Macedonia will look to build on its recent win over Wales when they host Scotland on Tuesday, looking to move into sole possession of third place in Group A.

Macedonian manager Chedomir Janevski will be without the services of Agim Ibraimi who was suspended for the Scotland clash after picking up his second yellow card of these qualifications in last week’s win over Wales.  It was a silly yellow card for kicking the ball away after he was called for a foul.  The suspension means that Aleksandar Trajkovski, who has scored a goal in two consecutive games for Macedonia, will start in his place on the right wing.

Janevski also announced at today’s press conference that Goran Pandev has a shoulder injury and will be a game time decision.  He has been training individually, but Janevski is hopeful that Goran will be ready to go.  If Pandev can’t go, then Darko Tasevski or David Babunski will start in attacking midfield.  Additionally, keeper Tome Pachovski picked up a slight knock in a recent training after the Wales qualifier, but Janevski fully expects Pachovski to suit up in the Macedonian goal.

The Macedonian skipper called Scotland a class above Wales and expects a tough encounter between two teams that want to close these qualifications on a high note.  Janevski noted that the more patient team will likely come out on top in this game.

After a hard fought battle against Wales last Friday, Janevski could freshen up the squad by introducing several new starters.  Janevski said Scotland was very good at winning physical and aeriel duels, so we might see CB Boban Grncharov over Vanche Shikov to address that challenge.  Grncharov is a physical defender who is good in the air.  Other players who did not feature in the Wales game who could be possible starters against Scotland include Ostoja Stjepanovikj at defensive midfield and Adis Jahovikj or Mirko Ivanovski at CF.

Scotland manager Gordon Strachan told BBC Sport the following about Macedonia, “They beat Wales, which we’ve not managed to do.  I think their style will be the same.  Technically, the Macedonians are very good.  But, like us, they have a small pool to pick from.”

Strachan, whoo took over as manager of Scotland back in January of this year, will be without Charlie Adam and Jordan Rhodes for the Macedonia game.

Scotland captain Scott Brown, meanwhile, is not counting on pretty football in this game as he expects a battle that will result in Macedonia trying to get in their faces in order to win every battle.  Brown made the comments based on his recollection of the two games that Scotland and Macedonia played in the 2010 World Cup qualifications.  However, Macedonia now has a new manager in Chedomir Janevski and the national team has played much more offensive football under his watch.  In addition, only Goran Pandev, Nikolche Noveski, Tome Pachovski, Boban Grncharov and Darko Tasevski are still on the current squad that faced Scotland back in the 2010 qualifications. 

It is no secret that Brown was despised by a number of Macedonian players back then with his antics.  He is a feisty player who likes to instigate in order to get opponents to do something stupid out of frustration.  The Macedonian players must show restraint and not fall prey to Brown’s antics.

In the 2010 World Cup qualifications, Macedonia won 1:0 at home, but lost 2:0 on the road.  As for the ongoing 2014 qualifications, Macedonia drew 1:1 in Scotland on 11 September 2012.  This game on Tuesday will be the fourth matchup between these two national teams.

The Macedonis vs. Scotland game will get underway at 20:30 CET at the National Arena Phillip II of Macedon in Skopje.  FIFA has assigned Fredy Fautrel of France to be the match referee.