Malta have been awarded a place in the semi-final play-offs of the European Waterpolo Championships after Macedonia were disqualified by governing body LEN.

Karl Izzo’s team had narrowly missed out on one of the six spots in the semi-final play-offs after ending their commitments in the three-phase qualifying campaign in seventh place among 17 teams.

However, LEN yesterday announced that Malta will replace Macedonia and will face France in a two-legged play-off in February.

“I’m very happy,” coach Izzo told Times of Malta. “Our participation in the Euro semi-finals, although unexpected, is just reward for the team’s efforts in the qualifying tournaments.

“Surely, the two games against France will aid our preparations for an eight-nation tournament in Ireland and the 2014 Commonwealth Championships in Scotland.”

Malta will travel to Montpellier on February 15 before hosting the French in the return leg on March 1.

The winner of this tie will qualify for the European Championship Finals, to be played in Budapest between July 14 and 27.

SF PLAY-OFFS: Georgia vs Turkey; Netherlands vs Russia; France vs Malta; Slovakia vs Croatia; Romania vs Great Britain; Ukraine vs Spain.

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