Tournament debutants Wales and Northern Ireland will go head-to-head on Saturday evening for their Round of 16 clash at the Parc des Princes.

The match will be Wales’ second all-UK game of the tournament, following their 2-1 loss to England in the group stage.

Making the event even more of a British love-in, the Premier League’s Martin Atkinson will officiate the match. Atkinson will be familiar with many of the 46 players in the two squads, with all but five playing their club football in England.

One of those five is, of course, Gareth Bale.

The Real Madrid forward is the tournament’s top scorer, tied on 3 goals with Alvaro Morata. Bale also ranks first for attempts on target (11), but Wales aren’t just a one man team as Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey leads the way with assists (2).

Wales are also the tournament’s top scoring side, scoring six times in the group stage.

Northern Ireland’s stats, meanwhile, do not make for fantastic reading. Michael O’Neill’s side rank last in ball possession (34%), pass completion (68%), number of passes (432) and total attempts (17).

With one win and two defeats, Northern Ireland qualified for the Round of 16 as the fourth and final third-placed side.

A 1-0 defeat to Poland in their opening Group C match was followed up with a 2-0 win over Ukraine and a 1-0 loss to World Champions Germany. That scoreline could’ve been a lot worse but for a number of great stops from goalkeeper Michael McGovern.

Northern Ireland’s main strength is at the back, where they’ve only conceded twice so far in the tournament. Moreover, they’ve only conceded one goal in the first half in one game in their last 22.

One suspects that Northern Ireland will back, allow Wales to have possession, in the hopes of hitting them on the break. Kyle Lafferty will hope to help in that endeavour as he aims to get off the mark in France, while fans will be hoping to get their first sight of Will Grigg at the Euros.

Possible XI

iamauxin:
Bales of Wales.....the difference.


Portugal will lift this trophy.

ArchEnemy:

Which trophy?

mukina2:

iamauxin:
Bales of Wales.....the difference.

Portugal will lift this trophy.

skelewu404:
pls guys anybody with a link to the match?

PigMeat:
boring match i must say.

Heryorh:

not really boring..bale and ramsey spicing things up