Scouting report – Macedonia vs Scotland

As my children are half Scottish, I have a family obligation to cheer for any team or sporting hero from Scotland. Trust me, it doesn’t take up much of my time. Well done Chris Hoy for getting 3 golds in Beijing and go on, Andy Murray, take out Nadal in the semis of the US Open tonight. There, that’s me done, pretty much, unless you want to count their successful golfers. Unfortunately that’s out the window in two weeks, when Europe will play the Ryder Cup without a Scottish player for the first time since before 1950.

I do love Scotland. The people are great, the weather rubbish, the golf courses lovely. However, it’s World Cup qualification time, and this time around, as they were in the qualifying group for the 2006 WC, they are the enemy.

The weather may be rubbish in Scotland, but it’s lovely in Macedonia. 1-0 Macedonia, in other words, which coincidentally is also our half time score. Since I missed the first half, I won’t comment on this beyond linking to the Guardian’s live commentary. Apparently the Scots haven’t threatened much.

This didn’t change much in the second half, as Scotland created some half chances, but never really looked like scoring. Their biggest chance was a strong penalty claim that the referee wouldn’t listen to. 1-0 Macedonia and Scotland have some catching up to do if they are to deny us and Macedonia (or Iceland) 2nd place in the group behind expected group winner, Holland.

Some notes on both teams:

Scotland (we know them pretty well)

• Conclusions: This game was there for the taking for them, but they were lacking firepower up front. This was a game for a strong striker like Boyd. Miller and McFadden lacked the strength to break through a defense that gave away the flanks, but crowded the middle. Scotland had a very strong penalty claim denied, so they will feel like they were robbed here, but Macedonia had the better chances. Gordon made several excellent saves. They will need to be less patient in their passing to beat Norway, but they can certainly give us a strong game both home and away.
• Notes taken during the game:
• Their best player is an injured right back (Alan Hutton).
• Scott Brown has been impressive with some surging runs.
• For being a fairly limited team when it comes to skills, they are very methodical in their passing. If they pass it around like this against us, we will beat them (or it will be a drab 0-0 draw).
• Gordon is brilliant in goal. Scotland’s greatest strength is our biggest weakness. He makes a stunning save on a great half volley by Macedonia’s number 8 – Veliče Šumulikoski (Ipswich).
• Scotland should have a pentalty after 70 minutes, when first Miller, then McFadden are both fouled inside the area. The referee feels the goalie got a piece of the ball when he cut down McFadden. McFadden is booked for arguing the decision.
• The aptly named Kris Commons-cotland (from Derby) makes a great two footed dummy down the right hand side and whips a cross in, but the goalie does well to block it. Scotland have looked capable, but not dangerous. Kris Boyd comes on after 80 mins. His only skill is he can score goals.

Macedonia

• Conclusions: Macedonia are dangerous at home. I think they are definitely a better team than the Bosnian team we lost to at Ullevaal (and beat away). However, I think it’s an ideal game for Iversen and Carew up front, especially if Riise and Gamst can supply some crosses from the left. I’ve given up on getting anything from our right back or right wing, since we have no players there. Going forward, Macedonia relies on individual skill and explosiveness, so we will have to be diciplined. I think we should be able to take at least 4 points from this team if we can play up to our potential. Macedonia were much better matched up defensively against Scotland, which relies on passing and pace around the wings (Maloney, Commons, McFadden, etc) without a true target man, than they are against Norway with Carew and Iversen – with Helstad lurking around.
• Notes taken during the game:
• Their goalie looks vulnerable on set pieces.
• They do not defend well. The Scots are allowed too much time on the ball so they rely on winning 1 on 1 when the ball comes into the area.
• Very skillful going forward. Football is the biggest sport in Macedonia and my Macedonian friends (2 guys on my football team are 2nd generation Macedonian immigrants to Norway) report that the skill level is excellent down there. Macedonia has a population of 2 million, so there is no reason to expect Norway or Scotland to produce significantly better talent than this relatively new nation.
• Their biggest star is Goran Pandev (Lazio). He’s booked for diving after about 60 mins, but it’s a dodgy card. There was no contact when he jumped over the defender, I’ll concede that, but he had a legitimate claim for a free kick as he was obstructed.

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Tags: Alan Hutton, Craig Gordon, Goran Pandev, Jamie McFadden, John Carew, Kenny Miller, Kris Boyd, Macedonia, Scotland, Steffen Iversen, Veliče Šumulikoski

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