Evening all! It's the first England match since the end of the Premier League season and what a tasty affair it is too. Team news coming your way...

ENGLAND XI: Hart; Johnson, Jagielka, Cahill, Cole; Carrick, Lampard; Walcott, Rooney, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Sturridge

IRELAND XI: Forde; Coleman, O'Shea, St Ledger, Kelly; Walters, Whelan, McCarthy, McGeady; Long, Keane

Ireland's XI was actually revealed yesterday, but the England side only came through tonight. Home manager Roy Hodgson goes for Liverpool's in-form frontman Daniel Sturridge up front, with Wayne Rooney between Arsenal duo Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain behind.

Further back and it's a big night for left-back Ashley Cole. He will lead the Three Lions out tonight as he celebrates recently reaching 100 caps.

In the visiting Ireland team there's plenty of Premier League talent. The front line of Roy Keane and Shane Long looks pretty menacing to me.

SUBS: Here are the two benches tonight:

England: McCarthy, Foster, Baines, Jones, Lescott, Milner, Rodwell, Defoe, Welbeck
Ireland: Randolph, Westwood, Delaney, R Keogh, O'Dea, McShane, Quinn, Hendrick, Meyler, McClean, Brady, A Keogh, Hoolahan, Sammon, Cox

As you can see Ireland's bench is much fuller than England's. The home side are riddled with injury problems but still have a pretty formidable lineup out there.

Hodgson was unable to select Steven Gerrard (shoulder), Andy Carroll (heel), Jack Wilshere (ankle), Tom Cleverley (calf) and Kyle Walker.

Ireland's trip to England is their first since 1991. It's part of the Football Association's 150th anniversary celebrations, a schedule that also includes a game in Brazil on Sunday.

When Ireland were last this side of the Irish Sea they managed a 1-1 draw, with Lee Dixon grabbing his one and only goal for England before Niall Quinn equalised.

Twitter's tactical specialist Michael Cox (@Zonal_Marking) is impressed by the home lineup. He says: "I quite like that England XI. Control in the centre of the pitch, pace further forward. Flexible in terms of shape too."

Briefly away from Wembley, there's another friendly taking place at the moment between Ecuador and Germany. It's only just kicked off but Germany already lead thanks to Lukas Podolski's goal inside the first minute. Join Sian Cowper for updates on that one by clicking here.

Scratch that! Germany are now 2-0 up after four minutes. Bender with the second goal for a side that has no Bayern Munich or Borussia Dortmund players playing! Unbelievable. Ecuador are no mugs by the way - they're 10th in the world rankings.

BBC journalist Ian Dennis is at Wembley tonight and he's just tweeted some potentially interesting news: "Roberto Martinez here at Wembley. He says nothing to announce just yet, "maybe Monday."

There's plenty of mutual respect between the two managers, Hodgson and Giovanni Trapattoni, tonight. They know each other quite well from Hodgson's time in Italy.

"He's a friend of mine, he has been a friend for many years since I went to Italy all those years ago," said Hodgson. "He's one of the world's outstanding coaches. If you ever want to talk about legends in coaching terms then Giovanni Trapattoni's name will be up there."

PREDICTION TIME! Ten minutes until kickoff so it's time for my prediction. I do fancy England to end Ireland's three-game unbeaten run against them. 3-1 for me.

Here come the two sides out of the tunnel. England are modelling their new home strip this evening. I like the tracksuit tops, I do I do.

Ashley Cole will now be presented with a commemorative cap for making his 100th appearance at international level. Still one of the world's best left-backs.

First up is the national anthem of Ireland and then we have 'God save the Queen'. During the Ireland anthem I'm sure ITALIAN manager Trapattoni was joining in. Ha!

KICKOFF! Ireland get us underway at Wembley.

Big jeer from the Ireland faithful as Lampard overhits a pass over the top. Rocking atmosphere inside the national stadium early on.

Scottish referee William Collum blows up for the first time as Oxlade-Chamberlain is pulled back by McCarthy.

First shot of the game comes from Keane but it's a poor effort as he drags it tamely wide from distance.

And now England have their first attempt as Lampard hoists a high ball over the top for Rooney who goes for an audacious volleyed lob but puts it wide.

