D-day for Yugoslavia

Macedonia will hope to thwart Yugoslavia's drive for a make-or-break victory in their Group Eight return match in Skopje tonight. Yugoslavia won the first match in Belgrade 3-1 last Sunday to move into second place in the tightly bunched section.

"I knew it would be a difficult match. At the start we missed two to three 100 per-cent scoring chances and we were punished for that," Macedonian manager Dragi Kanatlarovski said after Sunday's match.

The game in Belgrade was Kanatlarovski's debut after he took over from Djoko Hadzievski, and also the first between the two sides since the break-up of former Yugoslavia in 1991.

"In Skopje I expect a more open and better match and of course I want a victory," he said on his return to Skopje. The match is crucial for Yugoslavia's chances of playing in the finals next year. "It's win or bust for us in Skopje," Yugoslav coach Vujadin Boskov said.

"The Macedonians surprised us on Sunday. People said they would play with just one forward, but at times they threw up to four men into the attack," he said. "It's a high-quality team and we shouldn't take them lightly," he added.

Despite what has been hailed as a welcome three-goal victory for Yugoslavia, the first in a long time, Boskov was critical of his team. "My biggest objection is that they do their best only periodically. They start brilliantly, but then gradually sink into darkness. I have no explanation for the swings. I must ask myself if they are capable of playing a full 90 minutes."

The team departed for Skopje without defender Nisa Saveljic, who has two warnings, and injury-plagued Albert Nadj. But Sinisa Mihajlovic, sorely missed on Sunday after being put out of action by an injury, will once again assume the position of head of the defence.

Probable teams

Macedonia: Milosevski, Stavrevski, Jovanovski, Lazarevski, Babunski, Savevski, Veselinovski, Micevski, Hristov, Ciric, Saciri.

Yugoslavia: Kralj, Bolic, Mirkovic, Mihajlovic, Jokanovic, Djukic, Govedarica, Stankovic, Mijatovic, Milosevic, Stojkovic.

Italy will be hoping the soccer-mad city of Naples will once again host a qualification party when they meet Denmark in their group one match tonight. The Italians, group leaders, are three points ahead of the Danes and can qualify for the finals with a win, draw, or even a 1-0 defeat.

The match will bring the Azzurri back to Naples for the first time since Italy secured qualification for France '98 with a play-off win over Russia.

Italian coach Dino Zoff will be without left-back and captain Paolo Maldini who has a fractured toe. Lazio's Giuseppe Pancaro is expected to deputise with AC Milan midfielder Demetrio Albertini taking over the captain's armband.