Malta look to finish on a high

With one point from nine qualifiers, Malta have failed to shed their lightweight tag but they have one last chance to improve their tally in Euro 2012 Group F.

This evening, Malta host Israel in their final qualifier, an encounter between two nations that have fallen short of expectations on the international scene.

Israel’s position as no-hopers in so far as their chances of booking a place in the finals are concerned, has taken the gloss off their clash with Malta but from a local perspective, every international game constitutes an important test for our national team.

“Malta and Israel bring the curtain down on their Group F campaign with a meeting in Ta’ Qali, with the hosts eager to get more points on the board,” reads the introduction in the background section of the uefa.com page dedicated to today’s qualifier.

The sentence perfectly sums up Malta’s mindset as our team’s only priority is to add to their negligible one-point total.

A fragmented performance in a 2-0 reverse to Latvia last Friday hardly helped to raise spirits but, typically, Malta coach John Buttigieg is again banking on his team to give their all.

“The Israel match is another difficult test, like all the other games, moreso when one bears in mind that this is the second leg of a double fixture and we have just returned from a very long trip from Latvia,” Buttigieg said.

“Luckily, we have no fresh injuries.”

Buttigieg must make at least two changes from the side he sent out in Riga as midfielder Andrew Cohen and left-back Clayton Failla are ruled out by suspension.

With captain Michael Mifsud and Jonathan Caruana battling for fitness, Buttigieg has taken the now customary precautionary measure of summoning 20 players for a home match.

His decision to name Mifsud and Caruana in the squad suggests that the Valletta duo are winning their fitness race.

Mifsud has been sidelined for three weeks with a hamstring tear while Caruana strained his hamstring in a league match this month.

Buttigieg is prepared to leave it until late today before making a decision on Mifsud.

“Michael Mifsud is in the squad and we will decide if he can play a part at the last moment,” Buttigieg said. “We must wait and see. He trained regularly with the squad after our match in Latvia.”

Mifsud and Caruana are likely to be handed starting roles if fit.

Their availability would compensate for the absence of Cohen and Failla but Buttigieg would still be compelled to make some positional changes.

There are various scenarios and reading Buttigieg’s intentions is never easy as he keeps his cards very close to his chest.

Andrew Hogg should retain the no.1 jersey and in central defence, a fit Caruana would be virtually assured of a place alongside Andrei Agius. However, if he fails to make it, Valletta team-mate Steve Borg will play at centre-half.

Carlo Mamo is expected to replace the suspended Failla with Roderick Briffa set to be confirmed at right-back. However, Cohen’s absence may also prompt Buttigieg to advance Briffa and bring in either Edward Herrera or the recalled Alex Muscat at right-back.

In midfield, Gareth Sciberras, John Hutchinson, Ryan Fenech and Jamie Pace should retain their places. If his substitutions against Latvia are anything to go by, Ivan Woods could be in contention for a first-team slot along with Paul Fenech.

If Mifsud gets the green light to play, he will resume his usual duties as our attacking spearhead with André Schembri playing off his shoulder.

The new Panionios signing can expect to retain the lone striker’s role if Mifsud doesn’t make it.

Looking back on Malta’s showings in this qualifying trek, Buttigieg praised the players’ commitment.

“With regards to our progress in this qualifying campaign, we produced some good performances and some that were less positive,” Buttigieg said.

“As you know, we lost two qualifiers in the dying seconds. I repeat that I’m absolutely satisfied with the commitment of my players. Naturally, I’m not wholly satisfied with their performances on the field of play.

“I do believe that with this group of players, we could have done better but, for some reason or another, this did not happen as we’ve only gained one point to date.”

Buttigieg will be clinging on to the hope that his team reproduce the performance they turned in the 1-1 draw with Georgia last month as Malta look to overcome what will essentially be a second-string Israeli team after coach Luis Fernandez left several established players out of the squad.

Head-to-head

Friendlies
06-09-1984: Israel-Malta - 2-1
02-12-1987: Israel-Malta - 1-1
18-10-1988: Israel-Malta - 2-0
11-01-1989: Malta-Israel - 1-2

Euro Championship
12-10-2002: Malta-Israel - 0-2
10-09-2003: Israel-Malta - 2-2
02-09-2010: Israel-Malta - 3-1

Malta (probable)
A. Hogg, J. Caruana/S. Borg, G. Sciberras, A. Agius, R. Fenech, C. Mamo, R. Briffa, J. Hutchinson, A. Schembri, J. Pace/P. Fenech, M. Mifsud/I. Woods.

Referee: Bruno Paixao (Portugal FA).

Kick-off: 7 p.m, National Stadium.

Israel squad
Goalkeepers: Aouate (Mallorca), Haimov (Maccabi TA), Harush (B. Jerusalem).
Defenders: Bondarv (V. Nizhny), Cohen (M. Haifa), Thwatha (M. Haifa), Gershon (Kortrijk), Malul (Beerschot).
Midfielders: Natcho (R. Kazan), Kayal (Celtic), Cohen (Nurnberg), Golasa (M. Haifa), Refaelov (Brugge), Buzaglo (S. Liege), Vermouth (Kaiserslautern), Biton (Ashdod).
Strikers: Barda (Genk), Hemed (Mal-lorca), Sahar (Auxerre), Tal Ben Haim (M. Petah Tikva), Biton (W. Krakow).