Malta U-21 coach Silvio Vella laid emphasis on tactical discipline ahead of today’s UEFA Championship qualifier against Montenegro at the Hibs Stadium.
For Vella’s U-21s this will be their first competitive appearance on home soil in the 2016-17 Group One qualifiers after five away matches that saw the team collect a remarkable five points, after one win and two draws.
Malta played Montenegro in September last year and produced a very solid showing on their way to a goalless stalemate.
The team’s showing on that occasion in Podgorica was certainly encouraging, Vella said. However, he is warning his players to expect another tough test against the same opponents today.
“Our performances in the UEFA qualifiers have been very encouraging so far,” Vella told reporters.
“We played Montenegro in this qualifying campaign last year and the team put up a very solid defensive performance to return home with a point.
“But that was a match played over five months from now and I’m sure that Montenegro will have new faces in their squad. They have a much deeper pool of players to rely on. They’ll also change tactics so we need to be very cautious to adapt our gameplan.”
Vella described Montenegro as a very technical side.
“Montenegro base their game on possession football. They’re fast in attack and dangerous in transition and that makes it more important for us to be very disciplined from a tactical point of view,” the former Malta defender said.
“Our plan will be no different to our previous matches where we focused mainly on a good level of tactical organisation and look for openings when in possession.
“I know my players will give their 100 per cent and that makes me confident that we can obtain another positive result.”
Vella, who retained all 22 players in his squad in view of next Tuesday’s other group match against table-toppers Czech Republic, is yet to make his final decision on the starting formation as he only had two sessions with his players.
However, he confirmed that Sam Magri, of Dover Athletic, is set to start in defence in the absence of the suspended Daniel Zerafa.
With five points in the bag, the U-21s are close to becoming the most successful side at this level after equalling the feat of Ray Farrugia’s U-21 team who had finished their qualifying campaign with five points in 2004-06.
Asked whether the new milestone could influence his players before the match, Vella said: “During training and talks we never mention anything about points but that doesn’t mean that we are not aware of it.
“Obviously, it would be great for the team but for us the most important thing is that the players continue to show progress.
“If we get more points on the table, then good, but our priority remains the development of our players so in future they can make it to the senior national team.”
U-21 captain Ryan Camenzuli said the team will be giving their all to extend their positive streak of results to home matches.
“We are raring to go for this match,” the Birkirkara winger told reporters.
“In this group we have scored some great results away from home and now we have a chance to show that we can really be competitive at this level.
“Our previous results won’t affect our mindset though.
“The team is fully focused on the match against Montenegro and now we are banking on the home support to continue with our good run in the group.”
Under-21 squad
Goalkeepers: Jurgen Borg (Hibs); Matthew Calleja Cremona (Floriana); Yenz Cini (Mosta).
Defenders: Samir Arab (Balzan); Cain Attard (Birkirkara); Emanuel Briffa (Floriana); Michael Johnson (St Andrew’s); Samuel Magri (Dover Athletic); Karl Micallef (Pietà); Brandon Muscat (Tarxien); Daniel Zerafa (Tarxien).
Midfielders: Johann Bezzina (Sliema); James Brincat (Mosta); Jake Grech (Ħamrun); Ryan Camenzuli (Birkir-kara); Kyle Cesare (Pietà); Llywelyn Cremona (Valletta); Matthew Guillaumier (St Andrew’s).
Forwards: Siraj Arab (Pembroke); Jurgen Degabriele (Hibernians); Joseph Mbong (Hibernians); Luke Montebello (Tarxien).
Playing today
Moldova vs Belgium - 17.00
Malta vs Montenegro - 18.00