Sport 05-09-2003 England v Macedonia Preview who: England football team what: Play Macedonia in Euro 2004 qualifier where: Macedonia when: Tomorrow snippet: David Beckham arrived in the Macedonian capital Skopje last night prior to Saturday`s Euro 2004 qualifying match "with a growing sense of foreboding," writes The Guardian`s Daniel Taylor, "that his only role at the Gradski Stadium tomorrow will be that of spectator". Beckham was injured on Tuesday night playing for Real Madrid in their 1-1 draw with Villarreal. "Newcastle`s Kieron Dyer took Beckham`s place on the right side of midfield during yesterday`s training session and is on stand-by in case the captain`s fitness lets him down," says The Sun`s Shaun Custis. "England coach Sven Goran Eriksson has already lost midfield trio Paul Scholes, Steven Gerrard and Trevor Sinclair, plus Rio Ferdinand and Darius Vassell, to injury," says The Mirror, "and will give Beckham until the last minute to prove his fitness." Off the pitch, The Telegraph says England fans have defied the FA`s pleas to stay away. "The FA hoped to avoid trouble by distributing its allocation of 2,500 tickets to needy Macedonian children," writes David Millward, but black market tickets are changing hands for between £70 and £100, "at least 10 times the face value". Meanwhile, Wales travel to Italy, Scotland will play the Faroes at Hampden Park and the Republic of Ireland will take on Russia at Lansdowne Road. [... more]

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