Marcolini pushing for attacking start in North Macedonia clash

Malta National teams head coach Michele Marcolini named his starting line-up ahead of the team’s clash against North Macedonia in Thursday’s UEFA Euro 2024 Group C qualifying openers at the National Arena Todor Proeski in Skopje (kick-off: 8.45PM).

In his debut fixture in charge of the Malta squad, Marcolini gave Balzan forward Alexander Satariano the nod up front. Royal Union St. Gilloise midfielder Teddy Teuma makes his way to the flank, together with Birkirkara’s Paul Mbong behind Satariano.

Hibernians’ Bjorn Kristensen and Hamrun Spartans’ Matthew Guillaumier make up the team’s midfield. 

Spartans duo Ryan Camenzuli and Joseph Mbong play wingback tonight as Marcolini opted for a three-man defence with Cain Attard, captain Steve Borg, and Ferdinando Apap providing support for goalkeeper Henry Bonello.

In opposition, Blagoja Milevski’s North Macedonia will be banking on the power of Napoli’s Eljif Elmas who plays on the right, together with the team’s hero last qualifying round against Italy Aleksandar Trajkovski on the left, and Enis Bardhi supporting forward Bojan Miovski.

Jani Atanasov and Gjoko Zajkov form the team’s middle while North Macedonia are set to start with a back four consisting of captain Stefan Ristovski, Darko Velkovski, Visar Musliu, and Fenerbahce full-back Ezgjan Alioski. In goal is Stole Dimitrievski.

STARTING LINE-UPS

NORTH MACEDONIA: S. Dimitrievski, V. Musliu, E. Elmas, E. Alioski, A. Trajkovski, E. Bardhi, S. Ristovski, D. Velkovski, G. Zajkov, B. Miovski, J. Atanasov.

MALTA: H. Bonello, C. Attard, S. Borg, F. Apap, R. Camenzuli, B. Kristensen, M. Guillaumier, J. Mbong, P. Mbong, T. Teuma, A. Satariano.