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Gannon-Doak starts at wing-back; McBurnie & Bowie continue in attack
Scotland have one point from opening two Nations League games
North Macedonia winless in 10 matches
North Macedonia v Scotland (19:45 BST)
Scotland's most recent match against North Macedonia came back in 2013 as Shaun Maloney's superb late free-kick earned a 2-1 victory in Skopje.
Ikechi Anya was the other goalscorer for Gordon Strachan's side.
Image source, Getty ImagesNorth Macedonia v Scotland (19:45 BST)
Rangers striker Bojan Miovski leads the line for tonight's hosts.
There are four Premiership players on the Scotland bench - Scott Bain, Liam Kelly, Colby Donovan and Josh McPake.
North Macedonia v Scotland (19:45 BST)
North Macedonia v Scotland (19:45 BST)
Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer
In Skopje these past few days it's been difficult to figure out the most devout people - the local followers of the city's most sacred daughter, Mother Teresa, or the arriving Scots and their most cherished son, Saint John McGinn.
Faith in the blessed one is absolute (and the same goes for Teresa). Raise a critical note and you could be shot down in flames. Point out that McGinn's talismanic excellence has been on the wane in international football for a little while now and you're liable to reap a whirlwind.
This is a weekend when Andy Robertson wins his 100th cap, but McGinn isn't far behind.
After tonight he'll be on 92, third on the all-time appearance list while currently sitting in fifth in the all-time scoring chart, one behind the immortal Lawrie Reilly.
There is something to be said, though, and you say it with the hesitancy of a bomb disposal expert approaching a suspect device. For Scotland, McGinn could do with finding his best stuff again.
'No one is undroppable' - McGinn speaks about his recent form
Scott Mullen
BBC Sport Scotland at the Todor Proeski Arena
Scotland fans cheering every time one of their players scores in the warm up.
It's been a while, to be fair to them.
North Macedonia v Scotland (19:45 BST)
Scotland supporters have been out and about in Skopje today, soaking up the sun and taking in the sights.
Image source, SNS
Image source, SNSNorth Macedonia v Scotland (19:45 BST)
What has Bain got to do to start?
Gaz
It's ironic that the only Rangers player on the field tonight plays for the opposition. Sadly, very much a sign of the times.
Abrach
If Jon McCracken can't get into the match day squad please can Scotland send him back to his club so we don't have to play our dodgy back-up keeper?
Dave
North Macedonia v Scotland (19:45 BST)
Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer
I'm delighted that Gannon-Doak is in from the start. I think he gives Scotland a different dimension. He gives them a lot of pace, a lot of width, a lot of creativity. I'm a big fan of that.
North Macedonia v Scotland (19:45)
Scotland manager Sebastien Pocognoli confirms Ben Gannon-Doak will play at right wing-back tonight.
"Yes it's not only about him but we're excited to see, I hope, a good game for 90 minutes and a clear structure.
"Ben is starting on the right side today, it was planned that in the third game he'd have the opportunity to show himself.
"We always bring a gameplan where we want to be offensive and try to create chances. The first game we created a lot, enough to win the game. Today I hope we can do the same and be more clinical in the box.
"The pitch is the same for both teams. Sometimes you can miss a pass or make a bad control but we always have a counter-press in case of emergencies. We need to be ready to find other solutions if we can't play short passes. We have three offensive players, players who can infiltrate from the second line, wingers, we have quite a lot of quality to explore many aspects of the game."
On Andy Robertson's 100th cap, Pocognoli adds: "It's a privilege for all of us to be next to him tonight.
"I'm sure the best thing for him will be to get the win."
Image source, SNSNorth Macedonia v Scotland (19:45 BST)
Great to see Bowie starting. He was looking up for it before getting hooked after the red card.
Keith
No real surprises in the line up. Gannon Doak was almost certain to start to give the team, a bit of pace on the wing.
Darvel Voyager
I miss Lyndon Dykes
Joe
North Macedonia v Scotland (19:45 BST)
Liam Kelly and Bojan Miovski - teammates at club level - have been having a wee chat before kick-off.
