England vs North Macedonia betting tips: Euro 2024 qualifier preview, predictions, team news and odds
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England vs North Macedonia: Head to head statistics
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England vs North Macedonia recommended bets
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England vs North Macedonia match preview
Will England’s 100% record in Euro 2024 qualification continue?
On Friday night, the Three Lions swatted aside Malta 4-0 at Grawnd Nazzjonali.
An own goal opened the floodgates in Ta’ Qali, before a Trent Alexander-Arnold stunner and penalties from Harry Kane and then Callum Wilson completed the rout.
This made it three wins out of three for Gareth Southgate’s team, after impressively beating Italy in Naples and then Ukraine at Wembley back in March.
This means England are already six points clear at the top of Group C and a win here, even with half the campaign to go, would all but wrap up qualification.
Only three times before have the Three Lions ended a qualification campaign with maximum points, do so en route to the World Cups of 1950 and 1954 as well as for Euro 2016.
North Macedonia made their major tournament debut at the Euros two years ago, but face a real uphill battle to get there this time round.
On Friday, the Lynxes raced into a 2-0 first half lead at home to Ukraine, with Enis Bardhi converting a penalty before Elif Elmas doubled their advantage shortly after.
However, in the second 45, Blagoja Milevski’s side completely collapsed, eventually beaten 3-2 in Skopje, with Ukraine’s winner coming seven minutes from time, shortly after Visar Musliu had been sent off.
North Macedonia did beat Malta in their group opener earlier this year, but Friday’s defeat is a major setback.
Given that it’s impossible for the Lions to get into the play-off via their Nations League performance, they need to finish in the top two of Group C, which appears unlikely doesn’t it?
There two nations met in qualifying for both Euro 2004 and 2008, with then FYR Macedonia unbeaten on English soil, drawing 2-2 at St Mary’s in 2002, before a goalless draw at Old Trafford four years later.
This match is also taking place at the home of Manchester United, England’s first fixture there since a 1-0 friendly defeat to Spain in February 2007.
In competitive internationals, England are unbeaten in 11 outings at Old Trafford, the most-recent of which was that 0-0 with Macedonia in 2006, last losing there in April 1927, against Scotland in the Home Championships.
The sold-out crowd in Manchester are likely to see a comfortable home win.
England team news
Harry Kane will be seeking to continue his imperious record in qualifiers, having scored 32 goals in his last 24 qualification appearances.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was the main topic of discussion on Friday, deployed in midfield, sort of, so this experiment is likely to continue.
If Gareth Southgate does rotate, some of the Man City treble-winners could come in, namely John Stones, Kyle Walker, Phil Foden or Jack Grealish.
Eberechi Eze came off the bench for his England debut in Malta, while Jordan Pickford is set to win his 54th cap in goal, with Aaron Ramsdale once again on the bench.
Bukayo Saka was taken off at half time on Friday so, if he’s not 100% fit, Marcus Rashford could come in.
North Macedonia team news
Visar Musliu’s red card in Friday’s defeat to Ukraine means he is serving a one-match suspension.
Meanwhile, Ezgjan Alioski’s only previous appearance at Old Trafford saw his Leeds team demolished 6-2, hoping for better this time.
Aleksandar Trajkovski will continue to lead the line; his 20th and most-recent international goal was a stoppage time winner against Italy in the World Cup play-offs over a year ago.
Goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski of Rayo Vallecano and midfielders Enis Bardhi and Elif Elmas, of Trabzonspor and Napoli respectively, are North Macedonia’s other high-level operators.
Bojan Miovski, who scored 18 times for Aberdeen this season, has withdrawn from the squad due to injury.
Euro 2024 qualifying Group C table
Euro 2024 qualifying Group C results and fixtures
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