North Macedonia prepare to play their first-ever international tournament game when they face Austria at the National Arena in Bucharest.
Against the odds, they came through their qualifying group to make it to the 24-team tournament and it will surely be a special day for Igor Angelovski’s side.
Their first opponents are Austria, who are playing in their third European Championship after co-hosting the tournament in 2008 and qualifying for France in 2016.
Austria can be backed at 10/13 to win with North Macedonia at 9/2, while the draw is available at 5/2.
Austria To Get Back On Goal Trail
Preparations for Austria have been far from ideal heading into their first game of the tournament.
They have won just one of their five games played in 2021 – a 3-1 victory over the lowly Faroe Islands in March.
Das Team have also failed to score in each of their last three with a heavy 4-0 defeat by Denmark followed up in recent weeks by a 1-0 loss to England and a goalless draw against Slovakia.
Injuries to key players have not helped – captain Julian Baumgartlinger and talisman Marko Arnautovic have not been fit in the build up to Euro 2020.
Both are in the squad but coach Franco Foda is set to play other options instead with Arnautovic in particular an expected wildcard from the bench.
Sasa Kalajdzic is expected to play up front having displayed fine form for Stuttgart in the Bundesliga this season – 16 goals in 33 games.
He can be backed 6/4 to score anytime.
Veteran Pandev To Shine
No-one in the North Macedonia camp will be as excited to play tournament football as Goran Pandev.
The 37-year-old – a Champions League winner with Inter Milan in 2010 – could have been forgiven for thinking a spot at the Euros was a pipe dream, but he now gets his chance in the twilight of his career.
At club level, he is used on a more sparing basis for Genoa owing to his age but for country, he is still capable of being the main man – his goal in the shock 2-1 win over Germany in March being a key example.
Much of North Macedonia’s attacking strategy will be based around Pandev, who is set to earn his 120th cap against Austria.
He can be backed at 9/2 to score anytime and send the North Macedonian faithful into raptures.
Austria Set To Be Just Too Strong
This will only be the third-ever meeting between the two sides with both previous games coming in the qualification campaign for Euro 2020.
Austria won both games against the Red Lynxes, 4-1 and 2-1 so have a clear understanding on how to exploit the newbies.
Extra tournament experience will count for something as well, even though Austria have a wretched record in the Euros.
It will be a very closely fought match – and North Macedonia’s recent form will make it difficult for Austria – but Foda’s side should just squeeze through.
An Austria win and both teams to score can be backed at 3/1.
*All odds correct at time of writing.