"You seen the Tennents Sixes score, Bojan?"
Rangers beat Celtic 7-1 earlier this afternoon at the Braehead Arena.
Image source, PA MediaBojan Miovski (right) leads the line for North Macedonia
North Macedonia v Scotland (19:45 BST)
What do you make of that Scotland team?
Get in touch via the link at the top of the page.
Keep it clean please.
North Macedonia v Scotland (19:45 BST)
North Macedonia v Scotland (19:45)
Scott Mullen
BBC Sport Scotland at the Todor Proeski Arena
The Eurovision vibes are in full flow here in Skopje. Some relentless dance track has been bellowing around the stadium for what feels like a fortnight. I may not be sane by kick-off.
The Scotland fans are starting to trickle in over to my left. Word is there could be more of them in the vast Todor Proeski Arena than locals. Either way, it's not going to be a sell out.
Right, back to watching Kenny and the fellas on YouTube...
North Macedonia v Scotland (19:45 BST)
Scotland captain Andy Robertson makes his 100th international appearance tonight, just the second man to reach that milestone after the great Kenny Dalglish.
A remarkable achievement for a brilliant player.
North Macedonia v Scotland (19:45 BST)
Sebastien Pocognoli makes two changes to the team well beaten by Switzerland on Tuesday.
Ben Gannon-Doak appears to be starting at right wing-back with Nathan Patterson dropping to the bench.
Stephen Welsh comes into the back three for the suspended Jack Hendry.
Scotland XI to face North Macedonia: Gunn, Gannon-Doak, Binks, McKenna, Welsh, Robertson, Gilmour, Ferguson, McGinn, McBurnie, Bowie.
Image source, SNSBen Gannon-Doak starts for the first time under Sebastien Pocognoli
North Macedonia v Scotland (19:45 BST)
Image source, Getty ImagesMercifully, we are more than halfway through this epic international break.
After a goalless draw in Slovenia and a disappointing 3-0 defeat by Switzerland in his Hampden bow, Sebastien Pocognoli is still chasing his first win as Scotland head coach.
On paper, this is Pocognoli's easiest test to date. North Macedonia, who have lost two from two in the Nations League, are this evening's opponents in Skopje.
Sebastien Pocognoli says he does not feel pressure to get his first win as Scotland head coach at the third time of asking as he prepares his team to face North Macedonia in Skopje.
The Scots sit on one point after two games in their Nations League group, with a spirited draw in Slovenia being followed by a write-off 3-0 defeat by Switzerland after they had Jack Hendry sent off.
Now the Todor Proeski Arena is the potential venue for the Pocognoli era to get lift-off, but the Belgian remains grounded in his long-term plan.
"No, because the challenge is longer than this camp, you know, we have to do piece by piece," he told BBC Scotland when asked about the need for a victory.
"For sure, we want to have a first really positive [win] on the pitch.
"In terms of ranking, we want this, but I think it's important for the players to have a first win, that everything makes sense because the win makes the joy and the joy gives the freedom on the pitch to make decisions and to accelerate the process.
"If we have the three points in Slovenia, which I think we deserve, we talk maybe a little bit differently, but it's like this.
"I hope tomorrow we can just show what we trained the last days in the camp, what we showed for 60 minutes in Slovenia and just try to have the first win which is important for the players and staff and also for the supporters."
Highlights: Scotland 0-3 Switzerland
The issues around a lack of goals - and wins - is something which runs deeper than Pocognoli's shallow era so far.
You have to go back to Boston Stadium and the height of World Cup euphoria for the last time Scotland not just won a game, but scored a goal. Four shutouts have followed.
Yet, statistics can be misleading.
Two of those games came against Morocco and Brazil, while another they played the majority of the game with 10 men in the face of the possession-obsessed Swiss.
Still, against an opponent sitting on zero points and also with a penchant for not scoring goals - only two in their past 10 games - there is an expectation, if not a pressure going into this one.
