Jonuz: We can handle ‘predictable’ Irish

FYR MACEDONIA coach Mirsad Jonuz has branded Ireland’s style of play as “predictable” after star striker Goran Pandev was passed fit to play despite limping out of Inter Milan’s victory over Lazio at the weekend.

The under-pressure coach, who has reportedly been given Saturday’s crucial Euro 2012 qualifying Group B clash against Ireland to save his job, addressed the local press yesterday and told them his players knew exactly how to counter the Irish threat in Dublin.

He declared: “I think that their play is rather predictable.

“We know what we have to do to stop the opponents playing and we know the way to victory.

“The players know what the main Irish qualities are.

“We have to be disciplined and if we perform according to our game plan, we can expect a positive result.

“We have to be active up front. We will not sit back and wait for their mistakes, it would be wrong for us to do that.”

Jonuz had promised six points from Macedonia’s October games against Andorra and Russia, but only got three after beating Andorra 2-0 but losing to Russia 1-0 in Skopje.

Given that Macedonia go into the game second from bottom in the group with only the Andorra win to their name, Jonuz admitted he would be focusing on preparing his players psychologically for Saturday.

“All the players will have strict assignments,” he said.

“Our preparation this time will be mainly mental.

“We have the quality, but we have so far failed to show it on the pitch.”

It may help them that Pandev, their all-time leading goalscorer, has been declared fit for the game.

Pandev limped out of Inter’s last game with blood pouring out of an open wound on his leg, but Macedonia’s team doctor Victor Kamilovski declared that the striker, back in the squad after threatening to quit international football last October, is fine.

Kamilovski revealed: “Pandev’s injury is not serious, it’s only a scratch, He will be available.”

The only other injury doubt, Armend Alimi, is also expected to recover from a sore knee.

Macedonia’s players are desperate to overturn their poor run of form, and have said they will play to win in Dublin.

“We are going to Dublin to attack, we will not shut up shop,” said striker Ivan Trichkovski.

“This team has potential and I think we can get a positive result. We want to end the bad patch and put it behind us.”

His strike partner, Ico Naumovski, added: “Any bad run of results has to have its end. I expect the Ireland game to bring something new. We have not been playing well but we have lacked a bit of luck as well.”