SCOUTING REPORT

Manager

Igor Angelovski

Appointed in November 2015, Angelovski is North Macedonia’s longest-serving head coach. The 44-year-old has fostered a great atmosphere in the squad, but his tactical ability has been questioned at times.

Record P 49 W 22 D 11 L 16

All games

Strengths

• Have failed to score in only two of their last 27 matches

• A real sense of unity

Weaknesses

• A lack of depth in their squad means options become limited should they pick up any injuries

• No side received more yellow cards in qualifying (34) while they have had six red cards in the last 24 games

Prospects

Finishing as one of the best third-placed teams and reaching the last-16 stage is not beyond North Macedonia.

Inside info

Jonathan Wilson

European football expert

The decision to allow teams in from the Nations League is a good idea – we so often see good teams unable to qualify because their coefficient is terrible which punishes a better generation. You can never be sure whether a new team will be inspired by qualification but I think they will lose all three games.