2024 European Championship qualifying continues in Group C on the 9th of September, including the meeting between North Macedonia and Italy.
The game will be played at the Toše Proeski Arena and the hosts are currently fourth in the group on 3 points while the visitors are in third place, on the same number of points, having played a match fewer.
We're back 🤩💙 pic.twitter.com/9lxbsFsr4Z— Italy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Azzurri_En) September 4, 2023
We're back 🤩💙 pic.twitter.com/9lxbsFsr4Z
North Macedonia come into the game having been thrashed 7-0 by England in their most recent match which was in European Championship qualifying.
No one was expecting North Macedonia to beat England at Wembley Stadium but they will be disappointed to have lost by such a huge margin.
With the score 3-0 at half time, North Macedonia conceded a further 4 goals in the second half.
The defeat in England was the second successive loss for North Macedonia in the group. They were defeated 3-2 at home by Ukraine having led 2-0 at half time.
A red card in the 72nd minute did not help their chance and North Macedonia conceded the third goal in the 83rd minute.
The only win in the group to date for North Macedonia came at home against Malta.
Trends show North Macedonia have won 4 of their last 6 European Championship qualifiers.
They have won 4 of their 5 most recent home European Championship qualifying matches but none of those wins have come against a team like Italy.
The Italians travel to the Toše Proeski Arena with Luciano Spalletti as their new manager following the shock resignation of Roberton Mancini in August.
Italy go into this match on the back of a 3-2 win over Netherlands to finish third in the UEFA Nations League. Italy were 2-0 up at half time and also led 3-1 in the second half.
Italy have won only 2 of their last 5 fixtures in all competitions, with one of the wins coming in 2024 European Championship qualification.
Italy beat Malta 2-0 away in their second group game but suffered a disappointing start to their qualifying campaign having lost 2-1 at home against England.
Trends show Italy have won 15 of their last 16 European Championship qualifiers.
They have won each of their last 7 away European Championship qualifying matches and have kept a clean sheet in their 3 most recent European Championship qualifiers on the road.
Team news: North Macedonia are without the injured trio of Darko Churlinov, Valon Ethemi, and Marjan Radeski. Ilija Nestorovskio of Ascoli could start in attack.
Italy have a strong looking midfield, with Nicolò Barella, Sandro Tonali, and Bryan Cristante all available. Ciro Immobile is expected to play up-front.
Italy will have memories of their 2022 World Cup playoffs defeat to North Macedonia in mind as they travel to Skopje.
Spalletti will be hoping to get off to a solid start as manager and Italy could come away with a 3-0 win to keep themselves in contention for automatic qualification from the group.