WALES will meet Finland in a friendly at the Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday, November 16 - the same day that the Wales rugby team host Argentina at the Millennium Stadium.
The football match, which will kick off at 6pm, will be the twelfth meeting between the sides in a series of games that stretch back to 1971. The records are equal with four wins apiece and three draws. The last meeting being in October 2009 in the World Cup qualifier in Helsinki when Finland won 2-1, the Wales goal coming from Craig Bellamy.
The Football Association of Wales said: "For both teams the match will be a chance to start looking ahead to the 2016 European Championship qualifiers that will begin in September of 2014."
Finland are coached by Mixu Paatelainen, a former international striker who played for Dundee United, Aberdeen, Hibs, St.Johnstone and St.Mirren in Scotland, as well as Bolton Wanderers.
In their current World Cup campaign, Finland are lying in third position in Group I, behind Spain and France, but are not able to qualify for Brazil.
Wales manager Chris Coleman said: "This is an ideal friendly for us as we look ahead. Finland have always produced good, strong technical players and I have no doubt that they will be a very good test for us.”
He continued: “From a personal point of view, I remember playing against them for Wales in the first game at the Millennium Stadium in March 2000 when they beat us 2-1. Ryan Giggs scored for us in front of 66,000 fans. My old mate Andy Melville was alongside me in defence. Finland had players such as Sami Hyypia, Jari Litmanen and Mikael Forssell in their team. Quite a handful!”
Tickets will be priced at adults £10, senior citizens £5, juveniles (under-16) £1. Further ticket information will be available in due course at: www.FAW.org.uk
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