Pietro Ghedin is ready to give his young players the chance to impress as Malta take on the Czech Republic in a friendly international at the Kufstein Stadium, Austria, this evening (kick-off: 18.00).

The national team are currently in Austria for a short training camp as they start preparations for the World Cup qualifying campaign which gets under way on September 4 with a home match against Scotland.

On Tuesday, Ghedin leads his men in a second warm-up match against Austria, in Klagenfurt.

The Czech Republic are tuning up for next month’s Euro 2016 finals. They possess a formidable squad that include some star players but Ghedin is relishing the challenge.

“This will be another useful test for our team,” Ghedin told Times of Malta yesterday.

“We shall be playing a very strong Czech side who are in the final stage of their build-up for the European Championships. We’re aware that this will be a very difficult test for us, knowing the class and talent they possess.

“But I always believed that playing against strong teams like the Czechs could be beneficial for our team to continue with our development both from a tactical point of view and also in terms of experience.

“I’m quite pleased with the physical condition in my squad at this particular stage of the season. Obviously, there is a bit of tiredness after a long campaign but we have here a very good group of players who are showing a lot of professionalism in their approach and I’m sure they we will do well here.”

The Malta coach has a few notable absentees in Austria as defenders Jonathan Caruana, Steve Borg and Joseph Zerafa are all ruled out by injury while attacking midfielder Andre Schembri has skipped the training camp and friendlies as he is getting married early next month.

Ghedin says the absence of the key players provides a perfect opportunity for the newcomers to stake their claim for a regular place in future.

“Jonathan Caruana, Andre Schembri and Steve Borg are mainstays in the team… they will be missed for sure” Ghedin said.

“But we have called up some new players here with a lot of potential. The friendly against the Czechs is a perfect opportunity for them to show that they deserve to be in the national team.”

Luke Gambin, who plays for English League Two side Barnet, and Birkirkara wing-back Cain Attard are in line to make their first appearance as the likes of Clifford Gatt Baldacchino and Jean Paul Farrugia, both of Sliema Wanderers, Valletta’s Llywelyn Cremona and Steve Pisani, of Floriana, will also be looking to leave their mark.

Ghedin said he will not be experimenting with his team’s tactical approach so he will be sticking to a 5-3-2 formation.

“There will be no particular changes tactically for this match,” Ghedin said.

“I’m urging the players to be disciplined and try to make good use of the ball when in possession. The Czechs will surely put a lot of pressure on us but we must try and play good positive football.”

Tomas Rosicky is likely to play a part for the Czechs this evening as the Arsenal midfielder is looking to earn his place for the European Championships despite another long lay-off due to injury.

Rosicky managed one appearance for the Gunners this season but Czech coach Pavel Vrba still included him in his provisional 28-man squad.

In France, the Czechs are in Group D along with Spain, Turkey and Croatia. They open their campaign against holders Spain on June 13 in Toulouse.

Ghedin’s Squad

Goalkeepers: H. Bonello (Valletta), J. Haber (Hibernians).

Defenders: A. Agius (Hibs), C. Attard (Birkirkara), R. Camenzuli (Birkirkara), R. Camilleri (Valletta), C. Failla (Hibernians), C. Gatt Baldacchino (Sliema), Z. Muscat (Akragas).

Midfielders: R. Briffa (Valletta), L. Cremona (Valletta), P. Fenech (Balzan), B. Kristensen (Hibernians), R. Muscat (Pavia), S. Pisani (Floriana), G. Sciberras (Birkirkara).

Forwards: A. Effiong (Balzan), J.P. Farrugia (Sliema), L. Gambin (Barnet), M. Mifsud (Valletta).

Previous encounters...

World Cup

18-09-1996 Czech Rep-Malta 6-0
24-09-1997 Malta-Czech Rep 0-1
11-10-2000 Malta-Czech Rep 0-0
05-09-2001 Czech Rep-Malta 3-2
12-10-2012 Czech Rep-Malta 3-1
11-10-2013 Malta-Czech Rep 1-4

Euro Championship

06-09-1994 Czech Rep-Malta 6-1
12-10-1994 Malta-Czech Rep 0-0

Friendly Match

05-06-2009 Czech Rep-Malta 1-0