After the critical comments by players like Ilijoski, Grozdanoski and Naumoski in the media, manager John Toshack responded with a short statement on FFM’s official website.

Bazhe Ilijoski started the criticism with a post on his facebook profile, Vlatko Grozdanoski continued with a strongly worded letter, and Ilcho Naumoski became the latest player very critical of both John Toshack and FFM after the squad was announced for the upcoming friendlies against Portugal and Angola in late May.

John Toshack responded with a short statement on FFM’s official website which stated,  “I am not surprised at all by these reactions and comments by a certain group of players, and with their comments and reactions they showed why I did not call them up.  At the same time, they clearly showed the public that my decision to exclude them was right.”

The comments by the three players surely mean that their national team careers are likely over, for as long as John Toshack is the manager and FFM is led by Haralampie Hadji-Risteski.  The interesting aspect will be whether the other players support the stances of these three players or Toshack and the FFM?  The public perception has been very negative towards Toshack and the FFM as the majority of the Macedonian public is agreeing with the players.  The timing couldn’t be any worse as the 2014 World Cup qualifications begin in early September, less then four months away.