National team coach Chedomir Janevski announced a 22 player squad for the upcoming 2014 World Cup qualifiers against Wales and Scotland.

With few changes from the friendly against Bulgaria, Macedonia will face Wales and Scotland in early September. Aleksandar Todorovski is out of the squad due to an injury, while Stefan Spirovski isn’t called up due to a lack of playing time. Back in the squad are central defender Boban Grncharov, left back Aleksandar Lazevski and attacking midfielder Darko Tasevski. Still unavailable are the injured Muhamed Demiri, while Ferhan Hasani and Goran Popov once again have been left out.

“Before us are two very important but also difficult games. Against Wales and Scotland, it resumes our battle for a better final position in the standings. We do have a chance for the third place and that’s a good motive for us. Most of the players were also part of the squad that faced Bulgaria in the last friendly. I called up 22 players, since we will play two games in less than a week so I want to have two players available at each position in order to be covered in the event of an injury or yellow or red card suspensions. Back in the team are Grncharov, Lazevski and Tasevski. The situation in our group is very complicated, but our goal is to move up on the table and, therefore, the preparations and the approach are significant. Most of the players are in form and I expect solid performances. Wales are a serious team, with exceptional quality and fighting spirit, a team that doesn’t use the typical British style of play. They have a lot of players from the Premier League, they have Gareth Bale and probably we will see the return of Craig Bellamy so we have to show them respect. But, I will repeat, the approach and the determination will play a key role for us. I’m also hoping to see great support by the fans.” – said Janevski.

Tome Pachovski – Mechelen
Darko Tofiloski – Košice
Kristijan Naumovski – Dinamo București

Boban Grncharov – Botev Plovdiv
Stefan Ristovski – Latina
Nikolche Noveski – Mainz
Vanche Shikov – Volyn
Aleksandar Lazevski – Hoverla
Daniel Georgievski – Steaua
Daniel Mojsov – Brann
Daniel Ivanovski – Mjällby

Ostoja Stjepanovikj – Wisła
Darko Tasevski – Ironi Kiryat Shmona
Nikola Gligorov – Xəzər
David Babunski -Barcelona B

Ivan Trichkovski – Waasland-Beveren
Goran Pandev – Napoli
Mirko Ivanovski – Astra
Agim Ibraimi – Maribor
Aleksandar Trajkovski – Zulte Waregem
Adis Jahovikj – Wil
Jovan Kostovski – OH Leuven

Macedonia will first face Wales on 6 September, and then square off against Scotland four days later. Both games will be played at the National Arena Philip II of Macedon in Skopje.

Scotland already announced their squad, while Wales has yet to do so at this point.