Schembri, Falzon earn slot in Fitzel's 18-man squad

Andrè Schembri and Dyson Falzon, two of the country's brightest football prospects, have been included in Malta's squad for next Tuesday's friendly match against Slovakia.

Malta coach Dusan Fitzel announced his 18-man list yesterday, just days after a pool of 22 national team players concluded a nine-day training camp in the Czech Republic.

Fitzel's travelling party is a blend of burgeoning talent and experience as the likes of Schembri, scorer of a late winner in Malta XI's 1-0 victory over Mlada Boleslav B in a friendly match, Falzon, Trevor Cilia, Roderick Bajada and former Malta U-21 captain Gareth Sciberras are joined by seasoned personnel like captain Gilbert Agius, Ivan Woods, Brian Said and Luke Dimech.

Michael Mifsud, the quickfire forward who has been grabbing the headlines in Norway for his fine scoring form for Lillestrom, has also been called and will link up with the Maltese squad in Bratislava.

Of the 22 players who took part in the Czech Republic training jaunt, Stefan Giglio, Peter Pullicino, Kenneth Scicluna, Terence Scerri and Andrew Hogg have failed to make the cut.

Scicluna's omission and injuries to Etienne Barbara and Roderick Briffa have left champions Birkirkara, who won the BoV Super Cup on Friday, without a representative in Malta's latest squad.

Tuesday's friendly match, kicking off at 8.15 p.m. at the Slovan Stadium in Bratislava, is part of Malta's build-up for the Euro 2008 qualifying trek.

Malta have been drawn in Group C along with Greece, the current European champions, Turkey, Norway, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Moldova.

Germany, Czech Republic, Ireland, Wales, Cyprus and San Marino will provide the opposition for Slovakia in Group D of the Euro 2008 qualifying round.

In their opening games, Malta take on Bosnia and Herzegovina on September 2 at Ta' Qali and on the same day, Slovakia host Cyprus.

The Malta contingent will fly out to Slovakia this afternoon.

Malta's squad

Goalkeepers: J. Haber (unattached - 12 appearances); M. Muscat (Hibs - 58).

Defenders: I. Azzopardi (Floriana - 17); I. Ciantar (Sliema Wanderers - 18), L. Dimech (Marsaxlokk - 41); B. Said (Sliema W. - 62); S. Wellman (Marsaxlokk - 10).

Midfielders: R. Bajada (Sliema W. - 4); T. Cilia (Floriana - 2); D. Falzon (Valletta - 0); C. Mattocks (Sliema W. - 14); J. Pace (Marsaxlokk - 2); K. Sammut (Marsaxlokk - 8); G. Sciberras (Marsaxlokk - 4).

Forwards: G. Agius (Valletta - 91); M. Mifsud (Lillestrom, Norway - 39); A. Schembri (Marsaxlokk - 1); I. Woods (Sliema W. - 19).