North Macedonia and the Faroe Islands conclude the latest international break with a friendly encounter on Monday evening.
Both teams came through their opening Euro 2024 qualifying fixtures without suffering defeat, results which can only boost confidence ahead of this fixture.
Match preview
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Having reached Euro 2020 and defeated Italy in a World Cup playoff last year, North Macedonia had hoped to have further elevated themselves up the international pecking order at this stage.
However, a year on from that famous win versus the Azzurri, the Lions have recorded just three victories in 10 outings, against the likes of Gibraltar and Malta.
The latest of those triumphs came on Thursday as Blagoja Milevski's side battled their way to a 2-1 victory, although it did little to boost their confidence ahead of a reunion with Italy and showdowns with England later in their Euro 2024 qualification schedule.
Nevertheless, Milevski would have been relieved to end a four-game streak with success with North Macedonia having finished nine points adrift of Georgia in their UEFA Nations League group.
While it is debatable whether North Macedonia are still on an upward trajectory, there can be no doubts over the progress of Faroe Islands.
Just three defeats have come in their last 11 outings, to Turkey, Luxembourg and Czech Republic, but they remarkably defeated the former in the reverse Nations League in September.
Hakan Ericson's team have succumbed just once in seven matches, and they travel to Skopje on the back on away draws with Kosovo and Moldova.
Faroe Islands had been on course to prevail versus the latter, only for a penalty three minutes from time earning their hosts a 1-1 draw.
Team News
Gjoko Zajkov is expected to miss out for North Macedonia having suffered an injury during the closing stages versus Malta, with Kire Ristevski in line to deputise in the back three.
Darko Churlinov could feature in the final third after scoring as a substitute on Friday, while David Babunski may be given an opportunity if Elif Elmas is handed a rest.
Ericson will likely attempt to find a balance between retaining some stability and handing experience to Faroe Islands' fringe players.
Noah Mneney made his debut as a replacement in Moldova and could start here, while Hanus Sorensen could get a second outing at right-back.
Pall Klettskard may also get a chance to score his first international goal at the 15th time of asking in attack.
North Macedonia possible starting lineup:
Dimitrievski; Velkovski, Ristevski, Musliu; Ristovski, Bardhi, Atanasov, Babunski, Alioski; Churdinov, Trajkovski
Faroe Islands possible starting lineup:
Lamhauge; H. Sorensen, G. Vatnhamar, Faero, Davidsen; Olsen, Andreasen, Mneney, Mikkelsen; Johannesen, Klettskard
We say: North Macedonia 2-0 Faroe Islands
With the Faroe Islands having recently put together some of their best results in their history, they will be confident of building upon that. However, we feel that North Macedonia will ultimately prove too strong, potentially netting a goal in either half.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
