Malta’s task when they confront France in the return leg of their 2014 LEN Euro Championship semi-final play-off at 12.30pm today is nothing but a damage-limiting exercise.

The 20-8 defeat for Karl Izzo’s team has all but sealed the strong French side a place in the finals of the continental championships to be held in Hungary in summer.

The strength of our opponents and their peak season condition were too much for the Maltese national team to muster.

This was evident mostly in their inability to keep pace with the French from the second session onwards in Montpellier.

That encounter has now been archived and Izzo’s aim at this point in time is to salvage some pride with a creditable result in front of what one expects to be a good attendance at the National Pool, Tal-Qroqq, where entrance will be free.

Izzo knows very well that his players have a very stern task ahead of them.

“As is usual with the character of the players, they will fight all the way in their bid to come out of their difficult ordeal with credit,” he told Times of Malta.

“Again concentration is a vital quality to help the team achieve their objective. Backing from the crowd, including youths, is also needed,” he added.

Apart from Timmy Sullivan and goalkeeper Ryan Sciortino, who are replacing Alex Attard and Dean Camilleri respectively, Izzo will keep faith with the same squad that did duty in France and hope that his team will maintain mental and physical solidity throughout to obtain a face-saving result.

The Squad

A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon, M. Stellini, J. Camilleri, S. Camilleri, C. Mercieca (Neptunes), D. Zammit, M. Zammit (S. Ġiljan), M. Meli, T. Sullivan, J. Brownrigg, J. Gabarretta (Sliema), R. Sciortino (Valletta).

Play-offs (first leg results)
Romania vs Great Britain 18-7; Ukraine vs Spain 5-17; France vs Malta 20-8; Slovenia vs Croatia 8-16; Georgia vs Turkey 8-4; Netherlands vs Russia 9-11.

Note: Second legs to be played this weekend.