Malta can do a lot worse than embrace a never-say-die mentality for their arduous clash with Croatia today. Favourites to breeze into the Euro 2012 finals as winners of Group F, Croatia have their eyes trained on a sound victory to seize the initiative from Greece at the top of the standings.

Still pointless after three qualifiers, Malta will be aware that the chances of opening their account in what, on paper, is their toughest away assignment of this campaign, are minimal but that shouldn’t impede the players from giving a good account of themselves.

Despite being the underdogs, Malta should draw inspiration from some heroic displays against Croatia in the past, especially in the 2006 World Cup home qualifier which finished one-all.

Carmel Busuttil, the right-hand man of Malta coach John Buttigieg, also has happy memories of his last visit to Zagreb as our team, then led by Josif Ilic, rattled the Croats who were lucky to grind out a 2-1 victory in a Euro 2000 qualifier.

“The players know about them (Malta’s gallant showings against Croatia) in the past,” Buttigieg told a news conference yesterday evening, the first time the Malta coach spoke to the media since the squad’s arrival in Zagreb on Sunday.

“Some players in our squad were involved in the last match (the 1-1 draw in the World Cup 2006 qualifier) but this is another game. Past results are history.”

Buttigieg knows Malta face a herculean task at the dilapidated Maksimir Stadium but he harbours high hopes that his team will rise to the challenge.

“Hopefully we will produce a good performance, give Croatia a hard time and get a good result,” he said.

The Malta coach sees no weaknesses in a Croatian team boasting top-notch players like Luka Modric, Eduardo and Niko Kranjcar.

“Croatia have a very strong team,” Buttigieg replied when asked by a local journalist to identify any flaws in Slaven Bilic’s side yesterday.

“They’ve always done well. The Croatian players are so talented, so skilful that at times they tend to take things for granted but Bilic has changed that mentality. Most of their players are with top European clubs and that’s a big advantage.”

Although heartened by his squad’s upbeat mood, Buttigieg struck a cautious note.

“We’re always optimistic about giving a good performance but at the same time, we’re not stupid,” he remarked.

“We’re aware of our limitations and that we will be up against a very strong team. We always try to do our best.”

Malta midfielder Jamie Pace echoed Buttigieg’s sentiments.

“This is an opportunity for us to compete at a higher level and we hope to do well and get something out of the match,” the Valletta powerhouse said.

Taking on outstanding players like Modric, Pranjic and Eduardo may be an intimidating prospect but it’s also a source of motivation for Pace.

“When you come up against these kind of players, you certainly look forward to it,” Pace said.

“I don’t think anyone of us needs extra motivation for a game like this.”

As always, there was no word from Buttigieg about his team selection but he has no option but make two changes from the Georgia qualifier as defender Andrei Agius and midfielder Andrew Cohen are suspended.

While the returning Daniel Bogdanovic is a strong candidate to fill the void left by Cohen, the choice of Agius’s replacement appears to be less straightforward.

John Hutchinson is in line to partner Pace in central midfield, in which case Gareth Sciberras could be deployed at centre-half alongside Jonathan Caruana.

Sciberras played as a central defender in Marsaxlokk’s FA Trophy win over Mqabba. Massimo Grima is also being considered for the centre-back position.

Roderick Briffa will take up the right-back position but the left-back role is still up for grabs in light of Carlo Mamo’s battle to recover from a thigh strain. Mamo trained for the first time with the rest of the squad yesterday but a decision on his fitness is expected to be made today.

Edward Herrera and Joseph Zerafa are the two other wing-backs in the squad but Shaun Bajada, who has been mostly used as a wide midfielder by Buttigieg, is an option for left-back.

Andre Schembri and Michael Mifsud are expected to lead Malta’s attack.

The race for the goalkeeper’s slot is wide open but Justin Haber may have a slight edge over Andrew Hogg as he started the last qualifier against Georgia.

Previous encounters

World Cup
30/03/2005: Croatia-Malta - 3-0
07/09/2005: Malta-Croatia - 1-1

Euro Championship
10/10/1998: Malta-Croatia - 1-4
21/08/1999: Croatia-Malta - 2-1

Probable teams
Croatia (4-2-3-1): Runje, Srna, Corluka, Simunic, Strinic, Pranjic, Rakitic, Petric, Modric, Kranjcar, Eduardo.
Malta (4-2-3-1): Haber/Hogg, Briffa, Caruana, Sciberras/Grima, Mamo/Herrera, Pace, Hutchinson, Bajada, Mifsud, Schembri, Bogdanovic.

Referee: Duarte Gomes (Portugal FA).
Kick-off: 17.30 (Malta time).