Wales v Northern Ireland: Chris Brunt critical of ‘ridiculous’ Wales friendly

Former Northern Ireland midfielder Chris Brunt has questioned the wisdom of Uefa for making Michael O’Neill’s side play Wales in a “complete dead rubber” friendly on Tuesday.

Northern Ireland travel to Cardiff after losing their play-off semi-final 2-0 against Italy in Bergamo, which ended their World Cup hopes.

Wales were beaten on penalties by Bosnia-Herzegovina in their semi-final and Brunt, who won 65 NI caps was critical of the decision to go ahead with the friendly in an already busy football calendar.

“For the supporters, it’s a complete dead rubber. It is one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever heard – it’s pointless,” he told the BBC Sportsound programme.

“The schedule of games coming up in England – boys play Friday and Monday [when they go back to their clubs] so it’s ridiculous. If you look at the previous qualifying games, they’re scheduled Thursday, Sunday and Friday, Monday or Saturday, Tuesday, so why come to this stage of the season go Thursday, Tuesday?

“With all due respect to Wales, they’re putting on a game in Cardiff that means absolutely nothing. The only good thing that comes out of it is some of the younger lads get a chance to have a bit of exposure at that level.”

Brunt, who is now a tactical scout and head of loans and pathways for former club West Bromwich Albion, believes O’Neill will rotate his team for the friendly and give those not involved in Bergamo such as Kieran Morrison, Dion Charles and Jamie McDonnell, an opportunity at Cardiff City Stadium.

“All the lads on the pitch the other night, physically and mentally it takes so much out of you and not getting the result we wanted. It’s a difficult one for everyone to pick themselves up and go again,” he added.

“There are a lot of lads who go around Europe for the qualifying campaign and don’t get to play a lot of football, so it’s an opportunity to give something back for them who have supported the other lads through qualifying.”