will see the heaviest rain particularly as this moves its way northwards. rain for many parts of england and wales, but for the eastern side of northern ireland they could see 50 to 70 millimetres of rain. as it reaches scotland over high ground above 200 metres, we could see some snow, maybe a few centimetres in places. a lot going on with the weather overnight. cold enough for a frost in northern scotland. this rain pushes its way northwards through the day. northern ireland only slowly drying up. and then lots of heavy, thundery showers with hail in england and wales on what will be quite a brisk wind. temperature seven to 12 degrees at best. this big area of low pressure is driving things right now. this has been named by the spanish weather service as storm nelson because of the effect it is having in spain. but for us as it moves

closer on thursday, it will bring potentially severe gales around southern and western coast. but even in land, and northern ireland sees more rain, the best of the weather in the northern half of scotland. a slightly milder day here. further south, highs of 12. at first it looks a little bit drier with fewer showers and feeling warmer. we then are watching for an increasing chance of returning during sunday and more especially monday. thanks, ben. and that's the bbc news at six. you can keep up with all the latest developments on bbc website. now it's time to join our colleagues for the news where you are. hello, welcome to sportsday. i'm hugh ferris. 0ur headlines this evening: wales are one win away. get past poland and they'll be following their team at euro 202a.

if we can be there or thereabouts at the end of the campaign to qualify, while we are still in this transition of introducing young players without some of the world—class senior players that we have had, then we are in a good place. we'll be in cardiff, hampden park and wembley, where ivan toney and kobbie mainoo will get a chance to force their way in from the england fringes. leah williamson's back for the lionesses — the player who lifted the euros trophy returns for the beginning of their title defence. also coming up on sportsday: 12,500 people and one pitch — the task for the new manager of nauru. and it's a name you might remember from the premier league. and four months out from a likely third 0lympics but one month from her first child, shooter amber rutter�*s diary is about to fill up.

hello again, welcome along to sportsday this evening. it used to be that when it came to major football tournaments, wales were perennial absentees. but their new standard is one of success, with one more win standing between them and reaching a fourth finals out of the last five. beat poland tonight in cardiff, and wales will also qualify for their third consecutive european championship. so let's head there now and speak to hywel griffith. hywel, they are next to each other, wales and pulled in, in the fifa rankings. it was always meant to be in a place for the euros. —— and poland. in a place for the euros. -- and poland. ~ , , ., in a place for the euros. -- and poland. ~ , , . ,, in a place for the euros. -- and poland. ~ , , ., i. , poland. absolutely, and if you put twice don't — poland. absolutely, and if you put twice don't i _ poland. absolutely, and if you put twice don't i trust _ poland. absolutely, and if you put twice don't i trust in _ poland. absolutely, and if you put twice don't i trust in those - twice don't i trust in those rankings, wales 29, poland our 30th —— if you put trust. more relevant may be when they met 18 months ago. on that night, poland waiting. their

recent form? both sides pretty comprehensive in their semifinal wins last week. wales, you might remember, being offended 4—1, poland beating a ten man estonia 5—1. wales showing last week they have plenty of pace, plenty of skill, even if they are recovering from the loss of captain gareth bale, younger players coming through, harry wilson troy when he can do, neco williams, that great free kick. the fans arriving here at cardiff city stadium certain hoping those players will show what they can do once again, and as you mentioned of those fans dreaming of yet another major tournament. it was so long without qualifying until wales went to their first euros in 2016, but now they could maybe be on because of another document on the cusp of another big summer, as tomos dafydd reports. if the result goes wales's way tonight, many of these

supporters will be spending this summer in germany. the finals held there, the prize on offer. i'm nervous for tonight. ithink... probably think it's going to be a 1—1, might go to extra time. fingers crossed, fingers crossed, fingers crossed. 2—1 wales. yeah, 2—1 wales. there's no doubting which team they'll be supporting tonight. pierogi, the polish dumpling, is their speciality here. they sell a quarter of a million of them a year at cardiff market, and today they're expecting to be twice as busy than usual. we are excited. a lot of fans everywhere, coming to eat pierogi, and then we are all going to the game. we hope lewandowski's going to score a couple of goals and we're going to win. like all polish fans, they come in here because they believe in the team, you know? around 1,900 poland fans are expected — but tonight, a warning. this firework was set off the last time the sides met in cardiff 18 months ago. seven poland fans were arrested, four for possession of pyrotechnics.

