Security is the dominant theme.
While the Malta FA and local police are ramping up the level of security in and around the National Stadium for tonight’s encounter with Croatia, national coach Pietro Ghedin is demanding a “secure” performance from his team in their final Euro 2016 Group H qualifier.
There is not a shred of doubt that Malta will need to delve deep into their reserves of energy and resilience to offer a valid challenge to a Croatian team faced with a must-win scenario to keep alive their hopes of qualifying directly for next year’s European Championship in France.
“We have to be more secure, more confident,” Ghedin told the pre-match news conference.
“With regards to our last game against Norway, they have changed a lot in the last year.
“First of all, they had six different players from last year’s home game and they played as a team.
“They showed good playing schemes and intelligent movement... I was surprised. Against these kind of teams who press for 90 minutes, we have difficulties.”
It is generally accepted that Croatia play a different style of football compared to Norway but this doesn’t make Malta’s impending task less daunting as, on paper, the Croatians are stronger than their Group H rivals.
If anything, Croatia’s pressing need to derive maximum points only makes Malta’s job more complicated, a fact not lost on Ghedin who described today’s qualifier as a big obstacle.
“The technical level of the Croatia players is very high,” Ghedin said.
“They like to play one-two football and are very good at passing the ball even when the space is tight.
“Croatia have got great players and great personalities. This is going to be another big obstacle for us but Croatia are a different team from Norway who maintained a frenetic rhythm for 90 minutes.”
As the Malta squad flew back from Oslo on Sunday night, Ghedin had to wait until yesterday’s training session at the National Stadium to gauge the condition of his players.
Ghedin is unlikely to tinker with his formation but Joseph Zerafa may be considered for a first-team role after his positive cameo on the right flank against Norway while in midfield, the Italian may also opt to refresh things.
Captain Michael Mifsud, who has hardly shone for the misfiring Sliema Wanderers this season, was not involved in Saturday’s qualifier but has been retained in the squad.
Fielding a question about the 34-year-old striker, whose goal in the 2-2 draw against Azerbaijan last month extended his record tally to 40 international goals, Ghedin replied: “Michael Mifsud is one of the best players this country has ever seen and I have a lot respect for him. At this moment, I have a different idea on how we should play but that can change.
“I haven’t selected my line-up yet.”
While confirming that he will keep faith with a five-strong defence, Ghedin said that the international calendar allied with the removal of the national squad’s training scheme have left him with no time to try out new tactics.
“We can’t make too many changes,” Ghedin said.
“We have to follow the direction provided by the clubs, also in terms of tactics.
“We are relying on the work we had done in the 18 months we spent together before the set-up (training scheme) was stopped.
“In the last four years, we have created a good working synergy and we need to continue along these lines.
“Tactically, we just can’t change from 4-4-2 to 4-1-4-1 every day. It doesn’t work like that.”
Ghedin’s contract as Malta coach runs out in December.
Although Malta FA president Norman Darmanin Demajo had intimated a few months ago that he personally saw no reason why Ghedin shouldn’t be offered a new deal, theoretically today’s qualifier could be his last competitive in match in charge of Malta.
Asked whether this possibility had crossed his mind, Ghedin said: “I think of it as an important match but not that it might be my last.
“After Croatia, we will play a friendly match against Jordan next month (probably in Turkey).
“But the next game is very important as we are facing Croatia who, 99 per cent, will go to France next year (for the European Championships).
“I have been told that they have three missing players, (Mario) Mandzukic, (Duje) Cop (suspended) and (Luka) Modric but this is not a big problem because Croatia have a very strong squad, one of the best in Europe.
“As for my future, it’s not important. I’m only thinking about the game.”
Malta were second best to Norway throughout Saturday’s one-sided clash in Oslo but Ghedin praised the massive effort put in by his players, declaring himself “proud of my squad because they are giving their maximum”.
Ghedin did concede that Malta can ill-afford to repeat the mistakes they committed against Norway, especially in the move that led to Alex Soderlund’s second goal early in the second half.
The experienced Italian tactician also expects further improvement from the national team.
“We have three players with overseas clubs and the Maltese league has also improved,” Ghedin said.
“The future should be better than the present. There are seven foreigners in every Premier League team now and these should raise the level of dynamism as well as the rhythm.”
Meanwhile, defender Steve Borg insisted that Malta can only improve on their display against Norway by playing as a team.
“The Norway game was very difficult, also because it was away and they had to win at all costs to stay in the qualification race,” the Aris Limassol centre-half said.
“That match is behind us. We know that we’ve made some mistakes, especially in the second goal.
“I hope that we play as a team (against Croatia) rather than as individuals.
“This will be another tough game. In my view, Croatia are a stronger team than Norway.”
High-risk match
Today’s qualifier is regarded as a high-risk match by UEFA after a spate of incidents involving Croatia fans in the last 12 months.
The MFA, in accordance with UEFA and their Croatian counterparts, announced recently that visiting fans will not be allowed to enter the National Stadium tonight.
The authorities are on high alert as hundreds of Croatia fans are still expected to descend on Malta in an attempt to secure tickets for what has become a crucial qualifier for their national team.
UEFA have appointed a security officer, from Scotland, for this game while the Croatian FA are also bringing a group of police and security officers in a bid to identify any Croatian fans who may turn up.
The Maltese police are also set to deploy a significant number of officers at the National Stadium today.
Previous encounters
Euro Championship
10-10-1998: Malta-Croatia - 1-4
21-08-1999: Croatia-Malta - 2-1
17-11-2010: Croatia-Malta - 3-0
02-09-2011: Malta-Croatia - 1-3
09-09-2014: Croatia-Malta - 2-0
World Cup
29-03-2005: Croatia-Malta - 3-0
07-09-2005: Malta-Croatia - 1-1
Formations (probable)
Malta: A. Hogg, J. Zerafa/A. Muscat, A. Agius, P. Fenech, C. Failla, R. Briffa, R. Muscat, A. Schembri, S. Borg, A. Effiong, Z. Muscat.
Croatia: D. Subasic, D. Srna, V. Corluka, D. Vida, J. Pivaric, M. Badelj, M. Kovacic, I. Perisic, I. Rakitic, M. Pjaca, N. Kalinic.
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England).
Kick-off: 8.45pm.