This is stated in the message of the Football Federation of Macedonia (FFM). According to the training plan, the wards of Srechko Katanets will gather at 12.30 on Sunday, November 12, in the metropolitan hotel “Alexander Palace”, and already at 17.00 they will begin their first training on the field of the Rabotnichki stadium. The other two pre-match classes, which are scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, will be held during the same hours.
The list of 18 players invited by Katanets to the match has only one new surname: instead of Artim Polozani, the coach called 23-year-old Vlatko Grozdanovsky. The midfielder of the Cypriot “Omonia”, with all the desire, can’t be called a newcomer - he has a rich experience of playing in qualifying tournaments, behind him 26 games for the national team, in which he managed to hit the opponents' goal three times.
Due to the exhaustion of yellow cards, the Macedonian tandem of forwards, Goran Pandev and Ilcho Naumoski, will miss the game with the Russians. Commenting on his choice, Katanets said that the list has remained virtually unchanged, as he trusts the players. The coach once again voiced his position, according to which "it is difficult to enter the national team and even more difficult to leave it."
Katanets lamented the forced absence of Pandev and Naumoski. He hopes that their partners will show the best qualities and play to the limit. It is expected that Pandeva will replace the attacking midfielder of Zaporizhzhya “Metallurg” Darko Tasevsky. The second vacancy at the tip of the attack may be closed by the Serb Stevica Ristic, who recently received the citizenship of Macedonia. This is one of the few collections playing in the Macedonian championship - as part of the three-time Macedonian champion “Sileks” from Kratovo). However, it is possible that the Katanets will entrust the vacated place to the more experienced Artim Shakiri. It is likely that the exit from the first minute and the third striker, who will act in a delay. This tactic was tested in Manchester when Goran Maznov made up the company of the now “yellowed” duo of forwards.
“I expect a tough game, because, in my opinion, the Russian team is not inferior to England and Croatia in terms of skill. Despite the modest results at the start, it is one of the main contenders for reaching the final,” Katanets said.
According to the Slovenian specialist, it will be much more difficult for his Macedonian wards to resist the team of Guus Hiddink than the British in Manchester. The thing is that "the Russians play unpredictably, they have a rich football arsenal, they hold the ball for a long time, they have excellent performers." Therefore, the coach advises his players to be patient and not to lose vigilance on the field.
Fans of the Macedonian national team, Katanets urged to fill the Gradsky stadium and provide his team with the support, which "today is needed more than ever."
In a telephone conversation with a SPORT Today correspondent, FFM spokesman Zoran Nikolowski said the final decision on the placement of Russian fans would be made in the coming days.
“What it will be depends, first of all, on the number of Russian guests. If there are several hundred of them, we will give them seats on the south (the most representative and the only one equipped with a canopy - B.Sh.) rostrum,” said Nikolovsky. “If the Russians come in a more impressive composition, we will place them on the eastern rostrum, which seats one and a half thousand people. "
When asked if it is possible to sit in the "north", where the fans of the guests were located during the recent meeting between Macedonia and England, Nikolovsky answered negatively: "The capacity of this rostrum is three thousand. The Russians will not get so much, and let Macedonian and the north we wouldn’t like Russian fans. "
The most ardent fans of the hosts will occupy, according to established custom, the western rostrum.
In conclusion - another near-football touch. The performance of anthems of Macedonia and the rival country becomes a tradition in Skopje alive. The upcoming match will not be an exception. According to the FFM press release, the Macedonian anthem will be performed by pop singer Karolina Gocheva, and the Russian one will be performed by local opera diva Elena Silyanovska.
Boyan SHOCH
List of Macedonia players called up for a match against Russia
Goalkeepers
Jane Nikoloski (Slaven Belupo, Croatia)
Tome Pachowski (Workers Comet, Macedonia)
Defenders
Gotse Sedloski (Mathersburg, Austria)
Igor Mitreski (Energy Cottbus, Germany)
Nikolche Nowewski (Mainz, Germany)
Aleksandar Vasoski (Eintracht, Germany)
Robert Petrov (CSKA, Bulgaria)
Vlade Lazarevski (Grozlin, Poland)
Robert Popov (Litex, Bulgaria)
Midfielders
Igor Yanchevsky (Enosis Neon, Cyprus)
Veliche Shumulikoski (Bursaspor, Turkey)
Darko Tasevski (Metallurg Z, Ukraine)
Artim Shakiri (Inter, Finland)
Alexander Mitreski (Cologne, Germany)
Vlatko Grozdanovsky (Omonia, Cyprus)
Forwards
Aco Stojkov (Partizan, Serbia)
Goran Maznov (Lokeren, Belgium)
Stevica Ristic (Silex, Macedonia)