Several weeks ago, I decided that The18 would cover all things North Macedonia ahead of Euro 2020. With the Netherlands defeating the tournament’s lovable underdogs 3-0 on Monday, the dream is over.
With the average dream lasting only a couple of seconds, North Macedonia did well. Any neutral watching North Macedonia’s final game appreciated the fact that the minnows didn’t sit in deep against the Dutch. North Macedonia went down swinging with an attacking mindset and nearly scored on multiple occasions.
North Macedonia put the ball in the back of the net two times, but both were called back for offside. The Lynxes also managed to hit the post midway through the first half.
The Dutch capitalized on North Macedonia’s offensive approach to the game and were clinical on the counter.
Netherlands Goals Vs. North Macedonia
New Barcelona man Memphis Depay gets his goal off this great counter attack pic.twitter.com/sSzrAwx79y
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 21, 2021
How that wasn’t a foul on Goran Pandev is beyond me.
Depay sets up Wijnaldum perfectly for this goal
Oranje are cruising pic.twitter.com/oPtY1S14wS— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 21, 2021
Goooooool de Holanda! Wijnaldum metió el balón al fondo de las redes
¡Los neerlandeses ya están goleando a Macedonia!¡EN VIVO!: https://t.co/DAN4Ic3Db1
GRATIS en la app TUDN y @PrendeTV
#EuroTUDN I #VeranoDeCampeones I #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/gyKQPf2qG4— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) June 21, 2021
The small Balkan nation might have finished Euro 2020 with zero points, but they showed plenty of heart. Ranked 62nd in the world, North Macedonia has nothing to be ashamed of after its first major tournament.
Pandev, the man who scored the goal to send his nation to the tournament, played his final game for the Lynxes. The captain of the team was given a standing ovation as he plans to now retire from international play. The 37-year-old’s influence on soccer in North Macedonia will go down in history.
Well deserved guard of honour and standing ovation for Goran Pandev
What an international career pic.twitter.com/Y313ykBijF— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 21, 2021
There was also a classy moment from the Dutch before the game as Pandev was presented with a personalized jersey.
Classy stuff from the Netherlands as they gift Goran Pandev a personalized shirt on his 122nd and final match for his country pic.twitter.com/ZsRQoe8eIg
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 21, 2021
This was also likely the final international game for forward Ivan Trichkovski. While his performances weren’t his best showings, he should be proud to have represented his country at the Euros. North Macedonia’s head coach, Igor Angelovski, will leave the national team too.
This leaves an uphill battle for North Macedonia in its World Cup qualifying campaign. Victories against Germany and Liechtenstein have the Lynxes second in their group now. With seven qualifying games to go, there’s plenty of work still to do.
Thank you for the entertainment at Euro 2020, North Macedonia. Until next time.
