Setting foot on the pitch at the cavernous Vassil Levski Stadium will have evoked unhappy memories for Malta yesterday.
Their minds wandered back to that freezing evening in March last year when the national team succumbed to a 6-0 drubbing to Bulgaria on an icy pitch.
Although in the ensuing months, Malta coach Pietro Ghedin had been unwilling to entertain discussions on that infamous 2014 World Cup qualifier, blaming the extreme conditions for his team’s dispirited performance, returning to Sofia to face Bulgaria for the third time in less than two years inevitably revived memories of that humiliating defeat.
If anything, the chastening ex-perience ought to strengthen their motivation to make amends as Malta pursue a gutsy showing to boost their chances of opening their account and end a scoring drought in Euro 2016 qualifying Group H after three defeats.
As always, it promises to be an arduous challenge for Malta as the perennial underdogs will be up against a team for whom anything less than victory would represent a failure of catastrophic proportions.
Ghedin acknowledged that Bulgaria are under pressure to turn their fortunes around losing two of their opening three qualifiers but the Italian emphasised that Malta also have objectives to reach.
“Bulgaria are strong and very competitive,” Ghedin told re-porters at a pre-match news conference.
“They did very well in the last World Cup qualifying campaign but this year they are suffering and lost the last two games. Bulgaria will be determined to bounce back but we also have a lot to play for.
“We want to make up for the 6-0 defeat we suffered to Bulgaria last year.”
Defeats to Croatia and Norway have turned up the heat on Bulgaria coach Luboslav Penev, triggering a wave of scepticism about the country’s chances of claiming a top-two finish and direct qualification to the Euro 2016 finals in France.
Bulgaria’s stuttering start has done nothing to dampen Ghedin’s respect for their team.
“It’s the same,” Ghedin replied when asked about the difference between the Bulgarian team that held its own in a World Cup group containing Italy, Czech Republic and Denmark, and the current side.
“Their results have been somewhat negative so far but the players are the same. Penev has brought more youngsters into the squad but Bulgaria are powerful, fast and experienced.”
While Bulgaria will be out to get their qualification bid back on track, Malta are chasing their first point after defeats to Croatia (0-2), Norway (0-3) and Italy (0-1).
They will have to do it without two key players as captain Michael Mifsud and defender Steve Borg are both suspended.
Ghedin announced that Jean Paul Farrugia, who moved to Slovak side Spartak Trnava in summer on a season-long loan from Hibernians, will step in for Mifsud, Malta’s all-time leading scorer with 39 goals.
Ghedin said: “We are feeling Michael Mifsud’s absence but this is also an opportunity to give space to a young player. Jean Paul Farrugia will play this match against Bulgaria.
“Actually, we are still checking whether Mifsud has been suspended two or three games but whoever plays instead of him will do his duty.”
The inclusion of Farrugia, whose one and only appearance for the senior side was as a substitute in the friendly defeat to Gibraltar last June, is not the only change in our line-up.
Jonathan Caruana, back after missing the opening three qualifiers with a groin injury, is certain to be drafted back into the initial XI, replacing wing-back John Mintoff who has been left out of the squad.
As Caruana plays centre-half, Zach Muscat or Ryan Camilleri will probably switch to right-back as both have filled the role for their respective clubs.
No other changes in the team are envisaged with goalkeeper Andrew Hogg, who is enjoying a terrific season in Greece, guarding Malta’s goal, Andrei Agius in the centre of defence and Clayton Failla on the left wing.
Roderick Briffa, Rowen Muscat and Paul Fenech will man the midfield with Andrè Schembri deployed behind Farrugia.
No injuries were reported after training at the Vassil Levski Stadium yesterday morning with Ghedin declaring afterwards that all players in his squad were in good condition.
“The players are fine,” Ghedin said. “They are athletes, professional sportsmen. They are committed and motivated.”
Failla insisted that the players are not dwelling on last month’s qualifiers against Norway and Italy as their focus is on tonight’s game.
“We are only concentrating on Bulgaria,” he told reporters.
“Our performance against Italy was encouraging really but we can’t be fully satisfied because at the end of the day we lost.
“We are determined to get some points and I believe that if we play collectively, as a team, we can gain something.”
Previous encounters
World Cup
07-10-2000: Bulgaria-Malta - 3-0
31-08-2001: Malta-Bulgaria - 0-2
13-10-2004: Bulgaria-Malta - 4-1
12-10-2005: Malta-Bulgaria - 1-1
22-03-2013: Bulgaria-Malta - 6-0
10-09-2013: Malta-Bulgaria - 1-2
Euro Championship
11-06-1975: Bulgaria-Malta - 5-0
21-12-1975: Malta-Bulgaria - 0-2
Friendlies
14-10-1982: Bulgaria-Malta - 7-0
26-12-1982: Malta-Bulgaria - 0-0
18-11-2009: Malta-Bulgaria - 1-4
Bulgaria (probable)
N. Mihaylov, N. Bodurov, A. Tunchev, V. Minev, S. Manolev, S. Dyakov, G. Iliev, A. Tonev, I. Popov, A. Galabinov, I. Mitsanski.
Malta (probable)
A. Hogg, Z. Muscat, P. Fenech, A. Agius, J. Caruana, R. Camilleri, C. Failla, R. Briffa, R. Muscat, A. Schembri, J.P. Farrugia.
Ref: M. Stormbergsson (Sweden).