World Cup qual. - Scotland feel heat in Macedonia

Eurosport - Sun, 07 Sep 09:39:00 2008

Scotland kicked off their qualifying campaign for the 2010 World Cup with a disappointing 1-0 defeat in Macedonia in George Burley's first competitive game in charge.

FOOTBALL 2008 Scotland George Burley - 0

Macedonia striker Goce Naumoski pounced early on in stifling temperatures to give the hosts all three points in the opening game of Group 9.

The 100 degree heat on the pitch in Skopje was enough to produce a sweat on most Scottish brows even before the opening whistle had sounded - and those that had remained dry were soon in need of a mopping when Macedonia took the lead with just five minutes on the clock.

The goal stemmed from Czech referee Pavel Kralovec's decision to award the hosts a free-kick after stand-in skipper Stephen McManus had dived in on Goran Maznov - who was certainly looking for the foul - on the edge of the Scotland box.

From the set piece, the ball was teed up for Ilko Sedloski, whose low drive forced a fine save from the excellent Craig Gordon. But the Scotland keeper could only palm the ball onto his right-hand upright, and Naumoski pounced on the rebound to tap home from close range.

It was the worst possible start to Burley's first competitive game in charge and one that handed Scotland an unwanted uphill battle for the remaining 85 minutes.

Unsurprisingly, it took the visitors some time to settle after the goal went in and they struggled to keep possession as Macedonia's mobile front three of Maznov, Naumoski and Lazio striker Goran Pandev kept the Scotland back line on their toes.

The Tartan Army who were bathed in sunshine on the one side of the ground that was fit for occupation - the other side is currently under redevelopment - had to wait half an hour for their side to conjure even a semblance of a chance.

When they did, it was James McFadden who turned his man on the edge of the box before letting fly with a goalbound shot, only to see it blocked before it could trouble Petar Milosevski in the Macedonia goal.

But it was the hosts who made most of the running going forward during the opening period and if it were not for Gary Caldwell's superb last ditch tackle on Maznov, just as the Macedonia striker was about to pull the trigger on nine minutes, they would have had a greater deficit to peg back.

But the second half started better for the visitors who came out playing a higher tempo and took the game to their opponents.

Scott Brown typified that, striking a decent effort goalwards soon after the restart before Darren Fletcher and Kenny Miller conspired to fluff a chance moment later when Gary Naysmith's cross had caused confusion in the Macedonia box.

But for all their improvement in the final third of the pitch, Scotland still had to rely on Gordon to keep them in it at the other end. The Sunderland keeper pulled off a world class save to deny a bullet from the boot of Velice Sumulikoski after 57 minutes.

Gordon was again brought into action 13 minutes later, this time keeping out an effort from goalscorer Naumoski, but the second half action was largely played out in Macedonia's half as Scotland sought an equaliser.

And find one - or at least an opportunity to find one - they nearly did on 71 minutes, when both Kenny Miller and then James McFadden took tumbles in the box in quick succession. But the referee chose to wave away the double penalty shout and Scotland remained frustrated.

As time ran out, substitute Shaun Maloney saw his drive beaten away by Milosevski and the hosts held firm, leaving Scotland already to play catch-up with one game gone.

Burley's side now travel to Iceland on Wednesday, when they will hope to get their qualifying campaign up and running.

RESULT

Norway 2-2 Iceland

Scorers:

Norway: Steffen Iversen 36pen, 50

Iceland: Heidar Helguson 39, Eidur Gudjohnsen 69

Halftime: 1-1

Mike Hytner / Eurosport

Comment 163 - 182 of 182

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  1. Dante stop being a @#$%, no University sits on yahoo­ message boards to state their views using a psuedonym.­ lol
    Alexander the Great was Macedonian, and conquered­ and annexed Greece...
    Go read some Eugene Borza or Ian­ Worthington, Borza is banned from Greece and is a­ American Professor unlike you.

    From ChooseLife, on Mon 8 Sep 1:23AM

  2. it was hot for scotland but also for macedonia! no­ excuses! i just can't wait for the nex­ qualifications to be in group with HellAss and to show­ them who is the boss!!! MACEDONIA TILL I DIE!!!

