Wales' under-17s will make history on Wednesday when they take on Hungary in their opening match of the 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship finals.
It is the first time the team has made the finals of this tournament and it represents a huge opportunity for the players to showcase their talent and act as a major springboard for the rest of their careers.
There is also national pride at stake, too, with Craig Knight's side hopeful of causing a stir during the tournament in Hungary, going into Wednesday's game having been unbeaten in their last eight fixtures.
The young Dragons are in Pool A with the Republic of Ireland, Poland and host nation Hungary. The top two in each group will advance to the knockout phase. Five teams (the semi-finalists and winner of a play-off between the two beaten quarter-finalists with the best group records) will qualify for the FIFA U17 World Cup in November this year.
“It's going to be tough facing the hosts,” said Knight of Wednesday's tournament curtain-raiser. “The Republic of Ireland have done really, really well to qualify from their group, topping a group that contained Italy, so they're going to be a tough challenge but one that we're relishing, and then Poland, who are on quite an unbeaten run at the moment.
“But we're also eight games unbeaten and at international level that's no mean feat, so the players will go into this tournament full of confidence, knowing they can compete and have a right go. We won't change anything and we will prepare exactly the same. I know if we do that we will be competitive in games and we will see where that takes us.
“I can't wait for it to start now. It was really difficult to select the squad. We've got a group of players who are delighted and what an adventure they have to look forward to, and on the flip-side of that you have the boys who have missed out even though they have contributed to where we are now. This group are really tight, they enjoy each others company and they back each other. Hopefully that will continue in this tournament.”
There is also the matter of creating a legacy. Not since 1981 have a Wales youth team competed at a men's tournament, a team featuring a young Mark Hughes no less.
These youngsters, though, will have been in primary school watching the class of 2016, those heroes who did a nation proud at the senior Euros out in France.
“You talk about legacy and look at Euro 2016 and what players like Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey did there,” Knight added. “These boys would have been eight, nine, 10 years of age at the time watching the tournament and that success would have resonated with them. It’s a real chance for these boys to perform on an international stage and that should motivate them and the players at home.”
So, let's take a closer look at those players, then. Who are the next Bales and Ramseys coming through? Well, there are a few who have been tipped to for big things moving forward...
Gabriele Biancheri
A young player who has hit the headlines in recent months following his move from Cardiff City to Manchester United.
He had notched 17 goals and five assists in all age-grade football before his move to Old Trafford back in February. He has made three appearances for United in the Under-18 Premier League and notched one goal.
The striker, 16, was called up to play in Cardiff's Under-21s briefly before he moved to United, taking on players up to five years his senior as the Bluebirds looked to move him through the youth system.
He scored one goal and provided one assist in Wales' five qualifying games in which he played leading into this tournament.
Charlie Crew
Many have high hopes for the Leeds United central midfielder, who has been earmarked for a bright future from a young age.
Crew moved to Leeds United last summer and has really gone from strength to strength. He began the season as a mainstay in the club's Under-18s side before moving up to the Under-21s in the new year, with whom he stayed for the remainder of the campaign, playing Premier League 2 football.
Crucially, he is Wales Under-17s captain, a leader in the middle of the pitch and crucial to the way Knight's side operate. The deep-lying midfielder, 16, played in all six of Wales' qualifying games, producing an assist in the final game, a 2-2 draw against Montenegro.
Iwan Morgan
The Swansea City striker will be a key weapon for Knight in this tournament, having hit an incredible vein of form while donning the red shirt in recent months.
Morgan made his Wales Under-17s debut only in February and, remarkably, has bagged eight goals in only five appearances. Morgan scored five goals in two friendlies against Israel back in February, before continuing that form during the Euro qualifying Elite Round.
Morgan, 17, scored twice in the 4-2 win over Scotland in March before netting a crucial goal in the 2-2 draw with Montenegro a week later.
Expect Morgan, a physical type of striker, to dovetail with Biancheri at the top end of the pitch, thus forming a potentially deadly forward line.
Troy Perrett
Cardiff City midfielder Troy Perrett will offer Wales goals from midfield, having displayed that in spades with his club this season.
The 16-year-old, like team-mate Crew, has been a key cog in the wheel in the middle of the park for Knight. He is both-footed and covers ground like no one's business.
If Wales are to go far in this tournament, they will need goals and Perrett has shown he knows where the back of the net is consistently with the Bluebirds this season, despite operating at a midfielder. He has registered a whopping 23 goals and 21 assists across the course of the campaign, having played for Cardiff's Under-21s and Under-18s, despite being only 16, and his exploits have drawn interest from category one academies.
He has found goals a little harder to come by at international level, scoring once in 11 games for his country. But expect him to play a key role over the coming week or so.
Alfie Tuck
Central midfielder Alfie Tuck is another player to keep an eye out for during the tournament.
The QPR man scored a wonderful goal against Iceland back in March when he blasted a low volley into the bottom corner during a 1-1 draw.
The 17-year-old also produced an assist in the 2-2 draw with Montenegro, too. He has been in and out of the starting lineup, with Perrett and Crew operating in the same position, but if he gets his chance he could produce something special.
Dylan Lawlor
Cardiff City centre-back Dylan Lawlor has been impressive for Knight's side in recent months, playing all but just 13 minutes of their six qualifier games.
Lawlor, 17, has formed a terrific partnership with Derby County's Dan Cox at the heart of defence, however the FAW have announced the Rams defender has withdrawn from the tournament through injury.
But Lawlor has been praised for his footballing ability, a proper, modern centre-half who can pass and play out from defence. Expect him to play every minute out in Hungary.
Wales Under-17s squad in full: Aled THOMAS (Everton), Alfie TUCK (Queens Park Rangers), Brayden CLARKE (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Charlie CREW (Leeds United), Cody TWOSE (Cardiff City), Dylan LAWLOR (Cardiff City), Freddie ISSAKA (Plymouth Argyle), Gabriele BIANCHERI (Manchester United), Iwan MORGAN (Swansea City), Jacob COOK (Swansea City), Joe ANDREWS (Southampton), Joe HATCH (Plymouth Argyle), Kit MARGETSON (Swansea City), Luey GILES (Cardiff City), Luke ARMSTRONG (Cardiff City), Rhys THOMAS (Manchester City), Sam PARKER (Swansea City), Troy PERRETT (Cardiff City), Lewys BENJAMIN (Cardiff City), Alfie CUNNINGHAM (Exeter City), Alyas DEBONO (Cardiff City), Rhys ALLPORT (Crewe Alexandra).
Wales Under-17s fixtures: Hungary (Wednesday, May 17), Republic of Ireland (Saturday, May 20), Poland (Tuesday, May 23).
