Having proceeded from their Euro Championship 2016 qualification group round one in the earlier group matches, the Malta team start the second stage of qualifying from Group G when today the hosts meet Switzerland at 7.15 pm.

The other two matches in the four-team group are against Poland tomorrow at the same time and Germany on Sunday at 10.15 am.

Coach Karl Izzo and his assistant Anthony Farrugia are pinning their hopes on their team qualifying for the finals in Belgrade between January 10 and 23, 2016. This would be a historic feat never accomplished before.

If the Maltese achieve their objective, they will join the other six teams from the other three qualification groups and then come up against the eight elite teams who have qualified automatically for the 16-team finals on the strength of their ranking in the previous Euro finals in Budapest.

The Maltese clan’s aspirations are based on the team winning two out of three matches, against Switzerland and Poland, two nations which the Maltese have beaten in recent years.

This is by no means an easy task since both the Swiss and Polish teams have strenghtened their ranks with the inclusion of a number of naturalised players.

According to our coaches, the second match between Malta and Poland can tilt the balance as to which team would finish second and secure qualification, given that both countries win their matches against Switzerland.

Izzo said that our chances against Poland are 50-50. However, if Malta can raise their game to adequate levels of competitiveness, the task is within reach.

Our players will have to strike the right form and take their chances in a game where fortunes can be easily shifted depending on whether scoring chances are grabbed and extra-man set play is converted into goals.

Maltese waterpolo followers are encouraged to attend and provide support for the host country since this backing from the terraces can also be a trump card.

Entrance to the National Pool is free.

Programme
Today: 18.00 Germany vs Poland; 19.15 Switzerland vs Malta.
Tomorrow: 18.00 Germany vs Switzerland; 19.15 Poland vs Malta.
Sunday: 09.00 Poland vs Switzerland; 10.15 Germany vs Malta.

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