Just a few weeks ago, Wales were hailed as the Best Mover of 2011 in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking. For the first time in years, Welsh fans are looking to the future with a degree of justifiable optimism.
John Toshack, one of the nation’s genuine footballing icons, rates as a dyed in the wool Wales fan, but the former Liverpool star will have observed the startling progress of recent months with mixed feelings. His heart and soul are of course devoted to his home country, but on the other hand, he has to show full commitment to his current job.
As FYR Macedonia coach, Toshack will face the Welsh in 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying. “It's a remarkable situation, but I hope we'll see two very good matches,” he exclusively told FIFA.com.
The 62-year-old took up his current position in August 2011.
He personally regards the task as more akin to a development role, although just over six months into the job, he described his initial impressions as “positive".
Following a long coaching career including spells with Real Madrid, Besiktas and as Wales national coach in 1994 and from 2004 to 2010, the mission with the nation ranked 103rd in the world is refreshingly new and full of possibilities.
“It's a huge challenge, but in any case, there need to be improvements in every aspect of the infrastructure here," he said.
Toshack's record with Macedonia so far reads two wins, two draws and two defeats.
In qualifying for UEFA EURO 2012,Crveni Lavovi (The Red Lions) landed fifth out of six in Group B, so the focus now is on the campaign for a berth in Brazil. The nation in south-east Europe, a full member of FIFA since 1994, has yet to qualify for the global showdown. In four attempts between 1998 and 2010, only a pair of draws against the Netherlands in qualifying for Germany 2006 stand out from the norm.
