Pietro Ghedin will have experienced defenders Luke Dimech and Alex Muscat back in his squad for tomorrow’s Group B World Cup qualifier at home to Bulgaria.

Malta’s Italian coach yesterday made his 20-man list for the country’s second leg of a qualifying double header official following last week’s 1-2 upset to Denmark at the National Stadium.

In his aftermatch comments, Ghedin lamented the two soft goals conceded to the Danes which led to the national team’s sixth defeat from seven matches in this qualifying campaign.

However, with Dimech and Muscat now available, after both players served a one-match suspension, his options at the back will be much more open than he had on Friday.

“If we maintain the habit of giving away soft goals we cannot win nowhere and never,” Ghedin was quoted as saying.

On Friday, the unmarked Leon Andreasen had scored Denmark’s opener inside the first two minutes before an unlucky own goal eight minutes after the restart dashed Malta’s hopes of a comeback after Clayton Failla’s superb goal from a free-kick had drew the teams level just before half-time.

Making way for Dimech and Muscat will be Sliema Wanderers duo Jacob Borg and Clifford Gatt Baldacchino. Goalkeeper Henry Bonello, another Wanderers player, was also omitted from Ghedin’s list yesterday.

As reported in The Sunday Times of Malta midfielder Shaun Bajada will be filling the void left by Valletta team-mate Roderick Briffa who is out of the reckoning as he was handed a one-man ban for a booking on Friday.

The only uncapped player in the national squad is Justin Grioli.

The 25-year-old Balzan wing-back was also included in Ghedin’s list for the Denmark qualifier.

Bulgaria, who remain on ten points after a 1-0 defeat to Italy on Friday, are locked in a four-way battle for a place in the play-offs with the Czech Republic, Armenia and Denmark, all three on nine points.

In other Group B matches tomorrow, Armenia are at home to Denmark and group leaders Italy host the Czech Republic at the Juventus Stadium.

The squad

Keepers: J. Haber, A. Hogg.

Defenders: A. Agius, L. Dimech, R. Camilleri, J. Caruana, C. Failla, J. Grioli, A. Muscat.

Midfielders: S. Bajada, P. Fenech, R. Fenech, E. Herrera, J. Mintoff, R. Muscat, G. Sciberras.

Forwards: A. Cohen, A. Schembri, M. Mifsud, T. Vella.

Current standings

  P W D L F A Pts
Italy 7 5 2 0 13 4 17
Bulgaria 7 2 4 1 11 5 10
Czech Rep. 7 2 3 2 7 6 9
Armenia 7 3 0 4 8 9 9
Denmark 7 2 3 2 8 10 9
Malta 7 1 0 6 3 16 3

Next matches

Playing tomorrow
Armenia vs Denmark
Italy vs Czech Rep.
Malta vs Bulgaria

October 11
Armenia vs Bulgaria
Denmark vs Italy
Malta vs Czech Rep.

October 15
Bulgaria vs Czech Rep.
Denmark vs Malta
Italy vs Armenia

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