Wales to play Ukraine in friendly in March

Chris Coleman's Wales will play Ukraine in a pre-Euro 2016 friendly in March.

The game was announced by the Ukraine Football Federation and is expected to take place in Kiev on Monday, March 28.

Wales have also lined up a friendly against Northern Ireland in Cardiff four days earlier, although the Football Association of Wales has yet to confirm either fixture.

"On March 24 Ukraine will play a friendly match against Cyprus and four days later the Blue and Yellows are set to face Wales," said a statement on the official UFF website.

"Both matches will be held in Ukraine."

Wales are in the same group as Slovakia, England and Russia at the European Championship finals this summer - their first major tournament for 58 years.

Manager Coleman believes Ukraine will present similar opposition to Russia, while Northern Ireland have been chosen as March opponents ahead of the 'Battle of Britain' clash with England in Lens on June 16.

Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill said the Cardiff game was a sensible option in March given the busy time of the season.

"March is always difficult," O'Neill told Sky Sports. "It's difficult for the club managers because they are either going for honours or in our case maybe teams are trying to get in the play-offs or are fighting for their lives in the Premier League.

"I wanted to limit the travel. For the players, Wales is a really easy game for us. We don't have to travel away and bring players back."

Northern Ireland, who are in the same group as Germany, Poland and Ukraine at Euro 2016, follow up the Wales game by welcoming Slovenia to Belfast's Windsor Park on March 28.