Georgia enter frame as Moldova eye top spot

Moldova will be proclaimed winners of the 13th International Football Tournament if they see off Georgia this evening at the National Stadium (kick-off: 7.15 p.m.).

A 2-0 defeat of Malta in Saturday's curtain-raiser has given Moldova the chance to secure top spot before Wednesday's final match between the hosts and Georgia.

Georgia, who recently unveiled German Klaus Toppmoeller as their new coach, will be making their first appearance in this biennial tournament, this year co-sponsored by Coca-Cola and Multiplus.

Toppmoeller's appointment has been hailed as a coup by Georgia, in the process raising expectations of a good showing in the Euro 2008 qualifying trek.

Georgia were drawn in Group B, undoubtedly the toughest of the seven qualifying groups, along with France, Italy, Ukraine, Scotland, Lithuania and Faroe Islands.

In his provisional squad, Toppmoeller named seven foreign-based players, including Milan defender Kakha Kaladze, Zurab Khizanishvili, on the books of English Premier League club Blackburn Rovers, Schalke 04 midfielder Levan Kobiashvili and Shota Arveladze, now turning out for Alkmaar in the Dutch top division.

Moldova have come to Malta with a young squad made up mainly of U-21 players. It remains to be seen if U-21 coach Boris Tropanet, who is in charge of the Moldova squad for this tournament, elects to make significant changes from Saturday's team. His players will surely have gleaned plenty of confidence from their opening victory against Malta, courtesy of second-half goals from Sergiu Namasco and Igor Bugaiov.

Maltese referee Adrian Casha will officiate today's match between Moldova and Georgia.

Meanwhile, Luke Dimech, this season playing for Chester in England, and keeper Justin Haber, on the books of French club US Quevilly, were due to join the Malta squad yesterday. Lillestrom striker Michael Mifsud will meet up with his international team-mates today.

Hibs-Marsaxlokk XI beat Georgia

Georgia yesterday lost 1-0 against a selection from Premier League clubs Hibs and Marsaxlokk in a friendly match played at Corradino.

Edmond Agius hit the winner early in the game that saw Marsaxlokk's Trevor Templeman suffer a bad ankle injury which is likely to keep him out for the rest of the season.