While the Irish men's team failed to make it to the World Cup in Qatar, our cousins across the Irish Sea in Wales are gearing up for their first entry into the tournament since 1958.
Wales have been drawn into a fairly tough group with the United States, bitter rivals England and Iran, and team manager Rob Page called in the Hollywood big guns to give his men a stirring speech ahead of the tournament.
The sports-mad Michael Sheen was drafted in by Page to lift Welsh spirits, and he didn't disappoint.
Sheen, best known for playing Tony Blair in the Tony Blair Cinematic Universe in 'The Queen', 'The Deal' and 'The Special Relationship', was invited by Page to give a roaring speech to his compatriots after seeing a viral speech by the actor on an episode of 'A League Of Their Own'.
In the speech, Sheen gives a stirring speech that recalls the Shakespearean gravitas of his compatriots Anthony Hopkins and Richard Burton.
"Close your eyes and feel the breath on the back of your necks. Because that’s every man, woman and child in this old land standing there with you at your backs. That’s the people of Wales, your people," Sheen says in the new speech.
Sheen's hair-raising heroics wasn't enough to prevent Wales losing their final game before the tournament in a lacklustre 1-0 defeat to Poland.
The speech has racked up over 1.5 million views in less than 12 hours, and is sure to be revisited as the Welsh team kicks off their campaign against the United States on November 21st.
Welsh manager Rob Page would do well to have Sheen on speed dial ahead of the tournament, as the Welshmen look to create new memories for the sports-mad nation.
Usually famed for their rugby prowess, the men's national football team has established itself as a force to be reckoned with.
The Welsh team in a spirited display at Euro 2020, falling short against the rampant Denmark team in the first knockout round.
Wales grabbed international headlines in 2016 with their heroic run to the semi-finals of Euro 2016, with a famous victory over Belgium putting them into the semi-finals against eventual tournament winners Portugal.
