The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, received today the members of the Macedonian national U21 football team on the occasion of their qualifications for the European U21 Football Championship.

At the meeting, President Ivanov congratulated the young players, the coaches and the representatives of the football federation for the first place won and stressed that he, as the entire Macedonian public, is proud of yesterday's victory over the national team of Scotland and the placement of the forthcoming European Championships in Poland.

"In the year when we celebrate the anniversary, 25 years of our independence, you brought us the greatest joy. Your success has shown that we can be together, united and cheer for Macedonia. I thank each of you for his share in this victory, especially the head coach, the coaches and all who have invested in you. We believe in you, said the Macedonian President. Yesterday, on October 11 - Day of National Uprising, you made a football revolution in Macedonia. You have symbolically shown what comes next and what to expect - new victories and endeavors", President Ivanov said.

He stressed that these young players will make an upturn in football in independent Macedonia! You are a generation that will achieve remarkable results in future.

"We expect what you have started to continue it together as a generation, to be united as you were at the matches. Stick together and know that the whole nation is with you. Whether we, at the National Arena are Macedonians, Albanians, Turks, Vlachs, Serbs, Bosniaks, Roma, in such moments, we are all Macedonia. Macedonia as successful as yesterday", President Ivanov told the young players.

The head coach of the youth football team, Mr. Blagoja Milevski, thanked for the reception hosted by President Ivanov and said that they will continue with their hard work in the future.

"Yesterday's victory brings great satisfaction after a hard work and great effort invested in these qualifications by these guys, awarded with participation in the European Championships. It is a great pleasure for me as the head of the professional staff, and I think that the players have a sense of satisfaction with the game played not only at yesterday's match but at all qualification matches, at the level that I think no one expected here, in our country nor in Europe", Milevski said.

The national U21 team of Macedonia won the first place in the third group and directly qualified for the UEFA European Football Championship, which will be held next summer in Poland.