    From dame23popovski, on Sun 7 Sep 5:02PM

  3. AND OF COURSE MACEDONIAN PLAYERS ARE BETTER THAN­ GREEK.FORZA PANDEV AND GROZDANOSKII LOVE YOU EUROSPORT

    From vesnatrposka, on Sun 7 Sep 4:59PM

  4. MACEDONIA IS ONE AND ONLY WITH CAPITAL CITY -SKOPJE.­ I'M FROM OHRID MACEDONIA .AND MY COUNTRY HERE ON­ EUROSPORT IS WRITTEN WITH THE NAME MACEDONIA SO­ MACEDONIA 1:0 SCOTLAND IS THE FINAL RESULT SO WE HAVE­ TIME TO GO ON WORLD CUP . REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA IS ON­ THE NORTH SIDE OF ON IDIOT COUNTRY LIKE GREECE.@#$%­ ALL THE IDIOTS WHO LIVE THERE. MACEDONIA THE BEST AND­ FOREVER WILL LIVE. POZDRAV OD MAKEDONIJA DO SITE KOI JA­ SAKAAT I POCITUVAAT.

    From vesnatrposka, on Sun 7 Sep 4:56PM

  5. I just won’t to send congratulations for Macedonian­ football players. They played very good and for little­ country like Macedonia this is very big success.
    And­ for Greeks (gays) I just wont to say that Aleksandar ­ the great was Macedonian (not the ugly Greek, small and­ black) :)

    From tomekalaj, on Sun 7 Sep 4:08PM

  6. This is to...DANTE.... the Italian teacher..: it is so­ pity and embarrassing that the Italian students have so­ bad history teacher..... Mr. Dante... maybe you should­ read what happened to Macedonia after the Balkans­ wars..... and what the Greek HOMOSEXUALS did to the ­ Macedonian people fore the next 100 years.. .... and by­ the way... Alexander the great was kicking the Greek­ assess.....

    From martimanevski, on Sun 7 Sep 2:35PM

  7. FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM­ FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM­ FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM­ FYROM
    FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM­ FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM­ FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM­ FYROM FYROM
    FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM­ FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM­ FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM­ FYROM FYROM FYROM
    FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM­ FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM­ FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM­ FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM
    FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM­ FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM­ FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM­ FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM
    FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM­ FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM­ FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM­ FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM
    FYROM FYROM FYROM­ FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM­ FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM­ FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM
    FYROM FYROM­ FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM­ FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM­ FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM
    FYROM­ FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM­ FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM­ FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM FYROM

    From hellas04, on Sun 7 Sep 1:46PM

  8. So the sweaty`s have lost again. EXCELLENT!

    Can`t say­ I`m surprised at the comments from other English fans.­ Whenever England play anyone, in football or any other­ sport, the majority of the Jocks pretty much always­ support the other side, and revel in any loss by­ England.
    I never started out by enjoying Scottish­ loses, but years of listening to them cheer the other­ side on has jaded me, and I do now genuinely love to­ see Scotland lose in sport.
    It`s the same the world­ over. Every team, town or country next door to each­ other, will be the fiercest rivals. That will never­ change. So anyone on this loop saying, "Oh, stop­ slagging each other off", get real.
    The rivalry­ between England and Scotland will always be there. It`s­ a fact of life, plain and simple. You will always get­ that jealousy from a smaller insignificant neighbouring­ country.......

    From hammer_head, on Sun 7 Sep 12:55PM

  9. No matter what, Burley has put Scotland under undue­ pressure

    From Harry, on Sun 7 Sep 11:20AM

  10. MACEDONIA MACEDONIA MACEDONIA MACEDONIA MACEDONIA­ MACEDONIA MACEDONIA MACEDONIA­ MACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAM­ ACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMA­ CEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMAC­ EDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACE­ DONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACED­ ONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDO­ NIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDON­ IAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONI­ AMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIA­ MACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAM­ ACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMA­ CEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMAC­ EDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACE­ DONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACED­ ONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDO­ NIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDON­ IAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONI­ AMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIA­ MACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAM­ ACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMA­ CEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMAC­ EDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACE­ DONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACED­ ONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDO­ NIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDON­ IAMACEDONIAMACEDONIAMACEDONIA

    From Katerina, on Sun 7 Sep 11:15AM

  11. .....MATE ALEX D SO TO CORRECT YOU YOU HAVE VISIT FYROM­ NOT THE GREEK MAKEDONIA
    FYROM 1 SCOTLAND 0

    WELL­ DONE TO FYROM......

    STAVROS THE GREEK MAKEDONIAN

    From christinemp, on Sun 7 Sep 10:41AM

  12. Scotland kicked off their qualifying campaign for the­ 2010 World Cup with a disappointing 1-0 defeat in­ Macedonia. HA HA HA HA HA HA HA. THAT SHOULD SHUT THE­ SWEATY'S UP FOR A WHILE!

