Roderick Briffa (front) and Andre Schembri during a training session in Baku. Briffa will captain the national team against Azerbaijan this evening. Photo: Paul Zammit CutajarRoderick Briffa (front) and Andre Schembri during a training session in Baku. Briffa will captain the national team against Azerbaijan this evening. Photo: Paul Zammit Cutajar

Malta find themselves in an uncustomary position.

Our status as traditional underdogs in international football means that opponents usually approach games against Malta exuding confidence and optimism, moreso when playing on home soil.

Yet, the scenario ahead of this clash with Azerbaijan at the Tofig Bahramov Stadium in Baku is distinctly different.

Having come unstuck in their opening four games, Azerbaijan are treating today’s match against their fellow Group H minnows as a make-or-break encounter but their dismal start to the Euro 2016 qualifying trek has clearly stained their confidence.

This sense of apprehension was palpable during yesterday’s pre-match news conference as Azeri journalists quizzed Malta coach Pietro Ghedin about his targets and objectives for this game, with one reporter enquiring whether Malta had come here with the intention of winning the game.

“We will play our game,” Ghedin said after Malta’s training session at the Bahramov stadium.

“Surely, we didn’t come here to attend to the needs of the Azerbaijan team. We want to do well.”

The downbeat mood among the Azeri media personnel was clearly not lost on Ghedin.

“Azerbaijan are very strong,” Ghedin replied when asked about the strength of the opposition.

“I can’t understand why there is all this anxiety... I sense a lot of fear in this room. Azerbaijan have generally done well. Seeing all this hesitancy puts me in difficulty... it is the first time this has happened to me.”

It is clear that Azerbaijan are under enormous pressure to get their act together by claiming their first three points in what will be Robert Prosinecki’s first game in charge of the team after coach Berti Vogts resigned from his post in the wake of the 6-0 thrashing by Croatia in October.

Ghedin is aware of the magnitude of the challenge facing his side in the ‘land of fire’ but he expects his players to have plenty of fire in their bellies.

“We all want to win,” the Italian said.

“We all want to be first but there can only be one winner, that’s normal. Beyond the result, we always try to give our best. Our strength lies in the compactness of the group and the belief in what we are doing.”

While Azerbaijan are still without a point, Malta did manage to break their duck in November after a 1-1 draw away at Bulgaria.

That creditable result also served to enhance the national team’s reputation but Ghedin and his players know from experience that they can’t afford to be drawn into a false sense of security.

Friendly setback

After all, the last time Malta visited Baku, less than two years ago, they succumbed to a 3-0 defeat in a friendly just two months after the euphoric 1-0 win away to Armenia in a 2014 World Cup qualifier.

That setback still rankles with Ghedin.

“We had a negative experience the last time we played here,” Ghedin said of that upset to Azerbaijan.

“We will try to reverse what we suffered on that occasion. As always, I expect my team to show total commitment and leave the pitch with heads held high, knowing that we have done our job well.”

Malta are coming into this qualifier on the back of a 2-0 defeat to Georgia in a friendly match on Wednesday.

Two goals in the last six minutes shattered Malta’s hopes of securing a morale-boosting result but Ghedin said he had “a lot of admiration” for his team after their encouraging showing in Tbilisi.

Ghedin laughed off suggestions that his players may be tired after playing Georgia only three days before their qualifier against Azerbaijan.

“If you can’t play two games in three days, then you should quit football,” Ghedin said.

“If you are up for the challenge, you play. If not, you should stop and leave. It’s very simple.”

The probable return of two key midfielders, Roderick Briffa and Paul Fenech, will surely be viewed as a boost for the national team.

Briffa, who has 80 international caps for Malta and will wear the captain’s armband in the absence of Michael Mifsud, suspended, and Fenech were not risked in the midweek friendly due to minor fitness issues but both are now fit to play along with Ryan Fenech who also sat out Wednesday’s warm-up.

Andrew Hogg, who linked up with the Maltese squad on Tuesday after playing for his Greek club Kalloni the day before, is widely tipped to start in goal after being given a breather by Ghedin on Wednesday.

In defence, Ghedin is set to stick with Andrei Agius, Ryan Camilleri and Jonathan Caruana with Steve Borg on the right and Steve Bezzina again deputising for Clayton Failla on the left.

Failla ruled himself out of this week’s two internationals to stay with his wife who, on Thursday, gave birth to a baby boy.

In central midfield, the returning Briffa and Fenech are likely to be joined by Rowen Muscat with Andrè Schembri sure to retain his place in attack.

Jean Paul Farrugia received Ghedin’s nod to partner Schembri in the Georgia friendly but Qormi’s Alfred Effiong looks to have edged in front of the Hibernians striker for a starting role today after his lively cameo in Tbilisi on his debut for the national team.

Farrugia struck an upbeat tone when addressing reporters during the pre-match news conference yesterday.

“There’s a lot of positive energy in the team,” the young forward said.

“The draw against Bulgaria was a positive result for us and the morale of the team is very high.

“We are working a lot on tactics, as a team, to get a result here.”

Previous encounters

Friendly matches
1994: Malta-Azerbaijan - 5-0
2000: Malta-Azerbaijan - 3-0
2002: Malta-Azerbaijan - 1-0
2013: Azerbaijan-Malta - 3-0

Formations (probable)

Malta
A. Hogg, S. Borg, A. Agius, J. Caruana, R. Camilleri, S. Bezzina, P. Fenech, R. Briffa, A. Effiong, A. Schembri, R. Muscat.

Azerbaijan
K. Agayev, M. Shukurov, U. Budak, R. Sadygov, M. Medvedev, R. Abisov, Q. Qarajev, D. Nazarov, E. Yunuszada, V. Javadov, A. Abdullayev.

Referee: Halis Ozkahya (Turkey).

Kick-off: 18.00 (Malta time).

• Kevin Azzopardi has travelled to Azerbaijan courtesy of Turkish Airlines.

Turkish Airlines connects you from Malta to 108 countries through Istanbul, flying to 266 airports worldwide. Flight frequencies from Malta to Istanbul are being increased to 13 flights weekly by June 22.

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