Crushing defeats to Czech Republic and Denmark have dampened the positive feeling generated by Malta’s lively performances in last month’s home qualifiers against the Danes and Bulgaria as the national team ended their 2014 World Cup commitments on a dismal note last week.

Inevitably, the 6-0 drubbing by Denmark at the Parken Stadium unleashed a barrage of criticism for the national team and the general level of our football.

While acknowledging that Malta’s recent performances left much to be desired and that a lot needs to be done to elevate the standards of the Maltese game, Bjorn Vassallo, the Malta FA CEO, insisted that, the 6-0 defeats in the away qualifiers against Bulgaria and Denmark aside, the national team gave a good account of itself in the other matches.

“The group was attractive, commercial-wise, but in terms of technical difficulty, it was the toughest of the nine groups,” Vassallo told The Sunday Times of Malta.

“In fact, it was only Italy who qualified from this group as the other teams eliminated each other due to the close results in direct encounters. This confirms that Denmark, Armenia, Bulgaria and Czech Republic had, more or less, the same potential despite being placed in different brackets.

“Armenia were drawn from Pot 5, meaning that, on paper, they were the least-quoted side after Malta in Group B. But, Armenia had obtained 17 points in the previous qualifying campaign and almost made it to the Euro 2012 finals.

“Considering that Armenia collected 13 points and were close to the play-offs, shows how difficult this group was.

“All in all, apart from the two away games in Sofia and Copenhagen, I believe that our team cut a good figure in all other encounters and we earned the respect of our opponents.

“This has always been our main objective as we know who we are and what our identity is. We have to be realistic but I also understand that we need to keep working hard to improve continuity and get favourable results.”

Vassallo has no complaints about the commitment shown by the players.

“Looking back, after attending all our 10 group matches, I’m satisfied that our players always gave their all,” Vassallo said.

“At this level, it’s not as easy and it’s important that we put everything in perspective, especially the fact that most of our players don’t lead a professional career and the majority of them play in the domestic championship where the level is not professional although this season, with teams allowed to field up to five foreign players, the level has improved.

“The commitment of the players and the technical staff was always 100 per cent. Let’s not forget that, after 20 years, we managed to gain an away win against tough opponents (Armenia) whose objective was to qualify.

“I believe that, from a tactical point of view, we have moved forward, obviously apart from the two heavy defeats we conceded where the team was somewhat hesitant in the attacking phase.

“But, in the other games, we were tactically disciplined and the team was focused when chasing possession and pushed forward when they had the ball at their feet.

“In total, we scored in five of the 10 matches played and also missed two penalties.

“I’m an optimistic person and I always try to find a solution in order to move forward rather than dwell on the negatives.

“I have no doubt that, thanks to the efforts of national coach Pietro Ghedin and his staff, we will continue to work so that in the next qualifying competition, starting in September of next year, we strengthen our performances.

“Here, I also want to express my gratitude to all those supporters who followed the national team during this qualifying campaign. Their backing was very much appreciated.”

Looking to the future, Vassallo called for patience, stressing that success can’t be achieved over-night.

“We need a good base for the national team to prosper long term,” Vassallo remarked.

“We need to be patient. We know what we’re doing and where we want to go but things don’t change so easily.

“When, before 2010, I used to say that we are 20 years behind other countries of similar size and characteristics as ours, I was not joking.

“To attain sustainable progress, we must continue to reform the local game and strengthen the teaching aspect at our technical centre not only for the players but also in terms of coaching education.”

Academy concept

Vassallo remains convinced that the setting up of an academy, led by Argentine coach Sergio Soldano, is a step in the right direction.

“We have created a project for boys born in 1997/98 and we’re investing in them so that, from a young age, promising players will receive the right guidance to hone their talent and improve chances of continuing their career in a professional environment away from our shores.

“This is our biggest target from a footballing aspect.

“Our aim is that, in six years’ time, we will have a group of players with European clubs.

“If we succeed in doing this, I’m confident that our results and performances in international football will reach a higher level.”

A number of young Maltese prospects are already training overseas.

Myles Beerman (1999) and Conor Borg (1997), both of Floriana, have joined the academies of Manchester City and Chievo respectively, and Matthew Guillaumier (1998), of Luxol St Andrew’s, is on his way to Empoli.

“Iceland have reached the play-offs for the World Cup with a squad replete with players based in mainland Europe whereas we are competing with a selection where only four of our players are engaged abroad,” Vassallo added.

“This obvious difference speaks for itself. At present, we are in the process of emulating the progress achieved by other nations, to raise the level of the local championship and enhance the image of Maltese football.

“We still have several hurdles to clear. That of the sporting infrastructure has been overcome in the main as today the bulk of our clubs have adequate facilities.

“In the coming months, we shall engage in further discussions to introduce reforms and new regulations to reinforce the work of our clubs. The emphasis will be on quality rather than quantity.

“This framework should lead us to growth and sustainability, particularly at the highest level of Maltese football.

“We are working to create a regulatory framework to strengthen the commercial side of our football with a view to increasing opportunities and investment.

“I believe that, when all this is taken into account, one will realise that today the MFA doesn’t stand only for 90 minutes of football but we have a vision and a plan which, eventually, should lead us to important developments.”