Wales’ final game on home soil before they kick-off history in Euro 2016 is expected to see more than 20,000 at Cardiff City Stadium for their clash with Northern Ireland.

And while it’s not quite the sold-out send-off this team perhaps deserves, the healthy crowd does underline just how the times have changed when it comes to the national team.

The FAW were aware they might not be able to replicate the scenes of last year’s qualifiers with Belgium, Israel and Andorra when it came to the friendly visit of Michael O’Neill’s side, with the proximity of Easter making transport difficult for those in North Wales while thousands are keeping an eye on their cash having booked their holidays of a lifetime in France this summer.

Wales fans cheer on their team during the Euro 2016 qualifying match against Belgium at the Cardiff City Stadium
Wales fans cheer on their team during the Euro 2016 qualifying match against Belgium at the Cardiff City Stadium
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And a 20,000 figure is being seen as a relative success, though a walk-up crowd could see it coming close to the 25,699 that turned out for the November friendly with the Netherlands just weeks after their place in a first major finals in 58 years was confirmed.

Robert Earnshaw has a dig against Scotland in 2004 at the Millennium Stadium

It should mean an enjoyable derby atmosphere for the clash of the old Home Nations rivals, far removed from some of the soulless affairs of recent years.

That in itself will represent an impressive turnaround from the John Toshack years.

Coleman:

THE GOLDEN ERA

John Hartson goes past Juan Pablo Sorin of Argentina
John Hartson goes past Juan Pablo Sorin of Argentina

Though the recent success and rising attendances have been a significant boost, it is a far cry from the astonishing numbers coming through the turnstiles during the Mark Hughes era at the Millennium Stadium.

Cafu shoots
Cafu shoots

It was not just the huge crowds greeting Brazil and Argentina, either.

On the same day the rugby team were in Six Nations action in Paris, 73,500 watched Wales thump Azerbaijan in Cardiff.

Later that year, 73,411 watched the 1-1 draw with Finland, as Mikael Forssell .

Simon Davies challenges Juan Sebastian Veron
Simon Davies challenges Juan Sebastian Veron

DECLINE

As the golden generation found their feet and apathy built up during the time of John Toshack, Wales saw friendly attendances almost fall off the scale – with the depths Wales had fallen to illustrated with the 4,000 crowds attracted to games with Luxembourg and Estonia in Llanelli’s Parc Y Scarlets.

Attendances

It reached a point when, in what proved to be a turning point under Gary Speed, only 8,194 turned up for the qualifier against Montenegro in September 2011 – the lowest Cardiff crowd for a competitive fixture in well more than a decade – while the friendly with Australia a month earlier managed to attract a gate of just 6,378.

Cahill scored the first goal
Cahill scored the first goal

THE REBIRTH

There has been a steady climb as success has come under Coleman, from 6,253 against Bosnia in August 2012, to 13,3290 against Iceland two years ago, a night where Gareth Bale offered a preview to his stunning Copa del Rey goal.

Two players key to the rebirth
Two players key to the rebirth

If sales have breached the 20,000-mark for tonight's game it will mean Wales have brought in an attendance of that figure or higher for seven successive home fixtures – something they have not managed since the opening of the Millennium Stadium and the nearly but not quite run to Euro 2004 under Mark Hughes.

Perhaps more impressively, it would also signal the first time there have been 20,000-plus for two home friendlies in a row since large crowds welcomed Scotland and Bosnia in February 2003 and 2004.

*Tickets for Thursday’s game are still available. See FAW website for details.

Wales fans celebrate the win over Belgium

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WALES FRIENDLY ATTENDANCES (Since 2000)

Nov 2015 - Netherlands (Cardiff City Stadium) - 25,699

Mar 2014 - Iceland (Cardiff City Stadium) - 13,290

Nov 2013 - Finland (Cardiff City Stadium) - 11,809

Aug 2013 - Rep of Ireland (Cardiff City Stadium) - No figure available

Feb 2013 - Austria (Liberty Stadium) - 8,202

Aug 2012 - Bosnia - (Parc Y Scarlets) - 6,253

Feb 2012 - Costa Rica (Cardiff City Stadium) - 23,193 *Gary Speed Memorial Match

Nov 2011 - Norway (Cardiff City Stadium) - 12,637

Aug 2011 - Australia (Cardiff City Stadium) - 6,378

Aug 2010 - Luxembourg (Parc Y Scarlets) - 4,504

Mar 2010 - Sweden (Liberty Stadium ) - 8,258

Nov 2009 - Scotland (Cardiff City Stadium) - 13,844

May 2009 - Estonia (Parc Y Scarlets) - 4,071

Aug 2008 - Georgia (Liberty Stadium) - 6,435

Feb 2008 - Norway (Racecourse Ground) - 7,553

May 2007 - New Zealand (Racecourse Ground) - 7,819

Nov 2006 - Liechtenstein (Racecourse Ground) - 8,752

Aug 2006 - Bulgaria (Liberty Stadium) - 8,200

Mar 2006 - Paraguay (Millennium Stadium) - 12,324

Aug 2005 - Slovenia (Liberty Stadium) - 11,087

Feb 2005 - Hungary (Millennium Stadium) - 16,672

May 2004 - Canada (Racecourse Ground) - 10,805

Feb 2004 - Scotland (Millennium Stadium) - 47,124

Feb 2003 - Bosnia (Millennium Stadium) - 22,000

May 2002 - Germany (Millennium Stadium) - 36,059

Mar 2002 - Czech Republic (Millennium Stadium) - 21,029

Feb 2002 - Argentina (Millennium Stadium) - 61,738

May 2000 - Brazil (Millennium Stadium) - 71,495

Mar 2000 - Finland (Millennium Stadium) - 65,614