The FYRO Macedonia National Football Team
The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in International Soccer
Nov 16, 2009 Jonathan Squirrell
The FYRO Macedonia made their competitive bow in the qualifying matches for the Euro 96 tournament staged in England. After beginning their campaign with two creditable draws against Belgium and Denmark, either side of a defeat to Spain, FYRO Macedonia managed a first competitive win against Cyprus. This was the high-point of their performance however, as they drew three and lost four of their remaining seven games. They were forced to play two home games behind closed doors as a disciplinary punishment, and succumbed disappointingly in both matches, losing 5-0 to Belgium and 2-1 to Armenia. Despite these tribulations, they finished in fourth place in the group, albeit some distance behind Spain and Denmark who reached the finals.
The FYRO Macedonia Take on Croatia and Yugoslavia
The FYRO Macedonia showed some slight improvement in their attempt to qualify fo the 1998 World Cup in France, this time winning four and drawing one of ten matches. Romania comfortably topped the group, with the Republic of Ireland winning the scramble for second place, one point ahead of Lithuania, with the FYRO Macedonia a further four points back. Then came the qualifying tournament for the 2000 European Championships, and for the first time the FYRO Macedonia side was pitted against Yugoslavia - effectively Serbia and Montenegro. The group also included another former Yugoslav state in Croatia. These two former neighbours were too strong for the FYRO Macedonia team, who managed just one point from four encounters. They also once again fell foul of the Republic of Ireland, and eventually managed just two wins in the group, both over Malta. Yugoslavia topped the group and qualified.
The FYRO Macedonia Twice Draw With England
Qualification for the 2002 World Cup in Japan and Korea was the next target for the FYRO Macedonia, but after an early victory of Azerbaijan hopes swiftly faded as they failed to record another win in the group. Four draws earned the team fourth place out of six in the table, as Sweden strolled through in first place with Turkey taking the play-off spot. The next challenge was to qualify for the 2004 European Championships, but the FYRO Macedonia made a poor start, managing only a draw away to Liechtenstein. Despite managing a draw away to the eventual group winners, England, the campaign never recovered, with the solitary victory for the FYRO Macedonia coming in the return match against Liechtenstein. It was another fourth place finish, and once again it was Turkey who took second.
More disappointment was to follow as the side made very little impact on their qualification group for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. They were twice able to beat Armenia, but humiliatingly took only one point from two games against Andorra, a nation who have managed only three victories in their history. Some pride was salvaged as they held the group winners the Netherlands to a goalless draw in the final match of the campaign. The FYRO Macedonia were able to take their revenge over Andorra swiftly, as they twice defeated them in their qualifying group for Euro 2008. They also managed another draw away to England, and a memorable 2-0 victory over rivals Croatia. Unfortunately they were still a long way behind the leading pack, as Croatia and Russia qualified for the final tournament.
Struggles to Qualify for South Africa 2010
Next came the qualifying tournament for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The FYRO Macedonia were once again drawn against the Netherlands who dominated the group, the but the other sides in the table, Norway, Scotland and Iceland might have offered some hope of reaching a first major tournament. But the FYRO Macedonia lost all four of their games away from home, and in Skopje managed to beat only Scotland and Iceland. Once again they finished fourth in their group, and showed few signs of endangering the higher places. Nonetheless, hope remains high that eventually they will qualify for a World Cup or European Championship, and results against teams of the calibre of England, the Netherlands and Croatia offer some sign that the dream may one day be possible.
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