In 1986-87, Malta played six matches in Group Two of the European Championship.

It was an important period for the national team which had made great strides forward under the guidance of Gencho Dobrev. There was an air of optimism in the game.

It was felt at the time that with the introduction of the professional scheme better results would come in the future.

The first match played that season was against Sweden. This game revealed all the national team’s old weaknesses. Malta started well and, up to the 38th minute, the scoresheet was still blank.

Then Malta goalkeeper Raymond Mifsud misjudged a harmless-looking cross. In came Nilson who lobbed into the penalty area where Hysen was waiting to head home.

This soft goal shattered the confidence of the Maltese and when Magnusson scored the second goal, the game was all but over. The Swedes underlined their supremacy with three more goals.

When the referee sounded the final whistle the crowd started chanting, ‘We Want Bużu.’

Carmel Busuttil had been dropped from the squad but the upset to Sweden forced the team selectors to reconsider their decision and the Rabat Ajax star player was recalled for the game against Italy.

A crowd of 20,000 filled the terraces of the National Stadium to watch the biggest football spectacle since England’s historic visit in the 1970s.

Once again the Maltese were split into two camps. On one hand, there were the bona-fide Italian supporters who deep in their hearts prayed for an Italian victory to boost their adopted country’s chances of qualifying for the finals.

On the other hand, there were the English supporters who wished all kinds of misfortunes on the Italians, not so much because they supported Malta but rather because they wanted to see the Italians suffer.

It was a unique situation in the world of football. In the meantime the Italians had their own reasons for coming here as they did not hide their intentions of surpassing the five goals scored by Sweden against Malta earlier in the season.

The Italians began well. Goals by Riccardo Ferri and Alessandro Altobelli after only 20 minutes seemed to put them on the road to a high-scoring victory. The Maltese, however, had other ideas. They rolled up their sleeves and stepped up their game to send the visitors into a maze of confusion.

No more goals were scored, although to be fair, Altobelli did miss a couple of penalties.

At the final whistle, the Maltese team left the pitch to a standing ovation from the huge crowd present. Of course, the Maltese-Italian supporters were excused.

Malta’s impressive performance at Ta’ Qali raised a few eyebrows but the Azzurri were not worried. They were confident of a comfortable win when the two teams met for the return match in Bergamo on January 24, 1987.

During the first half, the Italians went about their task in earnest. Without really exerting themselves, they built a 5-0 lead and could easily have scored more.

During the second half, however, it was a completely different story.

Playing with determination, the Maltese closed their rearguard and the expected Italian assault never materialised.

It was a pity that the Maltese did not show the same determination from the start of the game because the result might have been much different.

Portugal draw

On March 30, 1987, the national team grabbed the headlines with a 2-2 draw against Portugal in Funchal. It was Malta’s most eye-catching performance away from home and it was the first away point won in the European Championship.

Malta could even have won the game when, with only 14 minutes left, they led 2-1. Luckily for Portugal, Jorge Placido grabbed the equaliser to save his country from further miseries.

This unexpected result boosted the national team and they went to Neuchatel in Switzerland eyeing another positive result.

The Maltese were pressed hard in the first half when the eager Swiss scored four goals.

However, Malta improved considerably after the break. They prevented the hosts scoring more goals and scored one themselves in the bargain, through Busuttil.

Malta concluded their commitments for the season with a fine showing against Sweden, in Gothenburg.

Following the shock result in Portugal, Sweden treated Malta with more respect. They feared another upset, but when Johnny Ekstrom opened the scoring after only four minutes, it seemed as if the modest visitors were in for another hiding.

The Maltese, however, kept their heads up and continued to play to their defensive plan, stopping the Swedes from scoring more goals.

Towards the end, the Swedes increased the pressure but the Maltese were equal to every attempt to beat them. The final whistle saw the Maltese elated by the result and the Swedes booed by their own supporters.