Brincat's team leaves for Bucharest today

The women's football national team will be making its debut in the European Championship 2003/05 on Sunday with their opening match from the Group Five qualifiers in Bucharest against Romania.

The inaugural European competition for women's football was played in the period between 1982 and 1984. Sweden (1984), Norway (1987), Germany (1989 and 1991), and Norway (1993) were crowned European champions in the early years. Since then, the German national team has dominated the competition, lifting the trophy in 1995, 1997 and 2001.

Today, national coach Pierre Brincat will lead an 18-strong squad on its way to eastern Europe. The players and the rest of the contingent will meet up at the airport where they will board a flight to Bucharest.

Heading the Malta group is Malta FA vice-president John Farrugia. The match on Sunday will be played at 8 p.m. at the Mogosoaia National Football Centre.

Malta is in the same qualifying group with Ireland, Croatia, Romania and Bosnia. On Sunday, it will be Malta's first qualifier but the rest of the teams have already started playing their matches with Ireland leading the group after one win and two draws.

Romania played one match so far, away to Ireland on June 29. The match finished two-all with the hosts dramatically drawing level seven minutes into added time.

Goalkeeper Lenuta Pop was red-carded for Romania just before half-time. Ireland's no.1 Emma Byrne was also dismissed for a professional foul in the second half. Daniela Pufulete scored both Romania goals.

Malta squad

Goalkeepers: N. Dimech (Birkirkara); M. Zahra (Hibs).

Defenders: M. Azzopardi (Melita), F. Debono (Hibs), C. Fenech (Birkirkara), L.A. Galea (Hibs), N. Pace (Melita), A. Sammut (Birkirkara), A. Scicluna (Birkirkara), D. Theuma (Hibs).

Midfielders: T. Agius (Hibs), E. Agliano (Raiders), R. D'Agostino (Birkirkara), M. Deguara (Mosta), D. Tonna (Hibs), J. Vella (Hibs).

Strikers: C. Camilleri (Birkirkara), S. Caruana (Hibs).

Results so far

Bosnia-Herzegovina vs Croatia 0-1; Ireland vs Bosnia-Herzegovina 6-0; Croatia vs Ireland 0-0; Ireland vs Romania 2-2.

Remaining fixtures

Sunday - Romania vs Malta; September 24 - Bosnia vs Malta; September 28 - Croatia vs Malta; October 12 - Romania vs Bosnia; October 18 - Croatia vs Romania; October 22 - Malta vs Ireland; November 16 - Malta vs Croatia; April 10, 2004 - Ireland vs Croatia; May 1 - Romania vs Ireland; May 8 - Malta vs Romania; May 9 - Bosnia vs Ireland; May 15 - Croatia vs Bosnia; June 25 - Ireland vs Malta; September 9 - Malta vs Bosnia; September 19 - Bosnia vs Romania; October 2 - Romania vs Croatia.