Perennial weaknesses, selection debate resurface in Budapest

Watching Malta play in competitive matches can be a nerve-racking experience, especially if you have followed the team on a regular basis for a number of years.

The pattern of performances in the international sphere is so familiar that very often it feels as if the events unfolding before your eyes are a repeat of those of previous matches.

This was certainly the case in Budapest on Saturday night.

An opening goal from Hungary at a very delicate stage, just 11 minutes before half-time, puts a blemish on the hitherto plucky effort produced by the Maltese in the first period.

Twelve minutes after the change of ends, Malta concede a second goal and all semblance of competitive spirit and composure crumbles.

The fatal blow usually precedes a good 20-minute stretch when our opponents' unrelenting pace, alertness and mental toughness cruelly expose the paucity of Maltese football. Against Hungary, Malta spent the best part of the second half chasing shadows in and around their own penalty area.

While I suppose that you are saying 'it's the same old story, the same old excuses' but this is the stark reality of Maltese football.

Horst Heese's second spell as national coach has been characterised by a lot of chopping and changing. His decision to discard most of the members of the old guard as well as others who 'don't show the right attitude' has been endorsed by some and criticised by others.

After Saturday's match, I wondered whether Malta would have had a better chance of averting a heavy defeat had the likes of Stefan Giglio, Jeffrey Chetcuti, Daniel Bogdanovic and William Camenzuli, all out of the squad, been in the starting line-up, not to mention other key players such as Gilbert Agius, Michael Mifsud and Luke Dimech who missed the game for different reasons.

Looking back, I could not convince myself that the axed players would have influenced the course of the game but at the same time, I find it hard to understand how players like Antoine Zahra and Ian Ciantar, still short of match fitness, were picked up for this match as well as the one against Croatia at Ta' Qali on Wednesday.

Players who were injured for a long time first need to get some competitive matches at club level under their belt before they are called upon for international duty.

Team harmony is very important but given our massive limitations in terms of playing resources, we cannot slam the door in the face of some of our most established players.

Heese and the MFA coaches must focus more on making all their players appreciate the importance of work ethic, discipline and teamwork.

Some of the most exciting players in Europe are anything but saints but their national coaches have not turned their back on them.

Heese has done a good job in liberalising the national team's selection policy but has also been quick to kick the 'naughty' boys out.

It will be interesting to see the names on the first list of players to be released by the next coach, probably some time in November.

Meanwhile, Heese's advice to his successor is to convince the MFA to restore the professional training scheme.

"My suggestion would be to keep this group of players together," Heese said after the 4-0 upset to Hungary.

"I also hope that the new coach will reach an agreement with the MFA to reinstate the professional training system. The best players have to train together for most of the time. They also need a good, tough challenge every week... playing games against Manikata, Burmarrad etc are not helping to raise the level of our players."

Casting his mind back to the Hungary match, Heese rued the time and manner of their second goal.

"Coming so early in the second half, Hungary's second goal shattered our plans," Heese remarked.

"Until we suffered the second goal, we were playing well but then things became very complicated for us."

Hungary delivered the killer blow within minutes of Heese making his first substitution of the game when he replaced defender Kenneth Scicluna, who made his first start for Malta on Saturday, with Antoine Zahra.

Positional changes

It looked as though the players were still coming to terms with the positional changes required by that substitution when Brian Said diverted Zoltan Boor's pass in his own net.

Questioned about the timing and impact of his substitution, Heese claimed that his players had been told at the interval about the defensive changes.

"During half-time, I told Brian Said that I was going to withdraw Scicluna early in the second half and that Steve Wellman would take his place in the centre of defence," Heese said.

"This was Scicluna's first competitive start for Malta and it was clear that he needs to gain more experience at this level."

Heese also pointed to Malta's failure to keep possession up front as another main reason for their decline.

"We couldn't maintain possession in attack," Heese remarked.

"The players at the back enjoyed not even a second's rest because the team lost all the balls up front.

"And when Hungary intensified their pressure in the second half, we couldn't breathe but this is what you have to cope with at this level.

"Players need to be very quick and strong.

"Massimo Grima had a satisfactory outing but even he struggled at times to keep up with the tempo of the game.

"He's one of our most skilful players but he was not granted the time and space to control and distribute the ball as he's accustomed to in the Premier League."

Despite going down heavily to Hungary, Heese does not envisage problems to pep up morale ahead of the home match against Croatia this week.

"It's going to be another tough game but I don't think our defeat here will have a bearing on the team's preparations.

"The boys are disappointed with the outcome in Budapest but they have a strong character and believe in themselves."

Agius will be back in the reckoning for Wednesday's game after suspension forced him to miss Saturday's qualifier.

Floriana defender Ian Azzopardi is expected to make way for Agius's return to the 18-man squad.