police are urging people not to bring them to the stadium. we will take robust action against pyrotechnics. anyone trying to bring them into the stadium, there will be a really thorough search by the stadium. and committed offences, anyone bringing them in and committing offences and setting them off in the stadium will be arrested. those using them in the city centre in a dangerous, anti—social way, again, will be dealt with robustly, and the information will be passed to the stadium, and in general, the stadium will revoke tickets. 0n the pitch, this is what the players crave... what a turn, what a goal! ..another chance to play at a major tournament. but this time, they're trying to achieve qualification without... bale for wales. ..their talismanic former captain, record caps holder, record goal—scorer. any side would miss him, but the manager believes the team has made significant progress since gareth bale retired last year. if we can be there or thereabouts at the end of the campaign to qualify, while we're still in this transition

of introducing young players without some of the world—class senior players that we've had, then we're in a good place. it's a winner—takes—all encounter, and the players have urged the fans to play their part tonight. it promises to be a tough and tense night ahead. tomos dafydd, bbc news, cardiff. hywel, people will see we are fighting a couple of gremlins on our line to you in cardiff, we want to persist given the significance of the night to wales and we can certainly hear your words of wisdom as they are, because it is an important night for wales, not only for the qualification and euro 2024, but also because potentially, with this changing of the guard for the players and the manager's future as well. , ., , , players and the manager's future as well. , , ., players and the manager's future as well. , , , ., _ well. yes, absolutely. aaron ramsey is not verbally _ well. yes, absolutely. aaron ramsey is not verbally do _ well. yes, absolutely. aaron ramsey is not verbally do to _ well. yes, absolutely. aaron ramsey is not verbally do to start _ is not verbally do to start this evening. he has become more of an impact playerfor wales. evening. he has become more of an impact player for wales. this would certainly be his last chance of a major tournament, and rob page, i

think... there were great results against croatia, not so good against armenia, but that win against finn that may be won over some doctors and a win tonight would certainly mean —— that win against finland. irate mean —— that win against finland. we appreciate you persisting over those gremlins, in cardiff! wales and poland are fighting for one of the remaining three places available at euro 2024. it's a hugely significant night for some of those other teams involved too, with ukraine attempting to reach their first major tournament since the beginning of the conflict in the country. they're playing in wrotswav against iceland, who haven't been at a euro finals since they beat england in 2016. and georgia have never appeared at a major tournament — they're taking on greece in tbilisi. very few chances in this game. it remains goalless with about ten minister meaning. —— ten minutes

remaining. tempers did flare on the stroke of half—time, though, two players being sent off. it is still 11 versus 11. we still have extra time and penalties, should it be necessary, between georgia and greece. england's participation in the euros is secure, of course, so their friendly against belgium tonight takes on a different purpose for gareth southgate. it's their final outing before he names his squad for the tournament in the summer, and we're expecting both ivan toney and kobbie mainoo to start at wembley, two players that could force their way into the eventual 23. both are getting a chance because of a few untimely injuries, i think it's a brilliant opportunity for some of our young players now to show leadership and to experience that. some of our core group, trippier, walker, mcguire, not with us, so different feel about the group, different dynamic, and that's a great opportunity for other people to step up, to lead, and that's

