missing through injury, while Luton Town captain Tom Lockyer is not included as he continues his recovery from the cardiac arrest he suffered during a Premier League match in December.

Finland are without midfielder Robert Taylor, while Middlesbrough striker Marcus Forss is a doubt.

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A big night for Wales fans - so let us know where you plan to watch the Euro 2024 qualifying play-off semi-final against Finland and what your prediction is for how things will pan out...

Poland or Estonia await in Tuesday's final, so how do you rate Wales' chances of quallifying?

We also want to hear from England, Scotland and Northern Ireland supporters - what do you want to see from your countries in their friendlies? Is there anyone in particular you'd like to see playing?

And what about the Republic of Ireland - after Lee Carsley turned down the manager's job, who would be your selection for the role.

Get in touch using the methods above. We'd love to hear from you - and please leave your name on messages.

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With the Euros fast approaching, defender Ryan Porteous believes Scotland are "not far off" the best teams going to Germany this summer.

Scotland get the tournament started against the host nation in Germany on 14 June, while they also face Switzerland and Hungary in Group A.

Preparations continue with friendlies against Netherlands and Northern Ireland, with Porteous saying: "These two games are about showing what we can do, particularly in the first game, against the top teams."

The Watford centre-half added: "That's why we picked the previous games against England and France, because we want to try to compete against the best and learn how to develop as a team.

"I don't think we're far off. We want to grow on and off the pitch. There are certain things we've analysed from those games and it's a good opportunity for us. Hopefully, it will make us ready when the time comes."

Scotland lost 3-1 at home to England and were beaten 4-1 in France in friendly matches either side of their only defeat in Euro 2024 qualifying; 2-0 away to Spain.

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Former Arsenal winger Paul Merson says football is "ravaged" with gambling and the bans given to Ivan Toney and Sandro Tonali are a "disgrace".

Merson says he was a "compulsive gambler" during his playing days and that it is a "hidden addiction" because it is hard for people to spot.

Toney was banned for eight months for 232 breaches of betting rules while Tonali's 10-month ban ends in August.

"People have no respect for the gambling addiction," said Merson.

"We've seen that with the bans of Sandro Tonali at Newcastle and Ivan Toney at Brentford.

"To give people 10-month bans for an addiction that is ravaging football, with sponsorships all over the shirts... They needed help and I don't think 'help' is giving them 10-month bans.

"We underestimate this addiction. We need to show it some respect and not, 'oh, show a bit of willpower'. I would say to the people who make these rules up and ban people, 'next time you get diarrhoea, try and stop that with willpower'."

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West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta says he is "happy to be helping as much as I can" with an investigation for potential betting rules breaches.

Last August,sources told BBC Sport, Paqueta, 26, was being investigated by the Football Association.

Paqueta has continued to play for West Ham and is in the Brazil squad for a friendly with England on Saturday.

"It's been seven months since it happened and I'm cooperating as much as I can," the player said on Wednesday.

The investigation, which is also said to involve world governing body Fifa, is believed to centre around bets placed in Brazil on yellow cards awarded against Paqueta.

The former AC Milan player, who has said he did not place any bets, added: "West Ham have always supported me, there was no reason for them not to do what they did, which was nothing more than put their player out there to play soccer.

"I'm happy to be helping, I hope to help at the end of the season."

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This is a major blow for Newcastle isn't it?

Defender Sven Botman is expected to be out for "six to nine months" after a scan showed he needs surgery on a knee injury.

The Dutchman injured his anterior cruciate ligament in Saturday's FA Cup defeat at Manchester City and had to be substituted late on.

The 24-year-old centre-back will have an operation next week.

"Everyone at Newcastle United wishes Sven a full and speedy recovery," the club said.

Botman initially sustained a knee injury in September and missed 17 games - including the final five of the Magpies' Champions League group games - before returning in December.

Newcastle said it was decided not to send Botman for surgery at that stage and he regained full fitness through a rehabilitation programme.

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Liverpool, Tottenham and AC Milan are among the clubs interested in Fulham's English defender Tosin Adarabioyo, however the Cottagers want to offer the former Manchester City player a new contract. (Standard), external

After loan spells with West Brom and Blackburn, Adarabioyo left Man City to join Fulham on a permanent deal in October 2020.

The 26-year-old has become a key figure for the Cottagers, making 127 appearances across all competitions.

Read the full gossip column here.

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Tottenham are interested in Barcelona and Brazil winger Raphinha, 27, whose future at the La Liga giants is unclear. (Sport - in Spanish), external

Raphinha joined Barcelona from Leeds in a deal worth up to £55m in the summer of 2022.

He helped the Spanish giants to win La Liga last season but has struggled to have a consistent impact in 2023-24.

BBC Sport has a dedicated Spurs page packed with news, analysis and fan views - get it here