Features

JOE can suggest at least five reasons why we should be worried about the Macedonians ahead of the Euro 2012 qualifier at the Aviva Stadium this weekend.

By William Costello

This Saturday, Ireland prepare to banish the demons from that heartbreaking 3-2 to defeat to Macedonia in a crucial World Cup qualifier 14 years ago.

Although not directly responsible for our failure to qualify for France '98, it had a destabilising effect on a campaign which ended in a heartbreaking play-off defeat to Belgium.

Tony Cascarino, Quinny, Phil Babb and even Landsdowne Road may be long gone since then, but the pain still resonates deep within the boys in green. Could Macedonia, along with Cyprus, be our bogey team?

Ahead of the action at the Aviva this weekend, JOE looks at five reasons why we’re still afraid of the Macedonian minnows.