Nations League draw pairs Macedonia with Armenia

Armenia will be out rival for the first places in the Group 4 that also includes the likes of Liechtenstein and Gibraltar. That was decided in today’s draw made by UEFA in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The UEFA Nations League will be a big chance for Macedonia to qualify for the 2020 EURO using a shortcut. But that shortcut won’t be a walkover.

As one of the four seeded teams, Macedonia’s pot was drawn last. We we the very last ball left in the pot and we were left with the Group 4 where were already drawn Gibraltar, Liechtenstein and Armenia.

Gibraltar is of the most recent UEFA and FIFA members. We have no history on senior level so those matches will be our first. However, our U21 national team recently played them away and was shocked with an 1:0 defeat.

Liechtenstein is a well know team for us. So far we have faced them 7 times, most recently last October when we smashed them 4:0 in Strumica. We have a record of 6 wins, 1 draw and no defeat.

Armenia is old fellow of ours with whom our clashes date back to the very first qualifications we entered, those for the 1996 EURO. So far we have played 6 games in which we are totally equal with each team winning twice plus two draws. Even the overall goal-difference in leveled.

To see the complete statistics against Liechtenstein and Armenia, as well as the past encounters, click here.

The calendar of games came out later today (all times are CET):

Matchday 1: 6 September 2018 at 20.45 Gibraltar vs Macedonia
Matchday 2: 9 September 2018 at 18.00 Macedonia vs Armenia
Matchday 3: 13 October 2018 at 20.45 Macedonia vs Liechtenstein
Matchday 4: 16 October 2018 at 18.00 Armenia vs Macedonia
Matchday 5: 16 November 2018 at 20.45 Liechtenstein vs Macedonia
Matchday 6: 19 November 2018 at 20.45 Macedonia vs Gibraltar

So, in less than three months we will know if we have a chance for qualifying, or not.

Just to be clear:

  • the four group winners will get promoted to League C for the 2020 edition
  • the top four-ranked League D teams that do not qualify for the 2020 EURO will enter play-offs in March 2020, with one EURO finals place on offer.

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