Unfit Cohen, Pullicino pull out of national squad

Dusan Fitzel was yesterday supposed to trim his squad for the upcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers against Moldova and Greece to 20 players but he didn't have to ponder long and hard about who to drop.

Andrew Cohen, the Hibs forward, and Marsaxlokk midfielder Peter Pullicino, effectively ruled themselves out of Malta's next two matches after informing Fitzel that they need more time to recover from injuries.

Cohen is struggling with a nagging calf injury while Pullicino is out with a shoulder problem. Their withdrawal left Fitzel with 20 players ahead of the squad's departure to Chisinau this morning.

Fitzel's travelling squad is now made up of three goalkeepers, six defenders, six midfielders and five forwards.

After a six-week interlude, Malta will resume their Euro 2008 Group C qualifying camp with a match against Moldova on Saturday. The qualifier will be played at the Zimbru Stadium in Chisinau, kicking off at 7 p.m.

Moldova are bottom of Group C with one point from three matches while Malta are currently placed fifth in the seven-team pool with three points from three matches.

Malta obtained their first three points in this qualifying trek after upstaging Hungary 2-1 last October.

At an informal lunch with a group of journalists at the MFA technical centre yesterday, Fitzel explained his decision to name three goalkeepers in his squad.

The Czech mentor, who has been in charge of the Maltese national team since January of last year, said that all three goalkeepers in the squad had injury or health problems in recent weeks.

Justin Haber, Malta's no.1 goalkeeper, is still recovering from a severe bout of flu, Mario Muscat has a slight ankle injury and Andrew Hogg, the youngest of the three, took a blow to his shoulder a few weeks ago.

"I didn't want to take risks," Fitzel said. "All three goalkeepers have been injured or sick at some stage during the past three weeks.

"Justin Haber has not trained regularly this week because of flu. What will happen if he falls sick again after the trip to Moldova?

"I don't want a situation where we will only have one fit goalkeeper away from home. That's why I've decided to take three goalkeepers."

Michael Mifsud linked up with the squad on Tuesday. The nippy striker is in high spirits after his excellent performances in Coventry City's last two league matches which resulted in wins over Wolves (2-1) and Barnsley (4-1).

Experienced duo

The two most experienced players in the squad are Brian Said, the Sliema Wanderers defender, and Valletta captain Gilbert Agius, who is also the skipper of the national side.

Said, 34, has played 69 times for Malta while the 33-year-old Agius is only three matches short of 100 appearances on the international stage.

Daniel Bogdanovic will have high hopes of adding to his 16 caps in the next two qualifiers as he has been confirmed in Fitzel's 20-man squad.

The 26-year-old Marsaxlokk striker, the Premier League's leading marksman with 25 goals, is back in the national team's fold after an absence of three years.

Fitzel is confident that Bogdanovic will be a useful addition to the squad but is calling on the Serbian-born forward to improve his all-round game.

Malta's U-21 squad, led by coach Mark Miller, will also be on the Air Malta chartered flight to Moldova this morning.

The Maltese youngsters will be involved in a friendly match against Moldova tomorrow at the Sheriff Sports Complex in Tiraspol (kick-off 5 p.m.).

Malta's 20-man squad

Goalkeepers: Justin Haber (Marsaxlokk), Andrew Hogg (Pietà Hotspurs), Mario Muscat (Hibernians).

Defenders: Ian Azzopardi (Floriana), Roderick Briffa (Birkirkara), Luke Dimech (Marsaxlokk), Josef Mifsud (Msida St Joseph), Brian Said (Sliema Wanderers), Kenneth Scicluna (Birkirkara).

Midfielders: Gilbert Agius (Valletta), Roderick Bajada (Sliema Wanderers), George Mallia (Birkirkara), Jamie Pace (Marsaxlokk), Kevin Sammut (Marsaxlokk), Gareth Sciberras (Marsaxlokk).

Forwards: Etienne Barbara (Birkirkara), Daniel Bogdanovic (Marsaxlokk), Michael Mifsud (Coventry City, England), Andrè Schembri (Marsaxlokk), Ivan Woods (Sliema Wanderers).