Portugal – North Macedonia preview: likely teams and statements | European Qualification
Portugal and North Macedonia will face each other in the final of Path C of the World Cup play-off, on March 29 (Tuesday).
The winner will secure one of three European spots for the 2022 World Cup to be held in Qatar, with the finals draw scheduled for April 1 (Friday).
Where to watch Portugal – North Macedonia on TV
Fans can find their local broadcast partners here.
How did the two teams get here?
Serbia prevented Portugal to finish in first place in Group A by winning in Lisbon on the last matchday, 2-1 in Lisbon. Fernando Santos’ command then beat Turkey 3-1 in the play-off semi-finals. AN North Macedonia got the better of Romania to finish Group J in second place behind Germany. The Macedonians beat Germany 2-1 in Duisburg in qualifying and caused an even bigger shock when they eliminated Italy in the play-off semi-finals.
Likely teams
Portugal: Diogo Costa; João Cancelo, Pepe, Fonte, Guerreiro; Danilo, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Otávio; Ronaldo, Jota
North Macedonia: Dimitrievski; S. Ristovski, Velkovski, Musliu, Alioski; Churlinov, Ademi, Bardi, Elmas; M. Ristovski, Trajkovski
Experts’ predictions
Carlos Machado, reporter from Portugal
Portugal are favorites again, but will certainly be guaranteed first, as Turkey facilitated, this at a time when they are preparing to face another team that will go first, worrying about defending. The return of João Cancelo and Pepe should ease Fernando Santos’ defensive concerns, and with Bernardo Silva in a freer role and Cristiano Ronaldo and Diogo Jota as threatened as ever, Portugal dominates the games.
Igor Panevski, North Macedonia reporter
The North Macedonian fairy tale continues; After reaching UEFA EURO 2020, the team has a historic opportunity to reach the World Cup after a sensational victory in Palermo. They have never faced Portugal competitively, but North Macedonia drew 0-0 with the hosts in a 2012 friendly in Leiria and they know how to frustrate the big teams. Blagoja Milevski’s team beat Germany in qualifying, so why not Portugal too?
World Cup registration
Portugal
final stages: 7 (1966, 1986, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018)
Better: third place (1966)
North Macedonia
final stages: none
Better: N/A
What the coaches say
Fernando Santos, Portugal coach: “We could play North Macedonia or Italy: I always say that. These games are finals and finals like finals are always complicated. We won the first [contra a Turquia] and now we have to win the second. That’s what we’re going to focus on. We have to focus on North Macedonia, which will certainly be a tough game. If that means it’s going to be very complicated.”
Blagoja Milevski, North Macedonia coach: “We won against one of the best teams in the world [Itália]. Let’s not stop there; We have one last step to be in the World Championship. We are on the way to confirm why we are among the top 20 teams in Europe.”