Scotland supporters don land Skopje today, sun dey shine and dem dey waka round town to see sights before di Nations League match.
Scotland captain Andy Robertson go make him 100th international appearance tonight against North Macedonia. Na only di second man to reach that milestone after di great Kenny Dalglish. Scotland manager Sebastien Pocognoli talk say na privilege for all of dem to dey next to Robertson tonight, and di best thing for him go be to get di win.
Pocognoli make two changes to di team wey Switzerland beat 3-0 on Tuesday. Ben Gannon-Doak dey start for right wing-back, Nathan Patterson drop to bench, while Stephen Welsh enter di back three for di suspended Jack Hendry. Scotland XI to face North Macedonia na Gunn, Gannon-Doak, Binks, McKenna, Welsh, Robertson, Gilmour, Ferguson, McGinn, McBurnie, Bowie.
Di Scotland coach say he no feel pressure to get him first win at third time of asking as he prepare di team for Skopje. He tell BBC Scotland say di challenge longer than dis camp, and dem must do am piece by piece. He want first really positive win on di pitch, because win dey bring joy and joy dey give freedom to make decisions and accelerate di process.
Scotland sit on one point after two games for dia Nations League group. Dem draw Slovenia, then lose 3-0 to Switzerland for Hampden after Jack Hendry collect red card. North Macedonia lose two from two for di Nations League, and tonight opponent dey Skopje. Di Todor Proeski Arena na di venue wey Pocognoli era fit take off, but di Belgian still dey grounded for him long-term plan.
Di goals and wins problem deep pass Pocognoli short time. You go back to Boston Stadium and World Cup euphoria for di last time Scotland win game and score goal. Four shutouts follow. Two of those games come against Morocco and Brazil, while another dem play majority with 10 men against di possession-heavy Swiss. Still, against opponent wey dey zero points and only score two goals in dia past 10 games, expectation dey, if not pressure.
John McGinn talk say na privilege to share so much of Andy Robertson international journey. Di Aston Villa captain call Robertson inspirational. McGinn talk about commitment, desire to always dey available, even when Robertson dey compete for top of European and English game. Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp na demanding manager, and Robbo body go don tire sometimes, but even through pain barrier he still dey available for Scotland, even at 60 and 70 per cent. McGinn say Robertson deserve everything, but he dey take am in him stride and he want achieve more. He call Robertson shining example for every young player for Scotland wey face rejection or feel say part-time football mean dia professional dream don finish.
McGinn himself get eye on 100 caps. He don play 91 times for Scotland. He say e be incentive, and he no go lie. He no think say e possible at first, but he dey close now. Wetin dey keep am going na how e feel on him first night against Denmark, di pride, di emotion, how hard e be to represent him country. He no take am for granted, and he think say him and Robbo milestones set good example for young players. He add say when you dey picked to play for your country, you no know when e go be your last, so you no take am for granted.
North Macedonia head coach Goce Sedloski talk say Scotland na national team wey play long balls and send plenty balls into di penalty area. He say dem must not accept Scotland game, but neutralise am with dia response. He point out say Scotland get players from Premier League, Championship and Italy. Sedloski say dem ready to take di field, show character and play di way dem know dem can.
Rangers and North Macedonia striker Bojan Miovski talk say every period for national team bring him own challenges. He say dem dey point where dem need show unity. Dem no achieve results dem expect, but now dem need show say dem be team. Miovski say dem can talk plenty, but dem must show everything on di pitch. He call Scotland excellent national team with quality players and say dem know where dem play. He say dem dey play at home and must show quality. He add say dem no fit rely on individual quality, and if dem be collective, results go return.
