After the draw between Scotland and Iceland on Hampden Park this month, the chances for reaching second place in the 9th WC qualification group for macedonian national team have increased slightly. But, never mind the other results, our team has an objective in front of them. On Wednesday, Macedonia will face wounded Iceland in search for new 3 points that will bring us closer to the second place on the table. Iceland has won only 1 point from 3 matches, while Macedonia have collected 3 points from 2 matches. With a win on Iceland, Macedonia will seal the second place at least for several months.

Ilco Naumoski will be absent for this match after he has collected two yellow cards in the two played matches. Squad is expected to be the same as recently, with, of course, a change up front where we might see Stojkov as a starter. The defense will be formed with the standard Sedloski, Noveski and Mitreski who will have the challenge to stop Iceland's best player Guðjohnsen. Surely after Iceland's defeat against Netherlands in the last round, their morale has been lowered but Macedonia must not serve as a healing chance.

Bookies have set Macedonia as slight underdogs with odds from 2.70 to 3.00 for a win for the visitors. Of course, that is nothing important in matches like these, but it wouldnt surprise me at all if we see equal odds for both teams before the kick-off. Iceland are surely no pushovers, but do they really deserve the role of favourites?

Match is scheduled for 15 October 2008 20:00 CET and will be played on Laugardalsvöllur stadium in Reykjavik. The referees are Turkish: Selçuk Dereli will be main and his assistants will be Cem Satman and Alper Ülusoy. SITEL TV will have a live coverage of this match in Macedonia.