Enthusiasm grows for Malta-Portugal match

The star-studded Portuguese football team arrived in Malta late yesterday for tomorrow's opening World Cup qualifying match against Malta.

An enthusiastic Maltese team under coach Dusan Fitzel meanwhile held a training session at Ta'Qali stadium, the players also finding time to pose for a group picture in their new kit.

The Malta Football Association has reported strong ticket sales. MFA President Joe Mifsud said that tickets for the Millennium Stand were selling quickly, and the bulk of the seats in the South Stand had been snapped up by the South End Core group - with many supporters motivated by the national team's 2-2 draw against Turkey last year.

The Portuguese squad, which stayed well clear from the media yesterday, includes Chelsea's Deco, Bosingwa, Ferrerra and Carvalho, Manchester United's Nani and Real Madrid's Pepe. They will have a closed-door training session this afternoon.