SOCCER:HAVING been appointed manager last month, John Toshack takes charge of Macedonia for the first time in tomorrow's Euro 2012 qualifying game in Moscow.

Mirsad Jonuz was sacked back in June after a string of poor results, including defeats home and away to the Republic of Ireland, left Macedonia second from bottom in the group, nine points adrift of the Republic, Russia and Slovakia.

Russia, who beat Macedonia 1-0 in Skopje last October, go in to the game without first choice goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev, the CSKA Moscow captain suffering a knee injury in last weekend’s derby draw with Aiden McGeady’s Spartak. Zenit St Petersburg’s Vyacheslav Malafeev will take his place.

Goran Pandev, who joined Napoli on loan from Inter Milan last week, is expected to be fit for Macedonia after sitting out training earlier in the week.

MARY HANNIGAN