important because a lot of the players involved that are with the squad now, they are the future of the team as well, for the middle and long term, and the more of those experiences they can have, that's really helpful for everybody. alex howell is at wembley. alex, friend leaves are much—maligned, but when they come this close to a major tournament, they take on extra significance, not just for the manager but for the players on the fringes as well. that's right, and as you heard from gareth southgate there and as you alluded to, is a massive night for ivan toney and kobbie mainoo. ivan toney, he has been in the media a lot over this past 12 months linked with big clubs and a move away, and he had that band for breaching the fa betting rules, but tonight he will get the chance to audition to be that back—up for harry kane at the european championships. 0f the european championships. of course, the captain is injured and unavailable. astin applause 0llie watkins played against brazil

in and tonight is ivan toney. he ollie watkins played against brazil in and tonight is ivan toney. he has only played — in and tonight is ivan toney. he has only played nine — in and tonight is ivan toney. he has only played nine minutes _ in and tonight is ivan toney. he has only played nine minutes for - only played nine minutes for england, denied she gets his first art, and also a big evening for manchester united kobbie mainoo. he: has been excellent for manchester united, and in that deep lying midfield role for england, they don't have too many options. jordan henderson had the move to saudi arabia and she is struggling with fitness, and then kalvin phillips, his loan move to west ham has not worked out, so gareth southgate said in the week there's a big chance for kobbie mainoo. he made his debut in midweek but tonight he is going to start for the first time. find midweek but tonight he is going to start for the first time.— start for the first time. and we will brina start for the first time. and we will bring you _ start for the first time. and we will bring you the _ start for the first time. and we will bring you the team - start for the first time. and we will bring you the team is - start for the first time. and we i will bring you the team is should start for the first time. and we - will bring you the team is should it right before the end of sportsday, but gareth southgate was determined to be upbeat after the defeat to brazil, but two defeats in a row with just a few months to go, that would really stall momentum ahead of germany? it would really stall momentum ahead of german ? . , would really stall momentum ahead of german ? ., , ., ., germany? it really would. coming into this international— germany? it really would. coming into this international window, -

into this international window, england had not lost since the quarterfinal lost to france in qatar, but the week has really changed. gareth southgate said in the week that he has never experienced so many injuries in one window. they have lost key players like kyle walker, harry maguire and harry kane, so it is about bringing in these players he does not know too much about and do not have that many england caps. we saw anthony gordon start in midweek and tonight there will be a couple of debuts as well, so although southgate and england will not want to lose two games in a row, if that was to happen, they would point to learning a lot about new players and, as the squad goes from 26 to 23, that might be vital heading into the summer. alex, we appreciate your time. thank you very much indeed. that is alex howell on wembley way this evening.

scotland have a similar situation at hampden tonight, with northern ireland providing their latest preparation for euro 2024. the euphoria of qualifying for the tournament has been diluted a bit bya dip inform. chris mclaughlin looks ahead. yes, a friendly match year, but interesting one for scotland because it is a squad of players are playing well, but they have to stop the rock, because they have not won in six straight matches. they've also conceded 18 goals along the wave, including that 4—0 defeat to the netherlands in amsterdam on friday evening. so, the manager steve clarke is really trying to use tonight too, as i say, stop the rot and get back on track, with just three friend —— three friendlies to go into that opening game in the euros injune. interesting for northern ireland, because while michael 0'neill�*s site is in rebirth, he calls it, it is very much a rebuild for the northern ireland side, young squad, just 23 years old the average age, and their

1-1 years old the average age, and their 1—1 game against romania on friday, so it is going to be interesting. micah 0'neill saying he admires the scotland squad and wants his players to try and emulate the way they are playing. it's not a full house in here this evening, but there is a buzz around the scotland site, as the countdown to the euros continues. yes indeed. while the men are in the final stages of european championship preparations, the women are just about to start their qualifying campaigns. england are the defending champions, and for their opening group games against sweden and the republic of ireland, they will have the player who lifted the trophy two years ago back in the squad. leah williamson returns after initially being recalled for the matches last month after her acl tear, before pulling out through another injury. fran kirby's also included by sarina wiegman, who's been speaking to the press today. among them was our reporterjo currie. aside from who is in and who is out of the england squad, the subjects

