EURO 2012 QUALIFYING GROUP B:Slovakia v FYR Macedonia
SLOVAKIA COACH Vladimir Weiss said the World Cup finals contenders "won't underestimate" the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in their opening Group B fixture in Bratislava tonight.
Having returned home from the 2010 Fifa World Cup as heroes after reaching the knock-out stage on their finals debut Slovakia will be keen to shine again.
Slovakia will be without Stanislav Sestak, their top scorer in World Cup qualifying, and possibly Robert Vittek, their leading marksman at the finals, with Tomas Oravec providing cover up front, while his MSK Zilina team-member Mario Pecalka has also been called up.
Weiss said: "We won't underestimate our visitors. They are a decent team with the superb Goran Pandev from Inter Milan."
Goalkeepers Igor Bogatinov and Darko Tofilovski received their first FYR Macedonia call-ups with usual first-choice Tome Pacovski injured, coach Mirsad Jonuz admitting: "Pacovski's injury has caused us big problems."
Edin Nuredinovski is likely to take the gloves in Pacovski's absence.
Pandev has been appointed captain for the duration of the qualifying campaign.
Venue: Stadión Pasienky Kick-off: 7.30pm
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