The central defender of the Balkan national team, who defended the colors of Spartak Moscow for four years, is confident that his partners do not need to be afraid of their opponents and recommends playing “number one”.
“Do not get hung up on the strength of the Russian team. Let them think of us. It is necessary to play against Russia in the same manner as against previous rivals. Among the former partners in Spartak, Pavlyuchenko and Titov, who connects to the attack from the depths of the field, pose the greatest danger, ”the West newspaper quotes Mitreski.
The Macedonians defender, now playing for the German Energia, noted that Guus Hiddink's wards are quite young and most of them were not in the first roles even in their own clubs during his speeches at Spartak.
“As an illustration, let's take forward Pogrebnyak, who scored one of two goals against Estonia - once he couldn’t even get into the top 18 in Spartak. We have many chances to beat the Russian team and calmly leave the group leaders for the winter break, ”Mitreski is sure.
Goran Maznov, who previously played for Spartak, Moscow Torpedo and Kaliningrad Baltika, echoed him.
“Hiddink will bring to Skopje a team made up of young players, of which I know Pogrebnyak best of all. Together with him we played in Baltika, where Spartak rented us out, ”Maznov recalls. - As for the upcoming match, we must play open football. You need to attack from the very beginning of the match and try to quickly score. If it succeeds, it will be much easier. In this fight, we really need the support of the fans. ”
Wards Srechko Katanets on the eve of the match with Russia in full force will hold only two training sessions - on Monday and Tuesday. The first lesson will bring together 14 players, and the remaining four invitees - Robert Petrov (CSKA, Bulgaria), Darko Tasevski (Metallurg Z, Ukraine), Ace Mitreski (Cologne, Germany) and Velicha Shumulikoski (Bursaspor, Turkey) - join the team a day later due to the employment in the clubs.
On Wednesday, Finnish Inter attacking midfielder Artim Shakiri also awaits his chance, who in the absence of the mustard plasters, forward Pandev and Naumoski, Katanets can entrust a place in the composition. The second scorer in the history of the Macedonian national team (15 goals in 73 matches) has already flown from Finland and is waiting for the national team partners to train with the players of the capital's Vardar. As it turned out, in addition to upsetting Igor Akinfeev, an experienced Macedonian is thinking these days about changing his club registration.
“I definitely won’t stay at Inter,” Shakiri told a Macedonian Sport correspondent. - Most likely, I will return to England. Negotiations with one of the English clubs are in the final stages. There is also an employment option in Turkey, but I would like to return to the islands. ”
The newspaper claims that the new Shakiri club will most likely be Barnley, playing in the second-strongest English League Championship League. A year and a half ago, the parties had already agreed on cooperation, but then the transition failed due to the refusal of the British authorities to issue Shakiri a work permit. Other clubs showing interest in the player include Leeds, Coventry, and his former West Bromwich Albion team.
Meanwhile, tickets for a match with Russia went on sale in Skopje. The most expensive will cost the fans who wish to get to the southern stand - they will have to pay 600 denars ($ 11.64) for them. Tickets for the “north” cost twice as much, and the most affordable tickets (100 denars = $ 1.94) will go to those who are accommodated in the eastern and western stands located outside the gates.
Fears associated with a possible breakdown of the match due to lighting problems at the Gradsky stadium were ultimately in vain - the other day, special equipment was delivered to Skopje from Italy that will ensure the smooth operation of the spotlights in the central stadium of the Macedonian capital.
Boyan SHOCH