Heese craves repeat of fine showing vs N. Ireland

Horst Heese threw down the gauntlet to his players yesterday, urging them to demonstrate that their creditable performance in the friendly match against Northern Ireland last month was not a flash in the pan.

Addressing a news conference on the eve of the MFA contingent's departure to Budapest for the first leg of the double-header against Hungary, on Saturday, and at home to Croatia the following Wednesday, the national coach sounded cautiously confident in his team's chances of cutting a good figure in the upcoming internationals.

"Over the next eight days, Malta will feature in two tough matches against the first- and third-placed teams in our qualifying group," Heese said.

"Having already played against Hungary and Croatia in this campaign, we have a good idea of their style of play. This should be an advantage for us but at the same time we are handicapped by the absence of key players like Luke Dimech, Michael Mifsud and Gilbert Agius."

Lillestrom striker Mifsud is sidelined by a shoulder injury but Dimech has elected to put club before country, asking Heese to be excused for these two matches to concentrate on his career with English League Two side Chester.

Agius, the skipper and one of the most experienced players in the squad, is ruled out by suspension but will be back for the game against Croatia.

Although these are important absences for Malta, Heese believes their replacements will not be found wanting.

"I am convinced that the players who are given responsibility to deputise for their absent colleagues will do a good job," the German said.

"My hope is that the team show the people that their positive outing in the 1-1 draw against N. Ireland was not a one-off."

Dimech's decision to sit out these two matches has not gone down well with critics and fans alike but Heese does not embrace the view that disciplinary action be taken against the player.

"We told Luke that the national team needed him for these two games but he insisted on staying with his club. I don't think we should take disciplinary action against Dimech for missing these games because that would only serve to compound the problem, possibly leading him to retire from international football."

Dimech's withdrawal opens the way for Birkirkara defender Kenneth Scicluna to earn his first competitive start for Malta against Hungary on Saturday at the Ferenc Puskas Stadium.

"Scicluna left a good impression when coming on as a substitute for Dimech against N. Ireland," Heese said.

"I know he lacks experience but he's a quick thinker and his attitude has been flawless so far. I believe Scicluna can be useful to the national team in the future."

Agius's slick performance against Northern Ireland has only complicated Heese's task of finding a suitable replacement for his skipper.

"It was by far Agius's best game in my time as national coach," Heese reminisced. "Atoning for his absence will not be easy and I cannot as yet confirm who will take his place in the team because Ivan Woods is slightly injured.

"In all probability, Massimo Grima will come in for Agius. I think he deserves his chance."

Birkirkara striker Etienne Barbara and Jonathan Bondin, the Valletta midfielder, are still recuperating from injuries and are out of the squad.

Malta are bottom of Group Eight with one point from seven matches. Hungary have 10 from six games.

Horst Heese's squad

Goalkeepers - R. Gauci, J. Haber.

Defenders - I. Azzopardi, I. Ciantar, M. Grima, A. Pulis, P. Pullicino, B. Said, K. Scicluna, S. Wellman.

Midfielders - O. Anonam, R. Briffa, G. Mallia, C. Mattocks, K. Sammut, A. Zahra.

Strikers - A. Cohen, I. Woods.

MFA's marketing drive

A renewed effort is being made by the Malta FA to lure more spectators to the stadium for the home games against Croatia, Carmelo Bartolo, the association's senior vice-president, said.

Billboards promoting next week's qualifiers from Group Eight have been put up in strategic locations and hundreds of posters have been distributed in social clubs.