of the england squad, the subjects of plaus was once again wristed a full to bets after arsenal announced they are going to take their women's team to australia to play one game at the end of the wsl season. but with england having euro qualifiers injune and july and other nations also having the olympics this summer, it does pose the question — when our players expected to rest? i think for all the players, with already— think for all the players, with already complicated calendar, it's not good — already complicated calendar, it's not good for them to go to the other side of— not good for them to go to the other side of the _ not good for them to go to the other side of the world, very short—term, not having — side of the world, very short—term, not having the time to adapt and play a _ not having the time to adapt and play a game and come back and go, for us _ play a game and come back and go, for us to— play a game and come back and go, for us to games in france, home and away, _ for us to games in france, home and away, but _ for us to games in france, home and away, but that's only for the english _ away, but that's only for the english team, it is forever european player— english team, it is forever european player who — english team, it is forever european player who goes into the qualifiers. thats— player who goes into the qualifiers. that's a _ player who goes into the qualifiers. that's a thing that will be hard for them _ that's a thing that will be hard for them to— that's a thing that will be hard for them to take and to perform at the highest _ them to take and to perform at the highest level. it is them to take and to perform at the highest level-— highest level. it is worth mentioning _ highest level. it is worth mentioning with - highest level. it is worth mentioning with that. highest level. it is worth| mentioning with that not highest level. it is worth - mentioning with that not taking please into the end of may, itjust to be seen who from the arsenal

playing squad will travel to australia, it does pose the question, doesn't it, whether these kind of tours, part and parcel of the men skin for such a long time, whether it is a sign of things to come for the women's game as well? —— the man's game. meanwhile, scotland have included uncapped rangers forward sarah ewens in their squad for the euro 2025 qualifiers against serbia and slovakia next month. celtic�*s amy gallacher and kirsty smith of west ham are recalled by manager pedro martinez losa. you can see the full squads announced today on the bbc sport website and app. at the other end of the international football scale, you'll find nauru. in fact, the micronesian island isn't even on the scale, given they've never played a game. off the coast of australia, it has a population of 12,500 and now a former premier league player as their national team manager. dave kitson has gone from reading and portsmouth to a place with only one pitch, as lewis coombes reports. an island about as remote as they come, known primarily

for its lucrative phosphate mines, its use as an immigration detention centre, and now dave kitson. i knew a little bit about the history of the island and what it's been through and it's an incredible story. made a fortune from selling phosphate, billions and billions of dollars, but it's had a bit of an issue in terms of distributing that wealth. and, of course, a lot of people stopped working. that led to an importation of food and has led directly to an obesity crisis. and this is part of the reason for trying to start up the island's first ever football team. the brainchild of dave and a long time friend, the pair know they have a challenge on their hands. for a start, the island's only recognised football pitch is in the immigration detention centre. it's the one place that hasn't actually been mined for phosphate on the island, which has left sort of these jagged scars all over the island. not all of it is particularly flat, but this facility does at least still have a grass pitch in place.

what's the pool of player talent like? where are you going to even begin to form a team? there is football played casually, recreationally, but you're right, it's between 10,000—12,000 people, so it's not a huge scope to go at. and then we're looking at perhaps in new zealand and australia, but, again, that's going to come down to funding. it's all very well finding players who have links to nauru, but then you've got to fly them back for training for matches. the challenge faced by dave is similar to the one portrayed by michael fassbender in the recently released film next goal wins... soccer's not in their dna. they're weak. they are not weak. ..which tells the story of how the american samoa team was first formed. and the hope is that american samoa, nauru and other islands could eventually form a micronesian football federation. a lot of these islands now have teams in place. nauru is sort of the one of the last.

