Tough opener for Malta U-17 in Krasnodar

The Malta U-17 national team is in Russia for the UEFA Championship qualifying tournament, in Krasnodar, between tomorrow and Tuesday. Malta are in Group 12 along with Russia, Slovenia and Turkey.

Malta's first match is tomorrow evening at the Krymsk Giant Stadium.

Oliver Spiteri's boys start with a tough match against host nation Russia. On Saturday, the Maltese play against Turkey at the same venue.

The final encounter, against Slovenia on September 30, will be played at the Akhtyrka Stadium.

The squad

Matthew Agius (Pietà); Karl Azzopardi (Valletta); Samuel Bartolo (Pietà); Clyde Borg (Floriana); Quincy Leslie Bregman (San Ġwann); Ansil Briffa (Pietà); Carlos Dimech (Għaxaq);

Brandon Gatt (Hibernians); Clifford Gauci (Pietà); Christian Grech (Pietà); Jean Paul Farrugia (Hibernians);

Mark Spiteri (Floriana); James Paris (Manchester City); Jurgen Pisani (Pietà); Stephen Pisani (San Ġwann); Dylan Sammut (Hibernians); Ryan Sammut (Naxxar Lions); Matthew Tabone (Hibernians).