Malta had a taste of what would await them in the Euro Championship finals in Belgrade in about 16 weeks when they went down to Germany 24-3 in the last match qualifying match from Group G at the National Pool, yesterday.
There was an air of anti-climax among the Maltese clan after Saturday’s jubilation when the qualifying objective was achieved following Malta’s emphatic success against Poland.
That sensation was tempered with the ruthlessness with which the visitors went about their business of showing their true mettle.
Apart from the physical and mental drain of our players, we had to contend with the practically total absence of Steve Camilleri who was withdrawn early in the first session after a recurrence of his groin injury which left him on the sidelines for most of the first game on Friday.
On top of that, Matthew Zammit also looked out of sorts, probably due to strained muscles and had to receive attention from physiotherapist John Xerri de Caro in order to resume playing.
The onus fell on the other components to make up for this handicap and that was too much to ask from them.
All this does not in any way diminish the merits of the accomplished Germans whose gameplan of all-pitch rigid press put the Maltese completely out of their stride.
Karl Izzo’s team could only somewhat stay with their opponents until the start of the second quarter when Edward Aquilina followed on Jordan Camilleri’s early equalising goal and that of Matthew Zammit to make it 5-3.
After that they completely stalled in terms of scoring.
The Maltese supporters were completely muted as the visitors then went into cruise control only to increase the scoring tempo during the remaining sessions.
It was clearly a matter of keeping Malta’s damage to a minimum, with our boys intent on seeing time running out.
The Germans were unfazed as they kept notching in the goals, the last one coming on the stroke of time.
Germany 24
Malta 3
(5-2, 5-1, 6-0, 8-0)
Germany: M. Schenkel, J. Obschernikat 2, T. Van Der Bosch 3, J. Real 4, T. Preus 1, M. Jungling, H. Nossek 3, P. Schuler 3, M. Stamm 4, M. Oeler 2, A. Schlotterbeck, D. Eidner 2, R. Kong.
Malta: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon, J. Gabarretta, M. Stellini, M. Meli, M. Zammit 1, S. Camilleri, J. Camilleri 1, E. Aquilina 1, A. Cousin, C. Mercieca, D. Zammit, N. Grixti.
Referees: M. Sungu ( Turkey), C. Siarou (Belarus).
Other result
Poland 13
Switzerland 12
(4-3, 2-1, 4-2, 3-6)
Final classification
1. Germany 9; 2. Malta 6; 3. Poland 3; 4. Switzerland 0.