New Wales manager Ryan Giggs will take on Demark and the Republic of Ireland in his first competitive games following the draw for the inaugural UEFA Nations League that took place on Wednesday morning.

Wales were placed in Pot 1 of League B of the new competition prior to the draw, and will now take on the Danes and the Irish on a home and away basis later in the year.

Incredibly, the draw offers the opportunity for a triangle of World Cup qualifying revenge.

A defeat to the Republic of Ireland in Cardiff last October denied Wales a World Cup play-off place, but it was Denmark that would subsequently end Irish dreams as they stormed to a 5-1 victory over Martin O’Neill’s side in the play-offs to book their place in Russia next summer.

WATCH: Ryan Giggs provides his reaction to the draw.

Here’s a closer look at our League B4 opponents...

DENMARK

Manager – Age Hareide

A former Manchester City and Norwich City defender during the early 1980’s, the Norwegian took charge of Molde in his native country in 1985, and has won three domestic national titles during his managerial career.

National team manager of Norway between 2003 and 2008, Hareide was appointed manager of Denmark in March 2016, and masterminded a 5-1 aggregate play-off victory over the Republic of Ireland to take his side to the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals. As a player, Hareide played 50 games for the Norwegian national team, scoring five goals.

One to watch – Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur)

One of a number of Danish internationals playing in the English Premier League, the attacking midfield has been a creative force for club and country in recent seasons, and has a wealth of experience as he approaches his 26th birthday.

A veteran of 75 appearances for his country, the teenage Eriksen was the youngest player to feature at the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals just a few months after making his senior international debut, and has played a key role in the team ever since.

Previous meetings

Wales have played Denmark eight times, with both teams winning four games each.

The last match between the two sides took place almost a decade ago in November 2008 when Craig Bellamy scored the only goal of the game in Brondby to earn John Toshack’s team a 1-0 victory.

A decade earlier, Bellamy was also on the scoresheet in a 2-1 win for Bobby Gould’s team in Copenhagen.

Interesting fact

Goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel is the most capped player in the history of the Danish national team having represented his country 129 times between 1987 and 2001.

His son Kasper is the current national team goalkeeper, and has played 31 times since making his debut in 2013.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

Manager – Martin O’Neill

A highly-respected managerial figure in the British game, Martin O'Neill also enjoyed a successful playing career best remembered for being a key part of Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest team that enjoyed domestic and European Cup glory. He also captain Northern Ireland at the 1982 FIFA World Cup finals.

Despite his success as a player, O'Neill began his managerial career at the lower levels of the English pyramid system, taking charge of Grantham Town and Shepshed Waterhouse before being appointed at Wycombe Wanderers in 1990.

It was a defining move for O'Neill, and after taking the club to the Football League for the first time in 1994, he took charge at Norwich City and then Leicester City, guiding the latter to the Premier League. His success was rewarded by Celtic, and he became the most successful manager since Jock Stein during his time at Celtic Park.

Further appointments at Aston Villa and Sunderland followed before he took his first international job with the Republic of Ireland in November 2013.

Assisted by former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane, they guided Ireland to the EURO 2016 finals, but missed out on qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup with a play-off defeat to Denmark.

O’Neill recently committed his future to the Republic of Ireland by signing a contract extension to 2020.

One to watch – Shane Long (Striker)

Starting his senior playing career at Cork City in 2005 where he made just one appearance, Shane Long arrived in England with Reading later that year and would play for the club in both the Championship and the Premier League over the course of the next six years.

An effective striker that has consistently caused problems for defences throughout his career, Long joined West Bromwich Albion in 2011 and has remained in the Premier League since that move, playing for Hull City and current club Southampton.

Long has scored over 100 senior goals in his professional playing career.

Previous meetings

Wales have claimed five victories over the Republic of Ireland from 15 meetings between the two teams.

A solitary strike from Ian Rush in Dublin back in 1986 was enough to earn Mike England’s side victory against Jack Charlton’s talented squad, and Mark Pembridge would later repeat the feat in 1992. However, the Republic of Ireland’s latest victory over Wales proved to be one of the most significant, as a goal from James McClean proved to be the difference between the two sides in Cardiff last October.

In what would be Chris Coleman’s last competitive game in charge of Wales, the defeat ended qualifying hopes for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Interesting fact

The Republic of Ireland’s most successful manager is Jack Charlton, who was also a World Cup winner with England in 1966.