Key events
Both teams are in good form. Wales are unbeaten in seven under Craig Bellamy, and have won their last two matches handsomely, 4-1 against Iceland and 3-1 against Kazakhstan. North Macedonia are doing even better: they’re on a six-game winning streak, a run which has seen them win promotion to League B of the Nations League before winning their first game of World Cup qualification, Saturday’s 3-0 victory in Liechtenstein.
Tonight’s game in Skopje comes nine days after a nightclub fire in Kocani claimed 59 lives and injured many others. North Macedonia declared a seven-day period of national mourning in the wake of the tragedy, and tonight there will be a minute of silence before the match. Both sets of players will wear black armbands. “I’d like to send my condolences to the families and also the people of North Macedonia,” says Craig Bellamy. “We’ve had our own tragedies as well. We know as a country what they’re going through and I’d like them to know that everyone in Wales is fully behind them.”
Wales 3-1 Kazakhstan. A reminder of how Wales did last Saturday.
Wales make three changes to their starting XI after the 3-1 home win over Kazakhstan. Chris Mepham replaces Connor Roberts at the back, Jordan James takes a midfield spot from David Brooks, and Nathan Broadhead starts up front instead of Liam Cullen.
Aleksandar Trajkovski, whose late goal did for Wales in this fixture during the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, and who put the finishing touch to this pitch-length move in Liechtenstein last Saturday …
… is on the bench.
The teams
North Macedonia: Dimitrievski, Zajkov, Serafimov, Musliu, Alioski, Ilievski, Alimi, Bardhi, Kostadinov, Miovski, Elmas.
Subs: Elezi, Iliev, Trapanosvki, Toshevski, Stankovski, Manev, Trajkovski, Stojchevski, Dimoski, Churlinov, Atanasov, Aleksovski.
Wales: Darlow, Thomas, Mepham, Rodon, Ben Davies, Williams, Johnson, Jordan James, Sheehan, Daniel James, Broadhead.
Subs: Koumas, Moore, Roberts, Matondo, Ward, Lawrence, Allen, Mark Harris, Adam Davies, Cullen, Cabango, Brooks.
Referee: Jerome Brisard (France).
Preamble
The end of this international break heaves into view. It hasn’t been one for the ages, if we’re being honest. But if there’s to be one last chance to leave it with something that will resonate through the years, then thank goodness Craig Bellamy’s entertainers are involved. Can they conjure something exciting in their Group J fixture in North Macedonia? We’ll soon find out and then it’ll be back to our beloved domestic grind. To rework the greatest autobiography title of them all: Let’s Get Through Tuesday. Kick-off is at 7.45pm GMT. It’s on!
