Depleted Malta tackle Croatia in Split today

The Maltese national team open their international campaign for 2009/10 with a Division 2B Nations Cup qualifier against Croatia in Split this afternoon.

This will be a difficult match for Damien Neill's men as Croatia lead the group standings at present with 13 points, one ahead of the Netherlands.

Malta are currently third and will be pushing for victory today to close the gap on the top positions. More importantly, however, the team requires points to ease worries of another struggle to retain their place in the division.

The Maltese collected eight points from four matches and lie two ahead of fourth-placed Sweden and three more than bottom-placed Latvia.

Croatia have just claimed top spot in the group with a convincing 23-9 win over Latvia away.

Neill will be without several key players today as Guy Kennedy, Paul Marzella, Donovan Felice, Daryl Psaila and Mick McArdle will be absent to nurse injuries.

Hopefully, some of them will recover for the next match at home to Sweden on November 7.

The coach, however, will be encouraged by his team's away form in the competition. In fact, the Maltese have beaten Sweden (9-6) and Latvia (32-19) on their travels.

Besides, the Maltese have a score to settle in Split today as Croatia had beaten Malta 18-16 at the Hibs Ground last year, courtesy of last-gasp penalty.

Playing today: Croatia vs Malta; Sweden vs Netherlands.

Standings: Croatia (4-0-1) 13; Netherlands (4-0-0) 12; Malta (2-0-2) 8; Sweden (1-0-3) 6; Latvia (0-0-5) 5.

Results so far: Sweden vs Latvia 21-5; Netherlands vs Croatia 18-12; Sweden vs Malta 6-9; Latvia vs Netherlands 10-29; Malta vs Croatia 16-18; Netherlands vs Sweden 36-24; Latvia vs Malta 19-32; Malta vs Netherlands 9-27; Croatia vs Latvia 21-13; Croatia vs Sweden 23-13; Latvia vs Croatia 9-23.

Nations Cup

Maltese official Steve Busuttil will be referee for the European Nations Cup match between Monaco and Cyprus on November 14 in Montecarlo.

This will be Busuttil's third match on the FIRA international scene following the matches between Bosnia and Israel and Israel vs Luxembourg last season.