Malta to play hosts in group qualifiers
Matches at Ta' Qali and Corradino
Malta will feature in the UEFA U-19 European Championship 2008-2009 qualifying round. Silvio Vella's team was drawn in Group Four which also includes France, Liechtenstein and the Republic of Ireland.
Matches will be played at the Centenary Stadium and Hibernians Ground between November 21 and 26.
The U-19 team will face very stiff opposition in their bid to qualify by right if they finish in the top two positions in the group. The repechage system could still see Malta progress if they obtain one of the two best third places in the 13 qualifying groups.
There will be 28 teams qualifying for the Elite Group, after which those making it through will be drawn into four groups of seven teams each, with the top side in each group, plus the host nation, proceeding to the finals of the UEFA U-19 Championships.
Programme
(all matches at Centenary Stadium unless stated)
Friday, Nov. 21: 11 a.m. Ireland vs Malta; 1.15 p.m. Liechtenstein vs France.
Sunday, Nov. 23: 3 p.m. Ireland vs Liechtenstein; 5.15 p.m. Malta vs France.
Wednesday, Nov. 26: 11 a.m. France vs Ireland (at Hibs Ground); 11 a.m. Liechtenstein vs Malta.
Malta squad
Goalkeepers: Daniel Balzan (Hibernians), Matthew Falzon (Hearts, Scotland).
Defenders: Joseph Aquilina (Crawley Town, England), Owen Bugeja (Floriana), Cleaven Cassar (Pietà Hotspurs), Kane Paul Farrugia (Sliema Wanderers), Timothy Fleri Soler (Hibernians), Christopher McKay (Pietà Hotspurs), Jonathan Scerri (Hibernians).
Midfielders: Nathan Busuttil (Pietà Hotspurs), Tristan Caruana (Hibernians), Elkien Cauchi (Hibernians), Miguel Ciantar (Sliema Wanderers), Leighton Grech (Hibernians), Dylan Grima (Valletta), Rowan Muscat (Birkirkara), Randall Refalo (Pietà Hotspurs), Mark Scerri (Sliema Wanderers), Ryan Zammit (San Ġwann).
Forwards: Terence Vella (Pietà Hotspurs), Jean Paul Farrugia (Hibernians).