Miller's boys set for useful test in Tunis

Malta's U-21 team will have a useful test in their rebuilding process when today they play guests to Tunisia in a friendly international at the El Menzah Olympic Stadium (kick-off: 3 p.m.).

Early elimination from the 2006/07 qualifying play-off at the hands of Georgia has left Malta U-21 coach Mark Miller with no competitive commitments to prepare his side for after UEFA revamped the format of its U-21 competition.

This afternoon's friendly gives Miller the opportunity to try out new players in his bid to build a competitive squad for the 2007 qualifying campaign.

Miller's 20-man squad for today's match features most of the players who were involved in another friendly earlier this season when Malta U-20 lost 2-1 to Switzerland's U-19 team.

According to MFA statistics, four players in Miller's squad have yet to make their first appearance at U-21 international level.

These are midfielders Ben Camilleri, of Hibs, Floriana's Christian Caruana, Thomas Paris, of Qormi, and Pietà striker Edward Herrera.

Like Camilleri, Msida St Joseph's Tyrone Farrugia and Sliema goalkeeper Henry Bonello have been promoted to the U-21 squad after their encouraging performances for the Malta U-19 team in the UEFA Mini-Tournament in Denmark last month.

Midfielder Andrei Agius, this season on the books of Italian Serie C1 club Martina Franca, is also part of the Malta U-21 group.

Today's friendly will be the second meeting between Tunisia and Malta at U-21 level this year. Last May, the two nations faced each other in another friendly match at the National Stadium which Tunisia won 2-1. Ryan Fenech, the Hamrun forward, scored Malta's only goal in that match.

The U-21 friendly kicks off a busy period for Maltese representative teams at all levels. Tomorrow, Malta's senior team will cross swords with Lithuania in a friendly match at the Hibernians Ground.

The Malta U-17 team, guided by Oliver Spiteri, will also be in action this week when they start their commitments in a UEFA Mini-Tournament which also comprises Italy, Serbia and Andorra. The matches will be played at the Hibs Ground and the Victor Tedesco Stadium.

After their positive performances in the UEFA Mini-Tournament where they figured in 1-1 draws against Denmark and Finland and lost 4-2 to France, Malta's U-19 team will play two friendly matches against Georgia early next month.

The women's national squad will travel to Luxembourg in the coming days to compete in a UEFA Championship 2007-2008 Mini-Tournament. Pierre Brincat's girls will be up against Lithuania, Luxembourg and Slovakia.

Malta U-21 squad

Goalkeepers: H. Bonello (Sliema W.), M. Montfort (Valletta).

Defenders: E. Agius (Hibs), B. Camilleri (Hibs), C. Failla (Hibs), T. Farrugia (Msida), J. Grioli (Valletta), A. Spiteri (Pietà H.), J. Vella (Hibs).

Midfielders: C. Caruana (Floriana), A. Agius (Martina, Italy), M. Bartolo (Mosta), D. Falzon (Valletta), P. Fenech (Msida), R. Fenech (Hamrun S.), T. Paris (Qormi).

Forwards: A. Buhagiar (Floriana), E. Herrera (Pietà H.), A. Scerri (Marsa), I. Zammit (Valletta).