{
  "id": 11607234,
  "title": "North Macedonia vs Scotland – Match preview and team news",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/north-macedonia-vs-scotland-match-preview-and-team-news",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-03T05:10:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/north-macedonia-vs-scotland-match-051000382.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Scotland and North Macedonia prepare to face off in the third UEFA Nations League group fixture on Saturday at the Nacionalna Arena Tose Proeska. Both teams are aiming to secure their first win in this international break. The match kicks off at 7:45pm BST.\n\nNorth Macedonia faces a set of fitness concerns ahead of the match. Left-back Ezgjan Alioski, an experienced player, has withdrawn from the squad due to a calf injury. Midfielder Boban Nikolov is also out due to fitness issues, leaving the team with limited options in central areas. However, the team remains strong in attack, with captain Enis Bardhi, who is set to earn his 84th international cap, leading the creative play. Supported by RB Leipzig's Eljif Elmas and Rangers forward Bojan Miovski, North Macedonia looks to break their current six-match goalless run.\n\nScotland enters the match with significant selection challenges, particularly in defense. Jack Hendry is suspended after receiving an early red card against Switzerland, forcing manager Sebastien Pocognoli to reshuffle his backline. The team is already short-handed, with key players like Kieran Tierney, Kenny McLean, Scott McTominay, Lawrence Shankland, and Che Adams all unavailable due to injuries or unavailability. Defensively, either Swansea City’s Stephen Welsh or Luis Binks is expected to join Scott McKenna in the back three, supported by captain Andy Robertson, who is set to earn his 100th international cap. Scotland will rely on the midfield partnership of Billy Gilmour and Lewis Ferguson to control the game.",
  "summary": "Scotland and North Macedonia face each other in the third group fixture of their UEFA Nations League campaign on Saturday at the Nacionalna Arena Tose Proeska as both teams look for their first win in...",
  "key_points": [
    "Scotland faces North Macedonia in UEFA Nations League group fixture",
    "North Macedonia has fitness concerns with Alioski, Nikolov out",
    "Scotland struggles with defense, Hendry suspended, Tierney injured"
  ],
  "editors_take": "North Macedonia's and Scotland's injury and suspension woes set up a tight contest where the depth of their respective squads will be tested, with both teams seeking their first win.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Scotland XI vs North Macedonia – Predicted lineup and team news",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/scotland-xi-vs-north-macedonia-predicted-lineup-and-team-news",
        "published": "2026-10-03T05:10:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}