Macedonia leave out experienced trio

Macedonia coach Nikola Ilievski has put his faith in youth after naming a 19-man squad yesterday for next week's friendly against Malta.

Ilievski left out experienced trio Sasa Ciric, Goran Stavrevski and Toni Micevski as Macedonia warm-up for their 2004 European championships qualifying campaign.

"After analysing our last friendlies, I have decided to start rejuvenating the team," Ilievski told a news conference yesterday.

"The qualifiers will be played for a period of two years and I have to count on younger players."

Midfielder Danco Masev from Belasica GC Strumica was called up to the senior squad for the first time.

Macedonia, who play Malta on Wednesday, are in Group Seven for the qualifying campaign with England, Turkey, Slovakia and Liechtenstein.

Ilievski's Squad:

Goalkeepers: Petar Milosevski (Malatyaspor), Jane Nikolovski (Slavia Sofia).

Defenders: Goce Sedlovski (Dinamo Zagreb), Igor Mitreski (Spartak Moscow), Bobi Grncarov (OFK Beograd Belgrade), Igor Sasa Nikolovski (Lierse SK).

Midfielders: Aleksandar Mitrevski (Grasshoppers), Aginaldo Braga (Aris Salonika), Velice Shumulikovski (Synot), Robert Petrov (Lokomotiv Plovdiv), Robert Popov (Belasica GC Strumica), Artim Sakiri (CSKA Sofia), Danco Masev (Belasica GC Strumica), Vlatko Grozdanovski (Cementarnica 55 Skopje), Angel Panov (OFK Beograd Belgrade).

Strikers: Georgi Hristov (Nijmegen), Goran Pandev (Spezia), Ace Stojkov (Spezia), Goce Tolevski (Napredok Kicevo).