Macedonia exits EURO with a 3:0 defeat by the Netherlands (Video)

Not a dream exit for the Macedonian national team as the group favorites recorded a big win with three goals.

photo by UEFA: moment of the match

Coach Angelovski changed the formation for this match opting for a 4-2-3-1 with Stole Dimitrievski at the goal. Ezgjan Alioski, Visar Musliu, Darko Velkovski and Sefan Ristovski in the back line, Arijan Ademi and Enis Bardhi in the midfield, Aleksandra Trajkovski as right winger, Ivan Trichkovski as left winger, Elif Elmas as trequartista and captain Goran Pandev up front.

During the official press-conference a day before the match Pandev announced his decision to retire from the national team. For that occasion prior to kick-off Dutch captain Georginio Wijnaldum gave him a Dutch home top with his name and the number 122, as this was his 122nd appearance for Macedonia.

photo: UEFA

The Netherlands started pressing right from the start, but Macedonia had the best chance. In the 12th minute a counter attack ended with a goal by Trichkovski which was unfortunately ruled out for offside.

In the 22nd minute Trajkovski fired a great shot from distance and hit the post.

Trichko is gutted as his goal did not stand; photo: FFM

Just two minutes later the Oranje broke the dead lock. Blind with a sliding tackle stole the ball from Pandev, the referee didn’t blow for a foul and the Dutch went into a deadly counter attack that ended with Depay scoring past Dimitrievski. The Macedonians protested, but even VAR did not change the refs decision.

The notorious tackle; photo: FFM/UEFA

Macedonian could not equalize before the break with the best change being on the other side when Dumfries failed to score one-on-one with Dimitrievski in the 37th minute.

Oranje started the second half with an intention to close the match early. Trichkovski denied a second goal in the 50th minute by clearing the ball from the Macedonian goal-line after de Light sent a header.

Still, just a minute later the Netherlands managed to double the lead. Depay assisted to captain Wijnaldum who scored.

In the 53rd minute eventually Bardhi got a chance to take a free kick at this EURO. However, his shot wasn’t good and was and easy save for Stekelenburg.

Angelovski made the first change in the 56th minute when Darko Churlinov, the youngest in our team, substituted 34-year-old Trichkovski. 67th and final appearance for the popular Trichko as he as well retires from the national team.

Unfortunately just two minutes later third goal for the Oranje. Depay once again assisted to Wijnaldum who beat Dimitrievski scoring his second.

photo: UEFA

In the 67th minute newly introduced Weghorst hit the post of the Macedonian goal.

Double substitution for Macedonia: Trajkovski left the pitch to allow Ferhan Hasani to make his debut EURO appearance, and right after followed a standing ovation for Goran Pandev who was take off for Tihomir Kostadinov. The Macedonian players made a guard of honor for Pandev as the entire Johan Cruijff ArenA rang in a warm applause for an emotional farewell of a European legend.

Churlinov scored a goal in the 72rd minute after a counter attack and an assist by Bardhi, but unfortunately he was in an offside position and the goal was quickly disallowed.

Twelve minutes from time and Vlatko Stojanovski got his chance to feel the EURO atmosphere when he came in instead of Bardhi. Boban Nikolov also was introduced taking the place of Ademi.

The result did not chance in the last minutes and Macedonia recorded the third defeat, this time without scoring a goal. The Dutch were the better team and deservedly won this tie.

Match report | Standings

Macedonia failed to with at least a point in the debut appearance at the European Championship, but still the public is generally satisfied as qualifying was a big achievement.

photo: UEFA

This match also marks the ends of the Igor Angelovski coaching era. His contract expires on 31 July and since FFM is eager to make a change, it is obvious that his five and a half year period has come to an end.

Facts regarding this match:

  • 252nd match overall for Macedonia.
  • 122nd and final appearance for Goran Pandev.
  • 67th and final appearance for Ivan Trichkovski.
  • 56th match as captain for Goran Pandev.
  • 45th cap for Stole Dimitrievski.
  • 30th cap for Elif Elmas.
  • 5th cap for Darko Churlinov.

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