The Malta women’s team take on Luxembourg in a friendly match this evening (kick-off 7).
Pierre Brincat, the national women’s coach, has taken a 21-strong squad to Luxembourg for today’s warm-up, to be played at the Kaerjenger Dribbel Stadium in Bascaharage.
Today’s game will not be the only meeting between Malta and Luxembourg this year as the senior men’s teams of the two countries have a friendly match scheduled for June 2.
That game, to be played in Lux-embourg, is widely expected to herald the start of Pietro Ghedin’s second spell as Malta coach.
Ghedin, currently in charge of the Italian women’s side, has yet to put pen to paper on the three-and-a-half-year contract proposed by the Malta FA but has verbally indicated his intention to accept the job.
After Bjorn Vassallo, the MFA CEO, had constructive talks with FIGC president Giancarlo Abete and Ghedin himself, the path is now clear for the Italian to start his new job in the coming weeks after the Italy women’s team beat Russia 2-0 away to consolidate their position as runaway leaders of Euro 2013 qualifying Group One with a maximum 21 points from seven games.
On Saturday, Italy eased to a 4-0 home win over Bosnia in a match which was officiated by Maltese international referee Esther Azzopardi.
In comments he gave to The Times last month, Ghedin said he was flattered by the MFA’s interest but stressed that he remained totally focused on his job with the FIGC and his team’s preparations for the qualifiers against Bosnia and Russia.
After announcing that Ghedin was the no.1 candidate to succeed John Buttigieg as Malta coach, the MFA made it clear that, barring complications, they hoped to finalise the former Lazio stalwart’s appointment in the April-May period.
Women’s squad
Goalkeepers – S. Costantino (Mosta), D. Grech (Hibs).
Defenders – O. Bedingfield (Mosta), R. Chircop (Mosta), R. D’Agostino (Mosta), C. Fenech (Birkirkara), S. Farrugia (Birkirkara), A. Said (Gozo FC), G. Zahra (Birkirkara), S. Zammit (Hiber-nians).
Midfielders – K. Agius Pace (Birkirkara), M. Bajada (Gozo), Y. Carabott (Hibs), R. Cuschieri (Birkirkara), M. Debono (Hibs), A. Grech (Pembroke), N. Pace (Mosta), A. Sammut (Mġarr), D. Theuma (Mosta).
Forwards – N. Buttigieg (Ingersoll Flyers), K. Saliba (Hibernians).