Verdict: Over 1.5 goals
Best Odds: 2/5
Bookmaker: Luckster
Two camps who will be looking to secure consecutive World Cup qualifying victories on Tuesday night, Wales will travel to Skopje when they meet North Macedonia.
North Macedonia
Starting with the hosts, while North Macedonia might find themselves pencilled in as a real landslide underdog to clinch a maiden World Cup ticket, the Lions are enjoying what has been a record-breaking flurry. Embarking on a famous Nations League romp last year as they collected 16 points from their six League C appearances, Blagoja Milevski finds the mood in his camp at a red-hot high. Winning all of their final five Nations League showdowns by an aggregate score of 9-0, Tuesday’s hosts opened the New Year where they left off back in November. Getting their World Cup qualifying campaign underway with a routine 3-0 victory away at Liechtenstein, North Macedonia are riding a major wave of momentum. Not suffering a single competitive defeat since November 2023, the Lions are capable of asking some questions in Skopje.
North Macedonia Team News
While Stole Dimitrievski might have made just a quartet of La Liga appearances for Valencia this season, the 31-year-old will start between the sticks on Tuesday night. Notching a trio of Serie A strikes after completing a January switch from RB Leipzig, Torino’s Eljif Elmas will play a leading role here.
Completing a stunning move to Spanish outfit Girona last summer, former Aberdeen marksman Began Miovski will spearhead the Lions’ charge. Now playing his domestic football with Belgium outfit St. Truiden, Visar Musliu will partner Nikola Serafimov at the back.
Wales
As for the visitors, while Wales might have only appointed Craig Bellamy last summer, the Dragons are certainly enjoying life under the former Burnley coach. Unbeaten in all of their six Nations League showdowns last year and breezing their way to a maiden League A spot, they have rightfully received plenty of plaudits from across the continent. Getting their respective World Cup qualifying campaign underway on Saturday night with a routine 3-1 win at home against Kazakhstan, Tuesday’s guests have not suffered a competitive defeat within 90 minutes since way back in the summer of 2023. Signing off their Nations League adventure with a stellar 4-1 romp against Iceland in November, Bellamy’s squad have made it abundantly clear that their sole focus on clinching a top-two finish in Group J this year.
Wales Team News
Storming their way to that 3-1 victory against Kazakhstan last week, Bellamy could be tempted to name an unchanged starting XI on Tuesday night. Despite notching just a pair of Championship strikes since opening the New Year, Liam Cullen should keep his spot leading the line.
Finding the net in Cardiff on Saturday night, Tottenham star Ben Davies will partner Leeds defender Joe Rondon at the back. Switching his international allegiance and making his Wales debut back in November, Karl Darlow should start between the sticks.
North Macedonia vs Wales Key Factors to Consider
- Wales have not lost a single competitive showdowns within 90 minuets since way back in June 2023.
- However, the Dragons have mustered just a single win from their last six appearances outside of Cardiff.
- Continuing on from their Nations League romp last year, North Macedonia have won their previous six matchups across all formats by an aggregate score of 12-0.
- North Macedonia have suffered just a single defeat on home soil since way back in November 2022.
- The Dragons have notched at least a pair of goals in four of their previous six appearances across all competitions.
Conclusion
While Wales might have got their World Cup qualifying campaign underway with a routine 3-1 win against Kazakhstan, the Dragons will be more than aware that they face a far more sterner examination here. Landing just a single victory on their travels from their last six attempts, Bellamy’s side will also meet a North Macedonian squad that are enjoying a record-breaking run. Getting their respective Group J campaign underway with a 3-0 romp against Liechtenstein over the weekend, Tuesday’s hosts have now won all of their last six competitive appearances across all competitions by an aggregate score of 12-0.
Verdict: Over 1.5 goals
Best Odds: 2/5
Bookmaker: Luckster
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