"When I arrive, we have a strong foundation from the past, and we take everything in," added Pocognoli.
"The good things and the things that we have to improve can be the same, but as long as we create chances, for me I'm happy."
If he features, Scotland captain Andy Robertson will earn his 100th cap. Only the great Kenny Dalglish has more (102).
"I've been here for not a long time, but I've been in contact with Andy since the first day," said Pocognoli.
"He's very important in all the process that we are learning, not only on the pitch but also off the pitch. I think he's a great professional, a great person.
"He inspires a lot of players in the group, but also many young players, not only for Scotland.
"In modern football, to have good leaders in the dressing room is not easy, because football involves more and more individualism.
"It's like this, and to have leaders is good. I think when you have two or three leaders, it's already fantastic, but in this team we have more."
With defender Hendry suspended after his red card against the Swiss, Pocognoli will make at least one change to his line-up, but how many would you make?
Pick your starting XI that you think will land Scotland their first win of the Nations League campaign.
Head coach Goce Sedloski: "Scotland are a national team that play with long balls and send a lot of balls into the penalty area.
"We must not accept their game, but rather neutralise it with our response. They have players from the Premier League, the Championship and Italy.
"We are ready to take the field, show character and play the way we know we can."
Rangers and North Macedonia striker Bojan Miovski: "Every period in the national team brings its own challenges. We are now at a point where we need to show unity.
"We did not achieve the results we expected, but now we need to show that we are a team. We can talk a lot, but we have to show everything on the pitch.
"Scotland are an excellent national team, they have quality players and we know where they play. We are playing at home and must show quality.
"We cannot rely on individual quality. If we are a collective, the results will return."
Pocognoli (D1 L1) could become only the fourth Scotland manager to fail to win any of their first three games in charge, after John Prentice, Berti Vogts and George Burley, with the trio all failing to win any of their first four matches at the helm.
Scotland have failed to score in their past four internationals for only the second time in their history, after May 1971; they've never gone five straight games without a goal.
North Macedonia have gone six games without a goal - the longest run in their history - while they could also suffer a run of four successive defeats for the first time since November 2016 (5).
Robertson is set to earn his 100th cap for Scotland should he feature against North Macedonia, becoming the second player to do so for the national team after Dalglish (102).
Scotland have lost only one of their previous seven away matches in all competitions (W4 D2), keeping a clean sheet in five of those games.
After losing their first encounter with North Macedonia in September 2008 (0-1), Scotland are unbeaten in three meetings since (W2 D1), winning 2-1 most recently in September 2013.
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| |
| 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 6 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 4 |
| |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 8 | -7 | 0 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 7 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 6 | -4 | 0 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 6 |
| |
| 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 6 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 12 | -9 | 3 |
| |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 0 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 9 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 7 | -1 | 3 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 6 | -1 | 3 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 3 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| |
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 1 |
| |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | -5 | 0 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 7 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 4 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| |
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 1 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 7 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 4 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| |
4 Israel | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | -5 | 1 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 12 | -9 | 0 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 7 |
| |
| 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| |
3 Belarus | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
|
4 San Marino | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 14 | -14 | 0 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Montenegro | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 9 |
|
2 Cyprus | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
|
3 Armenia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 3 |
|
4 Latvia | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 1 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 7 |
| |
2 Moldova | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 4 |
|
3 Faroe Islands | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
|
4 Kazakhstan | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 1 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| |
2 Estonia | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
|
3 Luxembourg | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | -3 | 3 |
|
4 Bulgaria | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | -4 | 1 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Malta | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
|
2 Gibraltar | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
|
3 Andorra | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 1 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Lithuania | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
|
2 Azerbaijan | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
|
3 Liechtenstein | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 1 |
|
Manager:Goce Sedloski
Formation:3 - 4 - 2 - 1
Manager:Sébastien Pocognoli
Formation:3 - 4 - 1 - 2
Manager:Goce Sedloski
Formation:3 - 4 - 2 - 1
Manager:Sébastien Pocognoli
Formation:3 - 4 - 1 - 2
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