Venue: Hampden Park Saturday, September 5th 2009 Kick-Off:15:00 Subscribe to Sky Now

Scotland play host to Macedonia later today in this Group 9 World Cup Qualification Fixture, which can be seen Live on Sky Sports with a 3pm BST Kick Off Time.

This is a must win game for Scotland if they are to have any hopes of qualification to next years World Cup as they find themselves locked in a battle with both today's opposition Macedonia and Norway fighting it out for the all important second place.

Scotland Team News

David Weir and Stephen McManus (who has not played any competitive matches this Season due to injury) have been called up to take the centre back roles as both Steven and Gary Caldwell are both out. Other than this Scotland Coach George Burley has a full squad to choose from.

Summary

A Scotland victory would set up a very exciting game on Wednesday against Holland who are already qualified, so the Tartan Army must all give 100% in today's game and with them also playing in front of their loyal fans they certainly have the advantage.

However, I would be extremely worried if I was a Scotland fan as the call up of David Weir who is now 39yrs old partnered with Stephen McManus who hasn't played any games at all this Season at the heart of the Scotland defence must have Goran Pandev licking his lips in anticipation.

This Macedonian superstar who plays his domestic football for Lazio in Serie A will without question be the player that Scotland have to stop and with the defence looking extremely patched up, this is going to be one difficult task to achieve, but with the Scots having Hampden Park bursting at the seams I think they will just have enough in other areas of the pitch to just nick this one by the odd goal.

Team details

Scotland: Gordon; Hutton, McManus, Weir, Davidson; McFadden, D Fletcher, Brown, Maloney; S Fletcher, Miller.

Macedonia: Nikoloski; Noveski, Sedlovksi, Mitreski, Popov; Shumulikovski; Despotovski, Georgievski; Stoijkov, Pandev, Navmoski.

Dave's Prediction:

Scotland 2-1 Macedonia @ 9.50 with Skybet