Going strong... Malta midfielder Roderick Briffa (right) takes on Clayton Failla during training. Photo: Paul Zammit Cutajar/MFAGoing strong... Malta midfielder Roderick Briffa (right) takes on Clayton Failla during training. Photo: Paul Zammit Cutajar/MFA

The 3-0 home defeat to Norway last October remains Malta’s worst result in the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign.

Our national team’s chances of making amends for that setback with a positive result in Saturday’s return game in Oslo look remote as Norway will be going all out to secure the three points and strengthen their push for automatic qualification to next year’s European Championship in France

Yet, midfielder Roderick Briffa is cautiously upbeat that Malta will cut a good figure if they emulate their enterprising performance in the 1-0 defeat to Italy in Florence last month.

“Every game is difficult,” Briffa told Times of Malta.

“These two teams (Norway and Croatia) are still in the running to qualify for the Euro 2016 finals and that makes our task more complicated as they will be determined to pick maximum points from these games.

“As far as we are concerned, we will certainly be doing our utmost.

“We are prepared for this game.

“The coach (Pietro Ghedin) has shown us videos of Norway matches, pinpointing their strengths but also highlighting our qualities.

“We know that we have to defend well. It’s very important that we don’t suffer a heavy defeat.”

In the build-up to the encounter with Norway at the National Stadium last year, hopes were high that Malta might cause a surprise but such optimism proved misplaced.

Led by coach Per-Mathias Hogmo, Norway capitalised on Malta’s eagerness to push forward from the outset as Mats Moller Daehli and Joshua King concluded typical counter-attacks to give their side an early two-goal lead before the latter struck again in the opening minutes of the second half.

“In the home qualifier, it looked as though Norway led us into a trap because they played a waiting game and operated with quick counter-attacks,” the Valletta stalwart said.

“Their three goals came from breakaways but other than that, they didn’t really create anything special.

“Away games are always tougher for us.

“If we play like we did in last month’s qualifier against Italy we will do well… the team has to defend as a unit and push forward on the counter.”

For much of the past two decades, Briffa has been one of the leading lights of our football and an automatic choice for the national team under a succession of coaches.

In the home game, it looked as though Norway led us into a trap because they played a waiting game and operated with quick counter-attacks

The 34-year-old is still a key player in Valletta’s midfield but for a brief spell this season, he struggled for form to the point that he was left out of the starting formation for the game against Hibernians last month.

His form graph has shown a steady improvement since Briffa came on for the injured Jonathan Caruana in the first half of the 1-0 defeat to Hibs.

His lively showings in Valletta’s wins over Naxxar and Tarxien will have delighted not only Paul Zammit, his club coach, but also Ghedin ahead of Malta’s qualifiers against Norway and Croatia.

While acknowledging that his performances in some games this season failed to live up to expectations, Briffa feels that he’s recapturing his sparkle.

“The reason may have been down to playing too many games in a short period of time and I also had personal issues,” he said.

“However, I always believe that, gradually, you overcome these obstacles.

“I’m feeling well now. Even the team (Valletta) is doing fine in the championship as we have won our last two games and my performances are improving as well.”

Experience

With 85 caps under his belt, Briffa is one of the senior players in Malta’s dressing room.

It says all about Briffa’s enduring brilliance that, at 34, he is still regarded as a first-choice player for the national team and a role model for the up-and-coming youngsters.

“I try to help my team-mates as much as I can,” Briffa said.

“We talk a lot during the game. I’m always willing to share my experience with the other players, especially the young ones.

“I do try to communicate with my team-mates, especially if they make a mistake or opt for the wrong move. Football is about helping one another... a team sport.

“There are a lot of talented players in the squad and the ones coming through clearly have got potential. The majority are playing regularly for their clubs and I believe that they are an asset for the national team.”

The focus of the Malta squad is certainly on Saturday’s game against Norway but Briffa feels that the national team have got a better chance of taking something from their clash with Croatia on Tuesday.

“The Croatia game is different,” the former Birkirkara and Sliema midfielder said.

“Past encounters show that we can make it very difficult for Croatia when we play them at home.

“I remember that, in the away qualifier (0-2), our performance was not bad at all but that red card (to Steve Borg) changed the course of the game. They scored their two goals when we were down to 10 men but we played well overall.

“We do tend to raise our game at home. The last two qualifiers will be very difficult but I’m optimistic that, in the home clash with Croatia, we can get something, especially as this will be our last game in this competition.”

Briffa picked up a knock during training yesterday but he’s expected to recover in time to play against Norway.

The Malta squad, headed by Ghedin, flew out to Oslo in the evening ahead of Saturday’s qualifier at the Ullevaal Stadium (kick-off 6pm).

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