Sliema adopt pragmatic approach for Sheriff test

Champions of Malta for the past three years, Sliema got their campaign off to a bright start when topping the first competition of the season, the Euro Challenge Cup, but they will be aware that FC Sheriff will provide tougher opposition than they encountered last week.

Their experience in Europe's premier competition in the last two seasons drummed into Sliema the necessity to go into continental games in the right frame of mind.

Two years ago, Sliema were given little hope of progressing beyond the first round when the draw pitted them against seasoned Latvians FC Skonto only for the Blues to go through on the away goals rule after a 3-3 draw.

Last year, the Wanderers had their sights centred on another passage to the second qualifying round of the Champions League when they came up against FBK Kaunas of Lithuania. However, their optimism turned into delusion as they crashed to a 6-1 aggregate loss.

As Sliema now prepare to tackle their third mission against a team from an ex-Soviet country, Edward Aquilina admits to being worried about his lack of information on FC Sheriff.

"My biggest concern is that I know virtually nothing about our opponents," Aquilina said.

"We have tried to collect some information about their players but it would have been better if I had the opportunity to watch them play.

"I have read that Sheriff have many overseas players. I have no doubt that they are a hard team to play against."

Unlike past seasons, Sliema have limited themselves to two main signings in the close season. Italian defender Mauro Di Lello joined them on a free transfer after his contract with Italian side Nocerina expired in June and former Malta striker Daniel Bogdanovic was signed on a one-year loan deal from Marsaxlokk.

Their performances in the Euro Challenge Cup went some way towards justifying Sliema's restrained transfer activity as Bogdanovic and Di Lello look to have settled well in the team.

Even allowing for the usual pre-season rustiness, Sliema's initial showings in 2005-2006 have been very encouraging with the established members of their team also displaying commendable form.

"I cannot but be satisfied with the team's outings in the Euro Challenge Cup," Aquilina said.

"The two games we played helped us not only to sharpen our competitive edge but to enhance the level of understanding between the players. I was particularly pleased with the team's tactical organisation."

Although Sliema had made no bones about their ambition to challenge seriously for the Euro Challenge Cup, there could have been no doubting Aquilina's intention to use their matches against Birkirkara (3-0) and Hibernians (2-2) as an integral part of their build-up for their matches against FC Sheriff.

Tinkering with his starting XI was clearly not an option for the Sliema mentor who retained the same team for both matches. Those same players will stride onto the Ta' Qali pitch this evening.

Asked about his tactical gameplan, he hinted at a pragmatic approach with emphasis on a "crowded midfield, off-the ball movement and avoiding costly mistakes".

As FC Sheriff come from the former Soviet Union bloc like FBK Kaunas, comparisons with last year's matches have been inevitable.

Aquilina is not burdened by potential similarities between the two teams as he claims that Sliema's preparations this time have been much better than last year's.

"The scenario when we played against Kaunas was completely different," Aquilina said. "Days before the first leg at home we learnt that Joe Brincat was suspended and key players Stefan Giglio and Michael Mifsud were carrying injuries.

"This year, we are more concentrated on the task at hand and we did not have to put up with the difficulties we had before we met Kaunas. Physically, Sliema are also better prepared... mind you we have had the same number of training sessions as last year but our preparations have not been hampered by injuries and other debilitating factors."

Sliema's third league triumph under his charge made Aquilina arguably the most decorated coach in local football. He also has a remarkable record in terms of matches in European club football.

"Against FC Sheriff will be my 19th match in European football as coach," Aquilina remarked. "My wish is to gain a good result which keeps us with a chance of advancing to the next round when we visit Sheriff in the second leg on July 20."

Sliema's formation: Akanji, Brincat, Di Lello, Said, Turner, Bogdanovic, Doncic, Chetcuti, Woods, Anonam, Giglio.

Referee: Michael Ross (N. Ireland).

¤ Sliema have a special transport service to the stadium today. Coaches leave Dingli Street, Sliema, at 7 p.m.

¤ Two Maltese referees will control matches in Europe this week.

Joe Attard is to referee the Champions League match between Dudelange and NK Zrinjski tomorrow.

Chris Lautier will be in charge of the UEFA Cup match between KS Teuta and NK Siroki Brijeg in Albania on Thursday.

FC Sheriff Tiraspol...

FC Sheriff, five-times champions of Moldova despite being founded only eight years ago, landed in Malta yesterday. Coached by Leonid Kuchuk, they held a training session at the National Stadium at 8 p.m., kick-off time for today's first match.

In their last warm-up before their journey to Malta, FC Sheriff obtained a 2-0 victory over Romania's Dinamo Bucharest.

Sheriff's squad features several overseas players, many of whom come from Romania. They also have two defenders and one striker from Burkina Faso, a midfielder from Ghana and a Brazilian forward.

Last year, Sheriff reached the second qualifying round of the Champions League after ousting AS Jeunesse Esch of Luxembourg 2-1 on aggregate. They were then eliminated by Rosenborg 4-1 on aggregate.

The winner of the Sliema-Sheriff game will meet Partizan Belgrade, champions of Serbia and Montenegro, in the second qualifying round.

Sliema Wanderers striker Ivan Woods tries to avoid a tackle from Aaron Xuereb, the Hibs defender.

Champions League - First qualifying round

Today's Matches

4. Levadia Tallinn (Estonia) vs Dinamo Tbilisi (Georgia)

6. Kairat Almaty (Kazakhstan) vs A. Petrzalka (Slovakia)

7. Neftchi Baku (Azerbaijan) vs Hafnarfjordur (Iceland)

8. R. Skopje (Macedonia) vs Skonto Riga (Latvia)

10. Dinamo Minsk (Belarus) vs A. Famagusta (Cyprus)

11. Sliema Wanderers (Malta) vs S. Tiraspol (Moldova)

Playing Tomorrow

1. Liverpool (England) vs TNS FC (Wales)

2. Haka (Finland) vs Pyunik Yerevan (Armenia)

3. HB Torshavn (F. Islands) vs FBK Kaunas (Lithuania)

5. HIT Gorica (Slovenia) vs KF Tirana (Albania)

9. Glentoran (Northern Ireland) vs Shelbourne (Ireland)

12. Dudelange (Luxembourg) vs HSK Zrinjski (Bosnia)

Second legs - July 19/20.

Second qualifying round

Winner match 3 vs Winner match 1

Winner match 4 vs Brondby (Denmark)

FK Partizan (Serbia) vs Winner match 11

Debreceni (Hungary) vs Hajduk Split (Croatia)

Winner match 6 vs Celtic (Scotland)

Winner match 5 vs CSKA Sofia (Bulgaria)

Anderlecht (Belgium) vs Winner match 7

Valerenga (Norway) vs Winner match 2

Winner match 8 vs Lokomotiv Moscow (Russia)

Winner match 12 vs Rapid Vienna (Austria)

Dynamo Kiev (Ukraine) vs FC Thun (Switzerland)

Malmo FF (Sweden) vs Maccabi Haifa (Israel)

Winner match 9 vs Steaua Bucharest (Romania)

Winner match 10 vs Trabzonspor (Turkey)

First legs - July 26/27.
Second legs - August 2/3.