Pride is the key.

As Malta put the finishing touches to their preparations for this evening’s World Cup qualifier against Armenia, national coach Pietro Ghedin uttered the word pride more than once during the pre-match news conference as he highlighted the attributes which can help his players overcome the exertions of a gruelling season in pursuit of a first positive result in this qualifying campaign.

“This is another game and we have to summon the energy to approach it in the best possible way,” Ghedin said.

“This squad has pride. The players want to show their worth. It’s been a long and tiring season but I’m sure that we will find the right motivation for this game.”

With Armenia and Malta occupying the bottom two spots in Group B, it’s tempting to describe this qualifier as a clash of the minnows but the hosts certainly don’t see it that way.

An impressive performance in the Euro 2012 campaign fuelled Armenia’s hopes of a potential tilt at qualification for next year’s World Cup in Brazil but their chances look very remote after a stuttering start yielded only three points from four qualifiers.

Armenia’s struggles have not escaped Ghedin’s attention but he still regards today’s opponents as one of the toughest teams in Group B.

“Armenia played really well in the last competition,” Ghedin said.

“They haven’t started this qualifying campaign brightly though and encountered some difficulties in their opening qualifiers but for me, they are still one of the strongest teams in our group.”

Malta’s perennial status as one of the lightweights of European football means that victory for our opponents is often regarded as a foregone conclusion and Armenia are no exception.

Heartened by a 1-0 win in their opening qualifier at Ta’ Qali in September, Armenia are highly optimistic of reviving their qualification bid this evening but Ghedin warned that in football, nothing can be taken for granted.

“We are here with the intention of producing a very good performance,” Ghedin told reporters.

“Games can be unpredictable. A corner, a free-kick or an individual move can change the course of a match. Football can be complicated at times.”

Given the pedigree of the other teams in Group B, namely Italy, who lead the way on 13 points, Bulgaria, Czech Republic and Denmark, on paper Armenia are the weakest among our opponents, thus representing Malta’s best chance of picking their first point.

Ghedin balked at the suggestion that his team don’t have a realistic target.

“We are not tourists here,” the Italian coach said.

“We are here to play an important game. I don’t agree that this is the last possibility for us to gain a point in this group because we have another four matches after this.

“Our aim is to give our heart on the pitch and if we manage to win a point from this match, we’ll be very happy. The players must show that they are proud to represent their country.

“We try to win every game but we know that is not possible. We don’t give gifts to anyone... we always try to make things hard for our opponents.”

Most of the Armenian players, including Liverpool target Henrikh Mkhitaryan who plays for Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk, ply their trade in foreign leagues, mainly in Russia.

Ghedin said: “Armenia have five to six players in midfield and attack who are all very efficient. Their players are registered with professional clubs in Europe. I like Armenia as a team.”

On the back of Malta’s energetic display in the 2-0 home defeat to Italy, Ghedin is widely expected to stick with the 11 players who started that match in March.

Justin Haber is certain to start in goal behind a back-four featuring Alex Muscat and Ryan Camilleri on the flanks and Luke Dimech and Jonathan Caruana at centre-half.

In central midfield, Gareth Sciberras and Roderick Briffa will combine graft and craft with Edward Herrera and Clayton Failla deployed on the wings.

André Schembri will take up his customary role behind Michael Mifsud.

For much of the past 14 years Mifsud has been Malta’s principal attacking threat but the Valletta striker often looked bereft of confidence and sharpness in what has probably been his worst ever season at club level.

Ghedin, however, is convinced that his captain will be up for the challenge.

“Mifsud didn’t have a good season but he’s an important member of the national squad.

“He is our captain and he’s a very proud person,” Ghedin said.

“I hope that he shows this pride on the pitch. As I said, this is a different match and it’s not difficult to motivate yourself before an international.”

He may have faltered at club level but when it comes to international football, Mifsud has retained his reputation as a potentially deadly striker.

Fielding the usual question about Malta’s most menacing player, Armenia coach Vardan Minasyan swiftly replied: “Definitely their no.9 (Mifsud). He is Malta’s most dangerous player.”

Armenia expectations

Armenia will be on a hiding to nothing this evening as everyone here, especially the 10,000 fans who are expected to turn up for the game at a decaying Republican Stadium, expect them to steamroll Malta and rekindle their bid for a top-two finish in Group B.

Minasyan is not concerned about the high expectations.

“There is some pressure on us but we don’t regard that as a good or bad thing,” the Armenia coach said.

“We just try to win every game.”

The general feeling in sunny Yerevan is that wins over Malta and away to Denmark next Tuesday would put their qualification bid back on track. Minasyan is hopeful.

“We will do our best (to challenge for a top-two position),” he said.

After the 3-0 home defeat to the Czech Republic in March, Mkhitaryan courted controversy after suggesting that his Armenian team-mates don’t show enough passion and commitment when playing for their country.

Mkhitaryan has since apologised for his outburst and Minasyan insisted that there are no tensions between the Shakhtar midfielder and his Armenia team-mates.

Previous encounters

World Cup

07-09-2012 Malta-Armenia 0-1

Friendlies

16-07-1994 Armenia-Malta 1-0

12-09-2007 Malta-Armenia 0-1

02-02-2008 Malta-Armenia 0-1

Malta Formation

(Probable): J. Haber, J. Caruana, A. Muscat, G. Sciberras, L. Dimech, C. Failla, R. Briffa, M. Mifsud, A. Schembri, E. Herrera, R. Camilleri.

Referee: Arnold Hunter (Northern Ireland Fa).

Kick-Off: 6pm (Malta Time).