these islands aren't close to each other, even though they're in the same region. you're talking two or three days of traveljust to go play one game. that would be the ideal scenario to have a micronesia tournament. most recently, dave helped coach the reading blue coat school to national cup success here in the uk. injuly, he'll head out to nauru with a completely different goal to aim for. to actually try it implement a football programme that cannot only put a team on the pitch but help with the health and fitness of the island, get kids into playing a sport. i'm a big believer in trying to leave something in a better shape than when you found it. i've tried to do that throughout my footballing career and this will be no different. you're watching sportsday. let's have a quick look at some of the other headlines today. the former head of chinese football chen xuyuan has been jailed for life after being found guilty of taking bribes. his sentencing is part of a wider crackdown on corruption in the sport.

chen accepted millions in return for help with contracting, investment options and event management. the test match in the women's ashes in australia next year will be a day—night game at the 100,000 capacity melbourne cricket ground. it will begin on the 30th of january and be a four—day match at the mcg after being extended to five days during last year's series in england. and women's world number one iga swiatek is out of the miami 0pen after a straight sets defeat to 14th seed ekaterina alexandrova of russia in the fourth round. it ends swiatek�*s hopes of completing the sunshine double after victory at indian wells last week. an athlete's preparation for the on the pitch will be a fine—tuned affair. almost every day will have its role as they attempt to peak in time for paris. shooter amber rutter will be doing things differently.

she is preparing for the olympics and her child. 0ursports she is preparing for the olympics and her child. 0ur sports news reporter laura scott spoke to her. the date on most 0lympians' minds is the one exactly four months from now — when the paris games get under way. but for shooter amber rutter, there's another occasion circled in her calendarfirst — her due date injust three weeks' time. initially when i found out, instantly, the fingers started going to work out how long i had until the olympics because that would be the main impact for this year. and i did have a little bit of nerves telling my support team and my sponsors, to how they would react. whether people would think it was a silly idea of what i was doing. like many sportswomen, rutter planned to delay starting a family to focus on her sporting career. but after missing out on a medal in rio and not making the tokyo games after testing positive for covid, she's reassessed her aims. you have set your priorities have

changed. how much do you still crave and only big mettle? i changed. how much do you still crave and only big mettle?— and only big mettle? i think you've asked me before _ and only big mettle? i think you've asked me before rio _ and only big mettle? i think you've asked me before rio or— and only big mettle? i think you've asked me before rio or tokyo, - and only big mettle? i think you've asked me before rio or tokyo, it i and only big mettle? i think you've i asked me before rio or tokyo, it was off the scale, it was all i was really thinking about, it was 100% my priority. of course, winning a gold medal is life—changing and such an incredible moment, but it is a moment, whereas the idea of being a mum to a little boy for the rest of my life is also just as incredible for me and something that i'm really, really excited to prioritise. regaining strength in her core and having enough sleep to aid reaction speeds will be crucial to helping her be at the calibre to win a medal. and she's done it! juggling that with a newborn won't be easy and could be impacted by the type of birth she has, but she said her team have planned for every eventuality. despite feeling well—supported by those around her, she expects there will still be some who don't understand her choices. i know people are going to think i'm stupid for what i'm doing

in the timeframe that i've given myself. i know people may not understand the idea that i'm an 0lympian and winning a gold medal isn't everything to me now, but at the end of the day, it's my life and ijust want to be happy with the choices that i make. no longer willing to put her life on hold for her sport, rutter willjoin a growing list of athlete mothers competing on the bigger stage. —— on the biggest stage. she can't plan for the months ahead with the precision she's used to, but she's never been one to shy away from her targets. laura scott, bbc news. that's amber rutter. if she — as is expected — gets selected for paris, she'll be joined there by sky brown, the teenager who just missed out on making the olympics in two different sports. but while surfing wasn't to be, a chance to add to a skateboarding bronze from tokyo remains, and another chance today to prove her prowess on the banks of the river thames. there can't have been many half pipes set up between two london

