Fitzel selects his squad for double header

National coach Dusan Fitzel yesterday trimmed his squad to 20 players ahead of the upcoming double header in the European Championship qualifying Group C.

There were no surprises in Fitzel's squad after the Czech coach omitted goalkeeper Andrew Hogg and midfielders Roderick Bajada, Christian Cassar and Dyson Falzon.

Malta open their group commitments tomorrow with a home match against Bosnia Herzegovina (kick-off 7.15 p.m.).

There will be two other matches from the same group tomorrow - Hungary vs Norway and Moldova vs Greece. Next Wednesday, the national team plays 'away' against Turkey in neutral Frankfurt, Germany.

Bosnia arrived in Malta yesterday. They were scheduled to conduct a training session at Ta' Qali during the evening. Bosnia coach Blaz Sliskovic has a full squad at his disposal even though he will have to do without Bayern Munich midfielder Hasan Salihamidzic who announced his international retirement last month.

Sliskovic recalled Mirsad Beslija, of Hearts, and veteran striker Elvir Bolic, of Rijeka. Bosnia play Hungary at home on Wednesday.

As part of the build-up for tomorrow's match, Bosnia played a friendly against France in August. They lost 2-1 in Sarajevo.

Bosnia have never qualified for a major tournament but narrowly missed out on Euro 2004 and this year's World Cup.

"We have never started qualifications with two wins. We now have a chance to do it and put ourselves in a good position," national team director Ahmet Pasalic told a news conference on the day Sliskovic announced his squad.

Hibs striker Terrence Scerri is the only Maltese player in the 20-man squad still without an appearance for the national team.

On his part, skipper Gilbert Agius will be edging closer to his 100th cap if he plays tomorrow and on Wednesday. So far, the Valletta player has played 92 times for Malta.

In Malta's previous match against Slovakia (August 15 - 0-3, friendly) Birkirkara did not have a player in the squad. But, for the next two matches there will be George Mallia and Kenneth Scicluna who are both fully fit after recovering from nagging injuries.

Malta squad

Goalkeepers: J. Haber (Royal Excelsior Virton - 13 matches, 0 goals); M. Muscat (Hibs - 59-0).

Defenders: I. Azzopardi (Floriana - 18-0); I. Ciantar (Sliema - 19-0); L. Dimech (Marsaxlokk - 42-1); P. Pullicino (Msida - 13-0); B. Said (Sliema - 63-3); K. Scicluna (Birkirkara 4-0); S. Wellmann (Marsaxlokk - 11-1).

Midfielders: T. Cilia (Floriana - 2-0); G. Mallia (Birkirkara - 43-4); C. Mattocks (Sliema - 15-0); J. Pace (Marsaxlokk - 3-0); K. Sammut (Marsaxlokk - 9-0); G. Sciberras (Marsaxlokk - 5-0).

Forwards: G. Agius (Valletta - 92-6); M. Mifsud (Lillestrom - 40-11); Terrence Scerri (Hibs - 0-0); A. Schembri (Marsaxlokk - 2-0); I. Woods (Sliema 20-1).