BALKAN HEROES AIM FOR TREBLE
SCOTLAND will have to overcome a buoyant Macedonia as the Balkan nation look to record three consecutive wins — for only the second time in 19 years. Cedomir Janevski’s side climbed off the bottom of Group A with a fine 21 home win over Wales on Friday, less than a month after their friendly victory against Bulgaria. Three wins on the bounce for Macedonia is almost unheard of, but Scotland’s opponents can now boast a plethora of players who are competing at the top level and are threatening to shake off the ‘minnows’ tag. Goran Pandev, the nation’s captain and talisman, is plying his trade with Rafa Benitez’s Napoli, and he has been joined in Serie A by Agim Ibraimi, who recently moved to Cagliari on loan from Maribor. Fullback Daniel Georgievski will come up against Basle, Schalke and Chelsea in the Champions League with Romanian giants Steaua Bucharest, while vicecaptain Nikolce Noveski is on the books of Bundesliga outfit Mainz. Macedonia last racked up three consecutive wins in 2006, with singlegoal triumphs over Ecuador, Turkey and Estonia. Manager Janevski reckons Scotland will play exactly the same way as Wales performed in Skopje. And the manager is determined his side will complete a British double. He said: ‘We know that Scotland will play in a very similar style to the Welsh. ‘We know what to expect and we are prepared for them. There is no point in us going out and beating Wales and then not winning against the Scots. ‘They have similar physical players to the Welsh and we expect a tough game. ‘However, there is no reason why we cannot beat them again.’ As it is, the Macedonians will have to do without striker Ibraimi. He was booked against Wales and is suspended for tomorrow night’s meeting.