    From STEVE E, on Sun 7 Sep 10:22AM

  13. benjaminvolant the only thing your missing is your a­ tit

    From johnbhoy, on Sun 7 Sep 9:55AM

  14. man oh man, what a bad start. Result does'nt bother­ me, we underestimate these kinda countries when really­ they are making strides in world football while we­ tiptoe. Performance was the worrying part, nothing very­ inspiring on show at all, apart from Craig Gordon, and­ thats always a bad sign when your goalkeeper stands­ out. Least the under 21's will restore pride...i­ hope.

    From Craig T, on Sun 7 Sep 9:36AM

  15. veleboss You dont know the History of Macedonia. King­ Philip of Macedonia and his son Alexander the Great­ were Kings and natives of Macedonia. Macedonia was and­ is a region of Greece and the Capital of Macedonia is­ Thessaloniki. FYI I'm not Greek I'm an Italian­ Prof. who teaches Ancient History at a University in­ the USA and I'm an avid football fan as well. Ciao­ a tutti......

    From dante, on Sun 7 Sep 8:44AM

  16. christinemp Has a legitimate point. Macedonia is the­ land of King Philip of Macedonia and his son Alexander­ the Great.Punto e Basta....

    From dante, on Sun 7 Sep 8:17AM

  17. I have the solution for Scotland. Hire an Italian­ coach!

    From dante, on Sun 7 Sep 8:08AM

  18. I have the solution for Scotland. Hire an Italian­ coach!

    From dante, on Sun 7 Sep 8:07AM

  19. First half Macedonia was the better side , second­ half it was Scotland who had the game , tempo and ­ chances.
    There was room for penalty for bouth sides­ but the referee saw nothing.

    What I want to say is­ that Scotland has the best fans in the whole world,what­ an attitude what a spirit after win or lose ....­ thats how it should be,always with your side.

    cheers­ from­ Macedonia
    .............................................­ .....................

    A sega do Milenko : Nemoj druze­ da si zemas zasluga voopsto pa ni na shala.Mozda­ Katanec ti e prijatel ali kolku me drzi pamet ti bese­ prva violina (portparol) na edna banda koja sakase­ promena na rakovodstvoto na FFM a isto i na­ selektorot Katanec.Ali na strana sega tie raboti­ cestita startna pobeda za Makedonija i da gi ima­ povejce...... dobar prenos od F1 utre Milenko pozdrav­ i do tebe od Nikola .

    From Nikola, on Sun 7 Sep 12:30AM

  20. In response to the comment, "SCOTLAND LOSE 1-O TO­ A BUNCH OF PART TIMERS. TYPICAL SCOTLAND. COME ON­ ENGLAND" i think that is rude disrespectful. This­ person clearly shows no football intellect as the­ Macedonian players are full time players playing all­ over Europe. It also sounds as though the comment comes­ from an English fan, which if memory serves me­ correctly, these are the same 'part-timers' who­ took two points off England in the previous qualifying­ campaign and went within a whisker of winning one of­ the matches. By the way, did you catch the England­ result overnight? 2-0 against real part-timers (no­ disrespect to Andorran fans) and had Joe Cole to thank­ for saving them from real embarrasment. I personally­ would be worrying about England's campaign this­ time around. Also, how did England go in the Euros?­ They didn't televise any England matches in­ Australia which is pretty odd.

    Also, i am not sure­ what the comment, 'Awkk,, Can't Believe We Got­ Beat By Fukking Macedonia' was meant to imply but i­ think it somehow relates to the belief that Macedonia­ are still minnows in world football. I am just glad­ that for your sake, Macedonia did not humiliate­ Scotland even more because of the clear-cut chances­ they were presented by a weak defence that will be­ ripped apart by the Netherlands when you play them.­ Good luck in the qualifications...

    Finally, in­ response to 'FYROM ARE FULL OF QUEERS FROM ALBANIA­ YOU DO NOT HAVE NOTHING TO SHOW ON THIS WORLD THE LEFT­ OVERS FROM THE EARTH, FYROM 1 SCOTLAND 0'..... What­ can i say???

    What i can say is that
    (a) Stavros the­ Greek has clearly not been to Macedonia.
    (b) Stavros­ the Greek has a poor sense of humour and should stick­ to what he does best.

    Stavros mate, as a person who­ has visited the country myself, the only queers in­ Macedonia are the ones that come from the Greece and­ the Greek islands, and if you're not going to­ comment on the football in this article and any others­ relating to Macedonia, spare your comments and save­ everyone's time in reading this garbage.

    From Alex D, on Sat 6 Sep 11:58PM
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