Smiles between St Ledger and Lampard as the latter has a swipe at goal without realising that St Ledger was in his way so just kicked him.

Lampard and Rooney try a one-two on the edge of the box but Lampard is blocked off by McCarthy but no free kick is given. Earlier in that attack if Sturridge had looked up and switched to Walcott the hosts might have had a clear opening.

Really lazy from Long as he holds up the ball on the left touchline before casually rolling it out of play as if the white paint wasn't there!

He may not be that long himself, but Long has got a great leap on him. The ball is played out to Coleman on the right and his cross is met by the West Brom man who guides the header over Hart into the far side-netting. Fine cross and fine header = great goal.

The Irish fans are delirious and a green flare has been lobbed onto the pitch. There's a brief stoppage as Lampard lines up a 40-yard free kick that then hits the top of the wall.

Sturridge hassles his mean in the corner and wins England a corner that Lampard swings deep but too close to Forde who leaps high to catch well.

Johnson loves getting forward down the right and has also been known to bang in a goal or two cutting in on his left foot. He has a go but it's a poor effort.

A loose ball rolls out to an unmarked Oxlade-Chamberlain on the left. The Arsenal man tries to curl it first time but gets it all wrong, blasting it high over the crossbar.

Long digs out a cross from under his feet and it almost finds Keane in the middle but Hart is alert to pick up the ball down low.

Ten minutes after Mr Long opened the scoring, Mr Lampard equalises. Sturridge's low cross should be cut out by St Ledger but he air-kicks it and there's Lampard to prod home with the outside of his boot from inside the six-yard box.

Very tidy passing from Lampard and Rooney near the edge of the box. Rooney picks out Johnson on the right but his shot is blocked and then cleared. Moments later and once again Rooney finds Johson but again the Liverpool man spurs possession by overhitting a cross.

Whelan's attempted piledriver from a free kick is blocked and the home side look to break quickly but Rooney's through-ball to Sturridge clips the Chelsea man's heels.

And then Sturridge takes a clip as he looked to chase back and he's now receiving treatment on the sidelines.

All of England's attacks are coming down their right as Johnson feeds Walcott but he's tackled for a corner.

It does not look for Sturridge. The paramedics are now with the Liverpool man and he's soon to be taken off on a stretcher. Jermain Defoe will be his replacement.

ENGLAND SUB: Sturridge's first international start ends just after the half-hour mark. Defoe on.

Fantastic fizzed pass from Carrick into United teammate Rooney. He turns out and looks to Oxlade-Chamberlain on the left who works some space on the outside but crosses straight at Forde.

McGeady has a bit of space to run at the England defence and he goes onto his left foot, attempting a snapshot that Hart watches wide of his left-hand post.

CHANCE! Walcott sizes up Kelly and beats him in the area before sidefooting a low cross across goal that Coleman does well to cut out and clear inside his own six-yard area.

Lampard slides in to challenge McGeady perfectly as he looked to break away and then finds Defoe. The Spurs man appears to be fouled on the edge of the box but referee Collum isn't interested.

Again it's Johnson rampaging down the right but once again he can't make it count as his cross is gathered by Forde.

Ireland look to the ref hoping for a penalty as McGeady is tackled by Cahill but it's a wonderful tackle from the Chelsea man.

Another penalty shout from the men in green as two England shirts fail to deal with a corner and it falls to Keane and he goes down under Rooney's challenge. Would have been harsh.

A thoroughly enjoyable half of football that. Ireland have more than held their own while England picked it up towards the end of the half. 1-1 a fair scoreline for me.

Looking at the stats from that first half, England have just shaded possession (52%) but Ireland have had seven shots to the home side's five. England's only shot on target was the goal.

I'm expecting an even better second half. Both managers are sure to make plenty of changes so there's no reason for tiredness.

Briefly away from Wembley tonight, Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has said that it would be 'hard to say no' to Real Madrid. Read more here. So Suarez could be off and Sturridge has gone off on a stretcher. Not the best night for Liverpool fans.

ENGLAND SUBS: Hodgson makes a pair of changes as Phil Jones comes on for the disappointing Johnson and Ben Foster replaces Hart in goal.

KICKOFF! England get the second period underway.

