The Malta FA is bracing itself for a busy fortnight as the national team and U-21 side resume their respective European qualifiers with a double fixture each at home coming up.
The senior team will be hosting Croatia next Friday and then Georgia four days later from the Euro 2012 group while the U-21s, currently topping Group 2, will be bidding to maintain their positive start when they face Slovenia on Thursday and co-leaders Finland on September 6 with both matches being scheduled for the Hibs Stadium.
“These are two weeks of intensive action for our national teams,” Bjorn Vassallo, the MFA CEO, said yesterday.
“Croatia and Georgia are two difficult matches. Although we always start as the underdogs, our performance in the recent friendly win over the Central African Republic gives us great motivation that we can achieve similar positive results.
“Also, the U-21s are a very talented group of players. I watched the away qualifier against Finland and I can say I was impressed with the great team spirit coach Ray Farrugia has managed to foster.
“So, hopefully, this positive trend will be extended to the next two matches at home.”
Yessous Camilleri, the upbeat Under-21 defender, epitomises the feel-good factor that reigns in Farrugia’s squad.
“We have started this campaign on a very positive note and now that we are playing in front of our fans we want to add more points to the four we already have,” he said.
“We did well to hold Finland to a draw away but at home we shall be doing our utmost to better that result,” he said.
The MFA is committed to see Maltese players flourishing.
In fact, Vassallo said, they are doing their utmost to see more young players given the opportunity of continuing their career abroad.
Last month, Luke Montebello and Fabio Muscat joined Serie B club Livorno and another Italian club is currently monitoring another young Maltese player in view of offering him a contract.
For the Euro qualifier against Croatia, the Malta FA has stepped up its efforts to beef up security.
In recent weeks they held a series of talks with their Croatian counterparts and members of the Croatian police to ensure a trouble-free match at Ta’ Qali’s National Stadium.
Tickets for the Euro 2012 qualifiers will be available as from today with prices ranging from €5 to €25.
Police probe
Earlier this year the MFA was rocked by allegations that the Norway-Malta Euro 2008 qualifier was rigged by a Croatian betting syndicate with the involvement of Maltese players.
Marijo Cvrtak, one of the accused, told the court in Bochum in May that Norway’s 4-0 victory, on June 2, 2007, had been manipulated after at least three Maltese players had agreed to throw the match.
Asked where investigations had led to so far, Vassallo yesterday said that the police were continuing with their probings but at the moment it would be better not to divulge any details.
“The inquiry launched by Maltese police is ongoing. They have requested us to postpone any plans we had to start our probe until they conclude their own investigations,” Vassallo revealed.
“In our opinion, with investigations ongoing it would be better not to speculate as that would only hamper the work being carried out by the police.
“However, we can assure you that the MFA will not let this case go dormant. Obviously, with the lawsuit heard elsewhere proceedings will take more time than normal to be completed.
“Hopefully, the police will soon come back with their conclusions so that we can take the case to the next phase.”