Genoa striker Goran Pandev explains Macedonia have been anxiously awaiting their World Cup qualifier with Italy for some time.
It kicks off in Skopje on Sunday at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT).
“Our people can’t wait for this game. We hadn’t played Israel yet and already they were talking about tomorrow’s match,” Pandev told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“It will be a pretty packed stadium and that passionate atmosphere has always helped the team. We play more than anything else for honour.
Genoa striker Goran Pandev explains Macedonia have been anxiously awaiting their World Cup qualifier with Italy for some time.
It kicks off in Skopje on Sunday at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT).
“Our people can’t wait for this game. We hadn’t played Israel yet and already they were talking about tomorrow’s match,” Pandev told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“It will be a pretty packed stadium and that passionate atmosphere has always helped the team. We play more than anything else for honour.
“Our ambition is to do better than in the last two qualifying campaigns, so at least fifth out of six this time.”
Pandev was watching Thursday’s 1-1 draw between Italy and Spain with great interest. Which team is stronger?
“Euro 2016 suggested Italy, while the Turin match changed perceptions a bit. In the final 20 minutes I saw the Italy side I know: tactically, physically and with that character to cause anyone problems.
“I know Giampiero Ventura well and remember how his Bari drew twice with Inter in 2009-10. In his teams everyone plays the ball, even the goalkeepers.”
Pandev had retired from international duty with Macedonia in 2013, but came back to bolster his nation’s prospects.
“Things were going really badly and all the pressure was on me. In football it takes 11 people to play, so you cannot change everything by yourself. I thought if I was getting all the blame, then I’d get out of the way.
“I returned because I wasn’t happy with the way I said goodbye. Macedonia is my country, my family lives there. It wasn’t right to just end it like that, at the age of 30.
“Then the new Coach arrived, Angelovski, and brought fresh ideas. One day he came to Genoa and said they needed me. I liked his project.
“I haven’t scored in a while, probably too long. It’d be the best to get a goal against Italy.”