All the talk in the last few days has been on the dispute between the Malta FA and Valletta FC but coach Pietro Ghedin will be hoping that a creditable performance from his team in Albania would shift focus back to on-field matters.
This evening at 6, Malta will be making their first appearance of 2014 in a friendly against Albania with both teams seeking to launch their preparations for the Euro 2016 qualifiers in bright fashion.
The controversy surrounding Valletta’s failure to honour an agreement with the MFA over the training regime of the national team and Ghedin’s subsequent decision to leave out the City players, have cast a shadow on Malta’s preparations but the Italian coach is adamant that the other members of the squad are not distracted by this issue.
“I was not happy with the situation and we still need to clarify some things but I don’t want to go back to the subject,” Ghedin said.
“The atmosphere is good. Respect should always prevail. We need to do our job seriously.”
Ghedin also declared himself pleased with the attitude of the players in training since they reported for international duty last Thursday.
“I notice that when the players are here, they show a lot of motivation,” Ghedin said.
“They are happy and there is competition for places which is healthy. I’m pleased. This friendly is a good occasion to talk and spend time together.”
The absence of established players like Roderick Briffa, Jonathan Caruana, Ryan Fenech, Steve Borg and Shaun Bajada means that a couple of fringe players could play against Albania.
Of the 20 players called up, Birkirkara’s Zach Muscat and Leighton Grech, the Qormi winger, have never figured for the national team while Hibernians midfielder Bjorn Kristensen earned his one and only cap two years ago.
The likes of Balzan’s Steve Bezzina and Joseph Zerafa, the Birkirkara left-back, will also be hoping to get a taste of action in Durres, today.
“It’s an opportunity to see some new faces,” Ghedin said.
“I’ve seen what the established players can do and now I’m eager to see how the new ones will perform.”
Another player looking to improve his international prospects is Manny Muscat, who plays for A-League club Wellington Phoenix.
Muscat, capped nine times, had been overlooked by Ghedin in the last World Cup campaign but he has now been handed the chance to force his way into the squad ahead of the Euro 2016 trek, starting on Sept. 9 with a home match against Croatia.
Muscat is likely to start at right-back while Paul Fenech is regarded as the leading contender to replace Briffa in central midfield.
The other foreign-based players in Ghedin’s squad, Kalloni keeper Andrew Hogg, Aprilia defender Andrei Agius, Andrè Schembri, the AC Omonia forward, and captain Michael Mifsud, of Melbourne Heart, are all expected to be in the starting XI.
Ghedin has generally favoured a 4-2-3-1 module but he is ready to tweak tactics.
“I may opt for something different against Albania,” Ghedin said.
“The tactical module must suit the characteristics of the players available. I’m thinking of switching to 4-3-3 and bring in an additional midfielder but I have to see.”
Unlike Malta, Albania have shaken off their minnows tag on the back of an upward progress trend in the last decade.
Albania collected 11 points in their last World Cup qualifiers and surged to the no.55 spot in the FIFA world rankings.
Head-to-head record
Malta played Albania seven times.
The first clash between the two nations was a friendly in August 1995 and on that occasion Malta won 2-1.
However, the overall record reads in favour of Albania who beat Malta four times with two matches ending in a draw.
Malta (probable)
A. Hogg, A. Muscat, R. Camilleri, A. Agius, M. Muscat, G. Sciberras, P. Fenech, C. Failla, E. Herrera, M. Mifsud, A. Schembri.