Can North Macedonia overcome recent struggles and maintain unbeaten record against Malta?
With Euro 2020 behind them, North Macedonia is gearing up for their next challenge: the UEFA international showpiece. While twenty teams can qualify directly, the odds may not be in North Macedonia’s favor, as they face a tough draw. However, their impressive victories over both Germany and Italy in recent years have shown their potential to overcome the odds.
Despite their historic debut at Euro 2020, Blagoja Milevski’s men narrowly missed out on reaching the last World Cup. While their form has been mixed lately, winning just two of their last nine competitive games and struggling for goals, they have a solid track record against Malta, having won five and drawn one of their previous meetings.
Ranked 167th in the world by FIFA, Malta has never made it to a major finals before. However, with new management in place, the Mediterranean minnows are hoping to take advantage of their two contests with North Macedonia to post a positive result. As Group C favorites Italy and England are expected to secure automatic qualification for the finals, Malta could potentially use these fixtures to develop new talent and gain valuable points.
With the hosts’ recent loss to Azerbaijan and a five-game winless streak, the upcoming match promises to be a crucial one for North Macedonia as they seek to start 2023 on a high note. While Italy and England may be tough competition, the Lynxes will be looking to draw inspiration from their historic victories and continue their rise to the top. With exciting matchups on the horizon, Euro 2024 promises to be a thrilling event for sports fans worldwide.
