[attach id=269678 size="medium"]Charlie Camenzuli – Malta youths.[/attach]

The only international event Malta took part in between 1966 and 1968 was the UEFA youth tournament.

The contest has been held annually since its inauguration in 1948, except for the period between 1984 and 1992, when it was held every other year.

When Malta made its debut, the team was paired with Italy on a home and away basis.

The MFA engaged Tony Formosa to prepare the team and, judging by the results obtained, he did a fine job.

Formosa, a school master by profession, vindicated the theory that teachers make the best coaches. This is certainly true at least as far as youth football is concerned.

He brought together a fine crop of youngsters and trained them physically and mentally to peak condition.

Malta played their first game in the competition on December 8, 1967 at the Stadium. A large crowd of over 10,000 spectators filled the stands to watch this tussle between Malta and Italy and they were not disappointed.

Giuseppe Galluzi, Italy’s youth coach, brought over a number of players who, in the future, were to make a name for themselves. The most noted were goalkeeper Massimo Cacciatore, of Lazio, and Luciano Spinosi, of Roma, Juventus and Milan.

Formosa’s squad also contained a few youngsters who later on reached the top of Maltese football. Among them were Willie Vassallo and Powie Micallef, both Floriana, Frans Mifsud, of Hibernians, and Birkir-kara’s Karmenu Borg.

Malta started the game brightly and enjoyed a slight edge over their more fancied opponents in the first half.

The local youngsters went all out in search of an early goal and their efforts were rewarded after 15 minutes.

Charlie Galea directed a short free-kick to Vassallo who promptly lobbed the ball into the Italian penalty area. Alfred Curmi headed towards goal but goalkeeper Letazzi punched clear. The ball fell to Charlie Camenzuli who hit it first-time into the net.

Malta kept pushing and went close on a number of occasions but the Italian youngsters showed that they already possessed their seniors’ ability of tight defending.

In the second period, Italy reacted strongly and after 10 minutes, Palazzesse equalised from close range.

Play flowed from one end of the pitch to the other. However, midway through this period a short clearance fell to centre-forward Quadri who left goalkeeper Joseph Mifsud standing with a well-directed shot.

Malta shrugged off the setback and from the kick-off they went straight for the kill.

Curmi had the ball in the net but the ‘goal’ was disallowed for offside.

This was the last real chance of a very entertaining match in which the local youngsters, although beaten, shared play with their opponents.

When Malta played the return match in Naples, it looked odds on that Italy would win comfortably.

They had home advantage and to make matters worse for the Maltese, the game was played in constant rain. However, Formosa’s youngsters rose to the occasion.

After a somewhat uncertain start, they settled down. Italy saw more of the ball in the first half but on resumption the picture changed completely and the Maltese did the bulk of the attacking.

Vassallo and Curmi continually harassed the Italian defence but luck favoured the hosts and it was the Azzurini who scored.

On 58 minutes Bagnaschi deceived Montebello and scored the only goal of the game.