Lazio star Goran Pandev is main threat to Scotland's hopes of win in Macedinia

Aug 31 2008 Mark Guidi

GORAN PANDEV has been identified by George Burley as the danger man capable of wrecking our World Cup dream.

The powerful, talented striker is Macedonia's key player and fired up to exploit the Scots defence on Saturday in Skopje's City Stadium.

Pandev, who has an impressive strike rate of 13 goals from 37 internationals, is also one of Lazio's star men in Serie A after having spells with Inter Milan and Ancona during his seven seasons in Italy.

Burley is well aware of the 25-year-old's threat and will have his players clued up on the tricks Pandev likes to use in and around the box to con officials.

The Scotland manager said: "Macedonia are experienced, strong and competitive. They have a few big lads in their side.

"There is no doubt in my mind they are good enough to take points off every team in this section.

"Remember we're talking about a nation that recently defeated Croatia 2-0 and drew with England.

"Pandev is their main man. He has a strong left peg and likes the ball into feet.

"He is one of three strikers they use in their 3-4-3 system. Pandev also wriggles around the box and we will have to be very careful with that, guard against conceding any free-kicks.

"We will need to stay on our feet and not slide into tackles at 100 miles an hour.

We also can't afford to tug any shirts.

"To get a result in Macedonia we must be strong and disciplined. This will not be a game for the faint-hearted."

Providing there are no call-offs from today's Old Firm clash, Burley knows the side he will field on Saturday afternoon.

He accepts his squad isn't littered with top-class players but believes desire and commitment can take Scotland all the way in Group 9.

He said: "This is the first qualifier and we want to do well. We will respect Macedonia but not fear them.

"We don't have 11 world class players but we have passion and belief. We all know it's been 10 years since we qualified for a major tournament.

"We came close for Euro 2008 and now have to enhance that. The players know they will become legends in Scotland if they qualify for the 2010 World Cup.

"We need the whole nation to pull together and get behind us. We will play eight games in this section and need to average more than two points a game to qualify. So 17 points is the target."

Burley will ask James McFadden to provide the spark up front and get goals in Skopje.

Whether the Birmingham striker will have a strike partner remains to be seen although having Faddy on his own against three Macedonia defenders in the blistering heat would surely be asking too much.

Burley said: "McFadden is tricky and can do things. Shaun Maloney is the same.

"We can't expect a striker to run around willy-nilly in such high temperatures. The heat comes into it, they need to be clever and not chase around for 90 minutes.

"But the players realise this. They are not rookies, they are seasoned professionals and most have big-game experience."

Burley knows defeat on Saturday would be a potentially fatal blow to the Scots' hopes of reaching South Africa in 2010 and also badly damage confidence.

But the former Hearts and Ipswich gaffer, part of Jock Stein's Scotland squad at the 1982 World Cup in Spain, is urging his players to seize this chance and experience the thrill of world football's biggest tournament.

Burley said: "I have some great memories from my playing days, winning the UEFA Cup and FA Cup. I also played more than 400 games for Ipswich.

"But being at the World Cup sticks in my mind. That memory will never fade.

"It would be great to go there as a manager and the players would love it.

"We will need to show passion and endeavour. Expectations are high so we need to handle that.

"Our aim is to qualify and I believe we can. I'm excited about the challenge.

"Of course you need a wee bit of luck but the key is not go into any of our eight qualifying games with fear."