Stars absent for Skopje test

Major losses
As his side aim to build on their excellent 2-2 draw away against England in their last qualifying game, coach Nikola Ilievski has been forced to do without NEC Nijmegen's Georgi Hristov and the player regarded as the best in Macedonia in 2002, midfield player Robert Popov.

Match fitness
Ilievski has decided that Hristov was not fit enough to play, saying: "I did not call up Hristov because he has not played enough games for Nijmegen. I cannot rely on him right now." Popov was injured while playing for FK Belasica GC in a recent game against FK Sileks and has been forced to miss the vital qualifier on 29 March and a friendly game against Portugal in Geneva on 2 April.

Brothers return
The 21-man squad includes its share of surprises with FC Groningen midfield player Mile Krstev and his brother, FK Pobeda's Saso Krstev, both returning, along with defender Aguinaldo Braga, who plays his club football in Greece for FC Aris Thessaloniki. FK Sloga Jugomagnat defender Ertan Demiri has been called into the squad for the first time.

Negative trend
The coach has made it clear that, after two draws and a defeat in the opening three qualifiers left Macedonia third in Group 7, the side needs a good result against Slovakia and in their capital city, Skopje.

'I believe in my players'
"This is our third game against Slovakia and it's very important for us," he said. "In the previous two games Slovakia beat us (5-0 in Skopje, 2-0 in Bratislava) and accordingly they are favourites in this match. It will be very hard to win this game but I believe in my players and I hope that they will give the maximum to win this game in Skopje."

F.Y.R. Macedonia squad
Miloševski, Nikolovski, Sedloski, Zdravevski, Vajs, Mitrevski, Braga, Mile Krstev, Lazarevski, Sumulikoski, Grozadnovski, Jancevski, Trajanov, Stojkov, Saso Krstev, Naumoski, Pandev, Sakiri, Grnčarov, Hristovski, Demiri.