Carrick, for once, gives the ball away to Whelan but gets back to recover and make the tackle on Coleman.

CHANCE! Oh what a chance for captain Cole to score his first ever goal for England. He's the player with the most caps never to score for the Three Lions. Rooney dinks a lovely ball into Walcott who volleys it across goal where Cole is waiting but St Ledger just gets there first to clear. If Cole had dived in with his head there I think he would have scored.

By the way, if you manually refresh this page now you'll be able to see Lampard and teammates celebrating in their new Nike kits.

ENGLAND SUB: A fourth change from Hodgson as he brings off 102-cap man Cole for Leighton Baines, his more than ready understudy.

Kelly gets a slight touch on the ball as he challenges Walcott but referee Collum points for a free kick. Baines takes it with his first touch but that's into the wall.

Up one end Jones and Rooney link up well but Lampard is then tackled before Coleman beats Oxlade-Chamberlain on the right and drives at the England box. Jagielka blocks his shot and that's a corner. Nothing comes of the set piece.

Into the final half an hour of the match and it's died down a little in the last few minutes. Still loads of time for either side to find a winner and it's too hard to say who's looking more dangerous at the moment.

Rooney's shot on the edge of the box is blocked before Walcott's cross looks dangerous but is just too close to Forde.

SAVED! England with some impressive counter-attacking as Oxlade-Chamberlain escapes a pair of challenges in his own half before poking it through to Defoe. He then draws another challenge but stabs it out to Walcott whose shot is fierce but tipped wide by Forde at the near post.

IRELAND SUBS: First changes of the match from Trap as he brings on Simon Cox for Keane, who was making his 124th international appearance tonight, before James McClean takes the place of McGeady moments later.

Oxlade-Chamberlain has a go from distance but that's always swerving wide of goal.

IRELAND SUB: Derby youngster Jeff Hendrick is on for Glenn Whelan in the heart of Ireland's midfield.

Baines sneaks a corner with some clever play on the touchline but Lampard's delivery is caught well by Forde. Just under 15 minutes left for someone to go for a winner now. Surely there'll be a late surge?

CHANCE! McClean's cross is deflected high into the air and Foster makes a hash of it but has his blushes spared when Walters's header hits Cox near the goal who is offside.

"Attendance @wembleystadium is 80,126. #ENGROI," tweet the FA. Impressive number for a friendly.

IRELAND SUB: A change up front for the visitors as Connor Sammon takes the place of Walters.

That will see Cox now drift out to the right as Sammon goes and supports Long up front.

That will see Cox now drift out to the right as Sammon goes and supports Long up front.

BIG CHANCE! Rooney's attempted pass into Defoe takes a deflection but falls perfectly for Oxlade-Chamberlain unmarked on the left of the area. The youngster could prod it inside for Arsenal teammate Walcott but goes for goal himself, sidefooting the ball straight at Forde who forces it over.

Oxlade-Chamberlain escapes his man with a sharp turn but then isn't on the same wavelength as Rooney as he misdirects the pass and then pulls up with an injury.

Oxlade-Chamberlain escapes his man with a sharp turn but then isn't on the same wavelength as Rooney as he misdirects the pass and then pulls up with an injury.

Oxlade-Chamberlain escapes his man with a sharp turn but then isn't on the same wavelength as Rooney as he misdirects the pass and then pulls up with an injury.

SAVE! Another neat England move as Lampard lays in Walcott on the right of the area but his low shot is kept out by the closed legs of Forde. England pushing for a winner.

SAVE! Another neat England move as Lampard lays in Walcott on the right of the area but his low shot is kept out by the closed legs of Forde. England pushing for a winner.

Two minutes added on at the end of the 90.

A poor second half in the end. Was expecting so much more after the first half. A fair result in the end as many are simply relieved that it was a peaceful affair.

Next up for England is a trip to the famous Maracana in Rio on Sunday. Meanwhile, Ireland also have another friendly against Georgia back at home.

Cole has just told ITV Sport that he puts tonight and the reception he got the from the crowd at the start as his number one career moment. Better than winning the Champions League with Chelsea last year? Really?!

Anyway, that's about it from me tonight. I'll leave you with Kristian Johnson's match report. Be sure to come back on Sunday for that game against Brazil. Should be a good'un.