Malta will be on a mission to defy the odds this evening when they take on Group F heavyweights Croatia at the National Stadium.
With no points from six qualifiers, Malta are desperate to get off the mark but theirs is a daunting task as they must contend with a Croatian team firmly intent on picking maximum spoils to strengthen their bid for top spot and automatic quali-fication for the Euro 2012 finals.
National coach John Buttigieg is under no illusion about the size of the challenge facing his team but he’s backing his players to deliver a bold performance.
“This is our first competitive game of the new season,” Buttigieg said at the customary pre-match news conference at the Grand Hotel Excelsior yesterday.
“Our preparations have been somewhat difficult as we didn’t have a lot of time to see the players. We resumed training on Monday and the players have responded well.
“We are aiming to improve on our performance in the friendly win against the Central African Republic, although this game is more difficult.
“Nevertheless, I’m convinced that our players will give their all as they always do.”
The prospect of ending the day on top of Group F ought to increase Croatia’s motivation but whatever the result of this afternoon’s qualifier between Israel and pacesetters Greece, Slaven Bilic’s men are expected to be fired up to see off minnows Malta this evening.
“Croatia are one of the strongest teams in this group and we knew that they would fight for top spot,” Buttigieg said.
“Our duty is to try and make it difficult for them. A few years back, Malta managed to hold Croatia to a draw (1-1 in the 2006 World Cup qualifiers), so nothing is impossible.”
Malta’s dismal record in Group F – they are one of four teams yet to pick up a point in qualifying along with Andorra, San Marino and Wales – doesn’t provide a fair reflection of the team’s perform-ances, especially in the home qualifiers against Latvia (0-2) and Greece who needed a last-gasp goal to take the three points.
The spirited showing against Greece in March suggests that Malta tend to up their game when playing a top team at home and Buttigieg is hoping for a repeat of that performance tonight.
“Maybe the motivation comes automatically when we play against a big team,” Buttigieg affirmed. “I’m confident that the players will produce a good performance, they can rise to the occasion.”
Buttigieg’s first-team selection is not expected to differ much from that he fielded for last month’s friendly against the Central African Republic but the omission of Daniel Bogdanovic from the squad will necessitate at least one change.
Bogdanovic’s absence has taken many by surprise as the striker had been widely expected to play some part in today’s match but a brief visit to England to complete a deadline-day move from League One side Sheffield United to Blackpool, who were relegated from the Premier League last season, has ruined his chances of facing Croatia.
Questioned about Bogdanovic’s exclusion, Buttigieg replied: “When players are called to play for the national team, they are obliged to make themselves available for training before an international game.
“He (Bogdanovic) left in the middle of our preparations, missing three training sessions in all. This is the reason why he has been left out of the squad.”
The Malta coach has yet to finalise his 18-man party for today’s qualifier after naming a 20-strong selection on Wednesday.
Bogdanovic aside, the other two main absentees from the Malta squad are goalkeeper Justin Haber and midfielder Shaun Bajada who are sidelined with injuries.
Today’s qualifier comes just two weeks after the start of the 2011/12 BOV Premier League. After watching most of the games in the first two rounds of the champ-ionship, Buttigieg is convinced that the country’s best elements are all part of the national squad.
“I’ve watched the first two rounds of the Premier League,” Buttigieg said. “It’s too early to make judgments and it was apparent that the players are encountering some physical difficulties but on the whole, it was ok. These games confirmed to me that the players of the national team are the best in the country.”
Captain Michael Mifsud, Malta’s all-time leading mark-sman with 28 goals, was not involved in Valletta’s opening two league wins owing to a hamstring injury but Buttigieg dismissed concerns about the striker’s match fitness.
“I’m not concerned about Michael Mifsud,” Buttigieg said.
“He did well for us even when he spent almost a whole year without a club, never mind two matches. Michael has fully recovered from his injury... he was also on the bench for Valletta’s last game (a 2-0 win over Ħamrun Spartans).”
Mifsud, scorer of a brace in the 2-1 win over the Central African Republic last month, will again be given the onus to lead Malta’s attack this evening in tandem with Andrè Schembri.
The latter will have been unsettled by the demotion of his club Olympiakos Volos to the bottom tier of Greek football but, on the other hand, today’s qualifier is a great opportunity for Schembri to impress potential suitors.
With Bogdanovic out of contention, Ryan Fenech is likely to be deployed on the right of midfield with Andrew Cohen set to be confirmed on the left wing.
The presence of Maltese-Australian players John Hutchinson and Manny Muscat means that Buttigieg can be more flexible in his tactical choices.
Muscat delighted
Muscat is delighted to have received his first call-up to the Malta squad for almost a year.
“It’s been a while since my last call-up to the Malta squad and it’s good to be back,” Muscat said.
“The atmosphere in the squad is very good and the players have been looking sharp in training.
“It’s going to be a very tough game. Croatia have come here with a very strong squad but we will take to the pitch fully determined to do our best.”
If Buttigieg decides to start with Muscat at right-back, he may opt to switch Roderick Briffa to right midfield.
Hutchinson is expected to partner Gareth Sciberras in central midfield while Andrei Agius, who this week sealed his move to Serie C1 side Latina, and Jonathan Caruana are all but sure of filling the two centre-half roles.
Carlo Mamo and Clayton Failla are vying for the left-back position, with the former possibly having a slight edge over the Hibs man due to his greater experience.
Goalkeeper Andrew Hogg is all but certain of keeping the no.1 shirt.
Today’s qualifier is expected to draw a big crowd to the National Stadium.
The Malta FA and police have taken extra security measures to prevent a repeat of the violence caused by Croatian thugs during and after a World Cup 2006 qualifier at the National Stadium.
Previous encounters
Euro Championship
10-10-1998 Malta vs Croatia 1-4
21-08-1999 Croatia vs Malta 1-2
17-11-2010 Croatia vs Malta 3-0
World Cup
30-03-2005 Croatia vs Malta 3-0
07-09-2005 Malta vs Croatia 1-1
Malta (Probable)
A. Hogg, J. Caruana, M. Muscat, G. Sciberras, A. Agius, R. Briffa/R. Fenech, J. Hutchinson, M. Mifsud, A. Cohen, C. Mamo/C. Failla, A. Schembri.
Referee: Tony Chapron (France).
Kick-off: 7 p.m., National Stadium.