The captain of the Macedonian national football team, Goran Pandev, considered to be one of the best football players in the history of the Macedonian football, if not the best one, was once again in the center of the attention of the periodists at the press before the match between Macedonia and Latvia for the qualifications for the European Cup 2020. That’s a result of the fact that Goran Pandev is about to play the spectacular hundredth match for his national team, defending the yellow-red collors of his home country.
Among the other questions addressed to “Grande Pandev” as they call him, was the one that reminded him that he had a great chance to reach this number of games long ago. If that happened he would have played as much as 120 matches that would have made him the record player when the number of games are in question. However this was not the case as Pandev decided to leave the national team for some time.
“I don’t regret leaving the national team at that time” says Pandev. “I still claim that there should have been shown more respect towards the national team. There was more than one reason that made me made the decission to leave the national team. However, the strongest one was the conditions under which we prepare the team and get ready for the matches. It is unbelievable that the players had to have trainings on meadows. The crucial thing that made me come back to the ream was the vision of the coach Angelovski. He even came to Italy to visit me, talk to me and made me believe that we still have quality players of a generation that deserves on a big qualification such as the European Cup. Macedonia now tends to play modern football and the things go on the direction we want them to go. It was only the coach and his words that made me want to come back, otherwise I wouldn’t even come to the number hudred. I would like to use this opportunity to thank not only him but the rest of the coaches that were leading the team at a time as they have all made me the person and player I am.” confesses the most famous Macedonian player.
Pandev was also asked to name a special goal to him, some goal that he remembers forever. He firstly said he does not have such a goal, but later he, however, continued: “I love equally all the goals scored for my country. But if I really have to think about one goal only, that would be the draw against Netherlands in Skopje. The match ended with a score 2:2. Another one would be against Spain, what match ended with a score 2:3.” – remembers the Macedonian football player who has had great success with the Italian team Inter, winning the Champions League once.
He used the opportunity to invite all the Macedonians to come to the national stadium “Arena Philip II” in as big number as possible. He asked for a much needed support that would help the team realise a good beginning at the qualifications for the upcomming European Cup in 2020.
