'Nothing to lose': North Macedonia eye play-off shock versus Italy

North Macedonia forward Aleksandar Trajkovski is hoping to enjoy something close to home advantage when his team face Italy in Palermo on Thursday in the World Cup play-offs.

Trajkovski played for Palermo for four years until 2019. He also scored in a surprise 1-1 draw against Italy in Turin during 2018 World Cup qualifying. The draw cost Italy two vital points in their failed quest to reach the World Cup in Russia.

Trajkovski remembers that match vividly, when he quietened the home crowd with a close-range effort in the second half. "I hope that if that goal repeats, it will be for a victory," he tells AFP. "I was really happy when I saw that we will play in Palermo because I will go back to a city where I have spent four years. We have to be maximally motivated to get a good result," the 29-year-old forward adds.