Malta U-21 kick off their qualifying cam-paign for the 2015 UEFA Championship with a tough-looking opener against Poland at the Marszalek Pilsudski stadium, in Krakow, tonight (20.45).
Ray Farrugia and his 18-man squad reached their destination on Tuesday to start their build-up for the match, the first in Group 7 that also features Sweden, Greece and Turkey.
Today’s match is the first of three successive away fixtures for Malta U-21 who next play Turkey on September 5 and Greece on September 10.
Malta U-21 yesterday practised at the Miejski stadium, England’s training base during Euro 2012. The pitch was rendered soggy following the heavy rain that hit the region in the last few days.
Polish FA officials are hopeful the weather improves as there are fears the bad weather could eventually force UEFA to postpone tonight’s match.
Poland, who finished third in Group 6 in the previous edition, are rated among the outsiders for a place in the finals which will be staged in the Czech Republic in 2015.
Despite the inclement weather, Farrugia is confident his players can give a good showing today.
“Poland are a very difficult team to beat,” he told The Times of Malta.
“Most of the players in the U-21 squad are on the books of German clubs. They play swift, attacking football so we must be focused right from the start.
“We have a good crop of players and the new ones have settled down nicely as well.
“I have full confidence in this group. It’s been raining all the time here but I’m urging the boys to give their all in our opening group match.”
For Farrugia today will be his 44th match in charge of the U-21 team.
He is set to rely on the likes of Bjorn Kristensen, Steve Pisani, Zach Muscat, Jean Paul Farrugia, Ryan Camenzuli and Ryan Scicluna who formed part of the previous squad that picked up five points in the 2013 qualifying group.
Louis Cutajar, who plays for English non-league club Norwich United, and Australia-based Jayke Cuschieri are also likely to make their first competitive appearance for Malta U-21 tonight.
The match will be controlled by Austrian referee Alexander Harkam.