After the first two disappointing results against Slovakia and Armenia, Macedonia is now facing Andorra away in a must win game.
The Andorran national team is still like a bad dream for the Macedonian football fans. None can forget the 1:0 defeat away and the 0:0 draw in Skopje in the qualifications for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Since than, Macedonia beat Andorra twice, but still, those results are hard to be forgotten and today the fans and players are aware that in today’s football everyone can beat everyone.
Andorra is one of the smallest countries not just in Europe, but in the whole world. Located somewhere in the Pyrenees mountains, Andorra is only 467.63 km2 big with a populatrion of just 80.100. Their football federation was founded in 1994 and was accepted by UEFA the same year, while by FIFA was accepted in 1996. In the history of their national team, all in all they have won only three times and always at home. First they beat Belarus with 2:0 in a friendly in 2000, in 2002 with the same result and again in a friendly they beat Albania, while their first ever win in an official qualification game was against their next opponent, Macedonia. With Marc Bernaus’ on goal that evening on 13th of October 2004, Andorra recorded their most valuable win.
Macedonia is in Andorra without two of its three best players. Goran Pandev from Inter and Goran Popov from Dynamo Kyiv are not with the national team because of injuries, same as Levski’s Darko Tasevski and third choice goalkeeper Darko Tofiloski. Macedonia is still favorite to win this game and mark its first 3 points in this qualification campaign. It won’t be anywhere near easy although Andorra is one of the weakest teams in Europe. Virtue United is Stronger is their moto, and they are realy strong and united in the defence and they always play defence no matter what the score is. With as many fouls as possible, they try to kill their opponents’ fluid play and distract the players from scoring. Yellow and red cards as well as penalties are always part of Andorran games.
In the first two games of this qualifications, Andorra made heavy problems for both Russia and Ireland. They were one goal down from the 14th minute against Russia at home, but the Russians managed to score only one more and from the penalty spot. Ireland had bigger problems. The Irish were leading 2:0 when in the dying moment of the first half Cristian Martínez brought the Andorrans back in the game. Later Ireland scored it’s third goal.
This will be the fifth clash between Andorra and Macedonia. Andorra has one win, Macedonia has two, while one game was tied.
13.10.2004 Andorra – Macedonia 1:0 match report
09.02.2005 Macedonia – Andorra 0:0 match report
11.10.2006 Andorra – Macedonia 0:3 match report
17.10.2007 Macedonia – Andorra 3:0 match report
The game will be played at the Estadi Comunal d’Aixovall stadium located in the Sant Julià de Lòria parish near the capital city Andorra la Vella. The kick off will be at 19.00 CET. For the Macedonian public the game will be broadcasted on MTV. Referee of the game will be Gediminas Mazeika from Lithuania.
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