In the first knockout game of World Cup Qualifying, North Macedonia can stun Portugal with a victory.
North Macedonia can stun Portugal in the World Cup Qualifying final. The North Macedonian football team will be playing Portugal at home on Thursday evening, and they are predicted to win by 1-0.
North Macedonian players awoke Friday morning to discover that no, it wasn’t a dream, and that they had pulled off the biggest upset in World Cup Qualifying history. If you missed it, North Macedonia received a fantastic goal from Aleksandar Trajkovski in the 92nd minute of their semifinal against Italy, bringing them to within one game of a World Cup place in Qatar this winter.
Trajkovski’s strike is legendary in Macedonian mythology, although, as previously said, North Macedonia’s work is not yet done. The team’s celebrations must be brief since they must earn their ticket to Qatar by defeating Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal on Tuesday. They’ll be written off in the same way that Italy was, but don’t dismiss the North Macedonians just yet. Here are two reasons why they can do the unthinkable and qualify for the World Cup.
The World Cup Qualifying final between North Macedonia and Portugal was a shocker.
1. A strong defensive track record
You may have seen the Italy game and concluded that they should have scored at least one, if not more goals. True, but there are situations when the ball just does not go in. However, one game does not represent the whole tale of the North Macedonian defense.
North Macedonia surrendered just 11 goals in ten games during the group round of qualification, with seven of them coming in two games against Romania and Germany. The remaining four goals were scored over the course of three games, giving North Macedonia a clean sheet in half of their group stage games, which is quite an achievement in a group that includes the aforementioned Germany and Romania, as well as Iceland and Armenia.
This bodes well for a Portuguese team that has battled to establish consistency throughout World Cup qualifying, with a tie and a defeat to Serbia, as well as a draw and a 2-1 victory against Ireland, which was only possible thanks to two Ronaldo goals in the 89th and 96th minutes. North Macedonia may be able to find a way past Portugal and into Qatar, whether in normal time, extra time, or penalties, if they can do what they did against Italy, which was simply survive the attacks and fight another day. Expect the North Macedonian defense to be resolute and inspired, much like it was against the Italians.
The stakes for North Macedonia are high.
North Macedonia has never qualified for the World Cup as an independent country, therefore it is undeniably a key aim for their national squad. In reality, any country encompassing North Macedonia has not competed in the world’s most prestigious international tournament since 1990, going back to when the country was a part of the old Yugoslavia.
Their opponents, too, are playing for a lot of money. Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup chances are going to be limited, as Portugal hasn’t missed the tournament since 1998. Missing out on qualifying would be a huge upset for the Portuguese, maybe even more so as the shock Italy got from this squad.
They don’t play like it, however, for a nation that has never made it. Blagoja Milevski’s squad has proved that they are fearless in all situations, including World Cup qualifying and the Euros. Milevski has made it plain to his squad what awaits them if they perform well, and his message has certainly been received. Instead of sheer talent, which is typically the case on the club side of things, international rivalry is often formed by whose staffs can persuade their players to buy in the most.
This is also a one-of-a-kind situation for North Macedonia, at least in terms of traditional European qualifications. This is the first time in recent memory that the qualifying playoffs have been arranged in such a manner that only one side survives to qualify for the World Cup by this technique, since in prior tournaments all four winners of first round playoff matches would qualify. As a result, a victory on Tuesday would elevate the North Macedonians to even higher levels.
Consider how it feels to be one game away from your country’s first World Cup appearance. Those players would be national heroes for the rest of their lives, even if they were eliminated in the group stage, and I’m sure they wouldn’t have to pay anything in their home country for a long. Not simply the pleasure of reaching the World Cup, but the honor of adding your name to your country’s national mythology is on the line for these athletes. Teams typically perform at their utmost best when they have emotional reasons like the ones North Macedonian players have right now, and if that remains true on Tuesday, the world will be in for a pleasant surprise.
North Macedonia can stun Portugal in the World Cup Qualifying final. North Macedonia will be looking to win their first ever World Cup qualifying match against Portugal. Reference: portugal vs north macedonia tickets for sale.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has North Macedonia qualified for the World Cup?
A: Yes, North Macedonia has qualified for the World Cup.
Why did Italy not qualify for World Cup 2022?
A: Italy failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup because they did not have enough points in their group.
How many times has Italy not qualified for the World Cup?
A: Italy has never not qualified for the World Cup, so that means they have never failed to qualify.
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