Only Radoslaw Matusiak's spot-kick six minutes from time spared the Poles an embarrassing defeat after Goran Pandev had put the minnows ahead.

But with the likes of Germany and Croatia providing the opposition in Austria and Switzerland, coach Leo Beenhakker will know his side must improve if they are to stand any chance of progressing beyond the group stage.

Poland'sTomasz Kuszczak was the busier keeper in the opening period as he was forced to tip Goce Sedloski's 25-yard drive round a post.

But he could do nothing in the 45th minute when Sedloski set up Pandev to slot home the opener from the centre of the area.

Pandev had a sight of goal again minutes after the restart as Macedonia had Poland on the racks, but this time Kuszczak saved his effort.

The Poles barely threatened until Pawel Golanski's cross picked out Tomasz Zahorski, although his header was comfortable for Macedonia stopper Petar Milosevski.

Zahorski's strength in the air was again to the fore as he met Lukasz Gargula's corner from the right, but Milosevski was on hand to deny him a second time.

Poland were handed a reprieve six minutes from time though when Sedloski was penalised for a handball and Matusiak powered home the resulting spot-kick.

And Beenhakker's men could even have snatched victory at the death when Dariusz Dudka's long-range effort brought a fantastic save out of Milosevski, but a draw was as much as Poland deserved.