Not satisfied with the coach’s decision to be bench at the WC play-off against Denmark, Aleksandar Trajkovski and Bojan Miovski decided to leave the national team and will not be available for the friendly against Ireland.
photos by FFM: Trajkovski (L) and Miovski (R)
Trajkovski was especially disappointed as he did not get any playing time against Denmark. His wife even went online saying that her husband “did not deserve such an unfair treatment after everything he did for the national team”, clearly not understanding that the national team is for the current best in form players and that the coach has the final word. Trajkovski maybe missed his chance to reach 100 matches for Macedonia as he currently sits at 98. He is also currently the second all-time national team top goalscorer with 24 goals.
“Aleksandar Trajkovski was not happy that he did not start in the first team, but at this moment I believe that he is not physically at the level necessary to respond to the demands of such a match. Our plan was, if necessary, for Trajkovski to get a chance in the final, but the course of the match did not require that. There is no reason for anyone to feel offended.” – said coach Sedloski.
Miovski was also benched, but he entered the pitch in the 64th minute after Denmark scored the third goal. His club Rangers asked FFM for him to be released, but since it is a FIFA official match FFM and the player have the final word. Miovski himself opted to leave the national team, informed FFM. Miovski has been capped 39 times, scoring 9 goals.
“The situation was similar with Bojan Miovski, who was also not happy that he did not start, but it must be accepted that there are 23 players in the national team and no one is guaranteed a place in the starting lineup,” aded Sedloski.
The clubs of Enis Bardhi and Isnik Alimi, Turkish side Konyaspor and Chinese side Dàlián Yīngbó, also made requests their players to be released, but both players opted to stay and give their best againstIreland.
An additional problem is the adductor injury of Jani Atanasov, who, after medical examinations, will not be able to play in the match against Ireland.
Macedonia will play a friendly against Ireland on Tuesday at 20.45 CET at the Aviva stadium in Dublin.