buses before, certainly not in front of tower bridge, but the 15—year—old — with the help of a drone camera — pulled off a routine as she prepares for her second games this summer. i don't feel pressure. itjust makes me more excited to really show what i do. yeah, i'm really excited for paris. the sport, like i said, has grown so much since tokyo and i'm so excited to show everyone. yeah, i got some new stuff and hopefully did get a bit stronger and bigger so i can go higher and faster will but, yeah, ijust want can go higher and faster will but, yeah, i just want to show what i love and how beautiful it is and show my style of it. that is sky brown. just to let you know, some team news has arrived to us. we can tell you about england. five changes from the team and started against brazil. a couple of pleasure came on during the chemo start tonight at windley. max remixes for start as does ivan tony.

jarrod bowen also into the side. georgia and greece is going to extra time. that has finished, with a place at the euros on the line, in tbilisi. this is the all—important team news from cardiff. rob page, not gareth southgate, that is the england team news. here is... we have got the right manager in the right team there. rob page have got the right manager in the right team there. rob page has made just one change, to the side that beat finland so comfortably last week, to make this final against poland tonight. kieffer moore coming in a for david brooks. part of the 11 that hopefully for will take them and their fans bucket hats to germany this summer. you can follow it on radio 5 live and on the website, but that's all from sportsday for now.

hello. the barometer�*s falling, with heavy weather expected over the next few days. strong winds around some coastal areas, but inland, too. and on top of that, big shower clouds with downpours, hail and thunder. now, the satellite picture looks quite turbulent already, all these cloud patterns swirling around notjust the uk, but much of western and central europe. a big dip in thejet stream as well has allowed that colder air to filter in from the north as well. and the colder air will be responsible for generating some of these big shower cloud given the strength of that sunshine. it's that temperature contrast that creates all this turbulent weather. now, through the early hours, we'll see a weather front moving northwards across the uk. it has been quite wet already in some areas. notice that by the end of the night, it even turns quite wintry there across the scottish hills. and temporarily, some dry weather there across central parts of the uk. very quickly, we'll see strengthening south—westerlies and the heavy showers will be

sweeping into south—western england, into wales, particularly wet in northern ireland. we could see up to 30, 40 millimetres of rain, perhaps even more than that in some areas. but those winds really will be very noticeable, pushing in those big shower clouds, cumulonimbus clouds, bringing the downpours, with the hail and at times thunder. and a chilly day, temperatures in some areas not making double figures. then into thursday, if anything, the winds will strengthen further, in fact. so this area of low pressure has been named by the spanish met service storm nelson. severe gales for a time possible on the coasts, very windy inland too, frequent showers across the country. a really turbulent day with those dramatic cloud scapes. and, again, on the chilly side, with those strong winds and particularly in those showers. look at good friday, i think the winds will be a little lighter, but still quite breezy on this day. and also showers expected, particularly across some western areas. and then as we head into the easter weekend, we start to see some changes. the air actually starts to come in from the south,

and that means that the atmosphere will warm up at least somewhat, so the temperatures will rise. we're possibly talking about the mid—teens across southern parts of the uk, about 12 degrees expected in belfast. but, really, it is looking like a mixed bag until then. bye— bye.

it's 7pm in london. this is the world today with maryam moshiri. six people are still missing after a cargo ship ploughs into a bridge, causing it to collapse. this is the scene live in baltimore, where rescuers are continuing to search the water. i'm sumi somaskanda in baltimore, a city reeling from an "unthinkable tragedy" on the river. a city reeling from an "unthinkable we a city reeling from an "unthinkable are live on the: bring we are live on the scene. we'll bring you the latest developments. also coming up on the world today — after hearing rival arguments, two ministers quit rishi sunak�*s government. we'll have the latest from westminster. welcome to the world today, an hour of international news from the bbc. "an unthinkable tragedy" is how the mayor of baltimore has described

the collapse of the francis scott key bridge in the city.