Buttigieg urges supporting cast to seize their chance in Latvia

With the end of the Euro 2012 qualifying marathon looming large, Malta have their sights set on a spirited showing this evening when they take on Latvia at the Skonto Stadium.

After getting off the mark in Group F thanks to the point gained in the 1-1 draw with Georgia last month, Malta ought to be approaching their penultimate qualifier against Latvia with a spring in their step but injuries to three key players have overshadowed their build-up.

Captain Michael Mifsud has been joined on the casualty list by fellow forward Daniel Bogdanovic and defender Jonathan Caruana, all three struck down by hamstring injuries, but coach John Buttigieg has called on the fringe players to seize the opportunity.

“We’re missing some players,” he said.

“Every team suffers when such key players are out, moreso for us because we’re a small country.

“Nevertheless, I have faith in my squad. This is an opportunity for those who haven’t been playing regularly to show that they deserve a place in the team.”

After touching down in Riga on Wednesday afternoon, the squad had a light training session at a small but very well-kept pitch a short distance from their hotel yesterday morning. In the evening, Malta held their customary training drill at the venue of today’s qualifier.

Buttigieg provided a typically blase answer when asked if the draw against Georgia had liberated his players from the frustration caused by the failure to pick up a single point from their previous seven qualifiers.

“I don’t think there was big pressure on us (to collect a point),” Butti-gieg observed.

“This is the same team. The draw against Georgia has not suddenly turned us into a phenomenon... just like the other results didn’t mean that we were a poor team.”

Latvia have long slipped out of contention to qualify for the finals but they come into their home clash with Malta with morale sky-high after taking four points from their last two outings.

Buoyed by a 1-0 defeat of Georgia, Latvia then dented Greece’s chances of finishing top in Group F after holding them to 1-1 draw.

Those positive results coupled with the fact that today’s qualifier is their last at home can only have fuelled Latvia’s motivation to record an emphatic win over group minnows Malta.

While repeating his mantra that “our players will give their all as they always do”, Buttigieg warned that Latvia will be difficult customers.

“We’re aware of their strength. They have a good squad and it is clear that they have improved in recent years. That said, I’m upbeat about this game,” the coach said.

If the absences of Mifsud and Bogdanovic have Buttigieg’s attacking resources, Caruana’s unavailability is an equally significant setback as the Valletta defender has been a fixture in the team for the past four years.

Buttigieg gave little away about his selection but suggested that the team’s tactical strategy could be slightly modified.

“It could be that we change a few things but our approach will be similar to previous games,” Buttigieg said.

André Schembri is expected to take up the lone forward’s role with Ryan Fenech and Andrew Cohen likely to be deployed on the wings. The shortage of strikers and wingers could prompt Buttigieg to pack his midfield by fielding John Hutchinson, Gareth Sciberras and Jamie Pace.

Moving Sciberras to central defence is also an option as the Birkirkara hardman deputised for Caruana in the 3-1 home defeat to Croatia but the uncapped Steve Borg is a strong candidate to replace his Valletta team-mate today.

Quizzed about his defensive plans, Buttigieg replied: “Centre-half is not Sciberras’s ideal position but he can play there. We will see what the best options are.”

Andrei Agius is all but certain of filling the other centre-half role with Clayton Failla and Roderick Briffa poised to play on the left and right of defence respectively.

Andrew Hogg is seen as favourite to retain the no.1 jersey despite Justin Haber’s return from injury. The Valletta keeper started the last three qualifiers and produced an assured display in the 1-1 home draw with Georgia.

With Mifsud out of the equation, Roderick Briffa will captain the team today as he is the most representative player in the squad with 59 appearances.

Starkovs upbeat

Latvia coach Aleksandrs Starkovs yesterday warned his players that matches against “outsiders” can be tricky at times.

“There will be more pressure on our team to win but this could be a little bit dangerous for us against the outsiders,” Starkovs told a news conference.

“It’s never easy. If we win, we won’t get any medals but if we lose, there will be a lot of criticism. It will cause a sensation. We certainly cannot underestimate Malta.”

Asked if Mifsud’s injury had facilitated his team’s task, Starkovs preferred to focus on Malta’s ability to play as a team.

“I’ve watched Malta’s games against Georgia, Greece, Croatia and Israel,” he said.

“Malta were the weaker side but they played at a good level because they were very disciplined on the pitch. Malta’s biggest strength is their team spirit.”

Ticket prices for today’s qualifier range between €2.50 and €15.

The Latvian FA is expecting the 9,700 Skonto Stadium to be just over half-full.

Head-to-head

Friendlies

26-05-92 Malta vs Latvia 1-0
02-06-94 Latvia vs Malta 2-1
08/02/98 Malta vs Latvia 2-1

Euro Championship

07-09-10 Malta vs Latvia 0-2

Formations (probable)

Latvia: A. Vanins (FC Sion, Swit-zerland), O. Klava (Khimki, Russia), D. Ivanovs (FK Baku), K. Gorkss (Reading, England), P. Mihadjuks (Liepajas Metalurg), O. Laizans (Ventspils), A. Cauna (CSKA Mos-cow, Russia), A. Rubins (Simurq Zagatala), I. Lujkanovs (Gdansk, Poland), M. Verpakovskis (Baku), A. Rudnevs (Lech Poznan, Poland).

Malta: A. Hogg, G. Sciberras, A. Agius, S. Borg, R. Fenech, R. Briffa, J. Pace, A. Cohen, J. Hutchinson, A. Schembri, C. Failla.

Referee: Richard Trutz (Slovakia).

Kick-off: 7 p.m.