Noveski, Sumulikoski Macedonia key men
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Nikolce Noveski and Velice Sumulikoski are the men Macedonia will turn to as they attempt to keep Scotland at bay this afternoon.
With Kenny Miller hitting form at the right time, the hosts are preparing for a testing time against George Burley’s side.
Vastly experienced from his time in Germany with Mainz, Noveski can play at both centre half and full back.
He impressed in Macedonia’s goalless draw against England at Old Trafford two years ago and, at 6ft 3in, his formidable presence is vital to the home side’s game plan.
Sumulikoski is another key man for Macedonia and will go head-to-head with Darren Fletcher in midfield. Dubbed the Balkan Gerrard thanks to his runs from the midfield, Sumulikoski was signed by Burley’s old club Ipswich for £600,000 following a spell in Turkey with Bursaspor.
As one of the more experienced campaigners in midfield, Fletcher will again be under pressure to fill the void left in the middle of the park by injured skipper Barry Ferguson.
He has enjoyed an excellent start to the season with Manchester United, netting two goals so far in their opening five matches, but will have to step up a level in the World Cup tie.
Goran Pandev carries the main attacking threat for Macedonia. He is the nation’s star man and is now in his fifth season with Serie A side Lazio.
He netted twice in the 4-1 win over Luxembourg to make him the nation’s third-highest scorer. A one-time target of Rangers and linked with Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Tottenham, he is now valued at £10million.
Norway will be determined to make a solid start to their bid to reach a major tournament for the first time since 2000 when they host Iceland in their opening Group 9 qualifier today.
Norway have struggled on the international stage since reaching the World Cup finals in both 1994 and 1998 and Euro 2000 and are desperate to reach South Africa in 2010.
Certainly Norway coach Aage Hareide will never have a better opportunity to break that unwanted trend after being drawn in the only five-team group in the European qualifying zone alongside Holland, Macedonia, Scotland and Iceland.
The 2010 World Cup campaign is set to be Hareide’s last.
He has been in the post since 2004 and the 54-year-old is determined to go out on a high.
He said: “This will be my last qualifying campaign as Norway coach. I hope it lasts as long as possible and that we reach the World Cup in South Africa.”
