It's wet and chilly in Aachen. The cool conditions in Germany's westernmost city are in stark contrast with the glorious weather we had recently but it should provide the Malta players with a timely reminder that the challenge awaiting them here will be distinctly tougher than what most are accustomed to in domestic competitions.
This evening, Malta meet Germany in a friendly arranged by the latter ahead of the World Cup.
The spotlight will be on the performance of several candidates for selection in Joachim Loew's squad amid high hopes of a morale-boosting result in Germany's first official warm-up for the finals.
What about Malta?
Coach John Buttigieg repeated his mantra that this friendly is a great opportunity for the players to enhance their experience.
"I believe that being involved in a match like this will benefit the players and all of us in the national team's set-up," Buttigieg told The Times.
"The weather conditions are different to what we are used to. Playing in front of a big crowd is also part of the learning curve for the team because they will face similar scenarios in the Euro 2012 qualifiers."
This is not the first time that our national team have acted as sparring partners to a team gearing up for a major tournament.
Bar a 1-0 defeat to Japan in a pre-World Cup 2006 friendly in Dusseldorf, results in such occasions have been very disappointing as prior to Euro 2008, Malta suffered a 5-1 defeat to Austria in Graz and four years earlier, our team lost 7-0 to Germany in Freiburg.
Loew will send out an experimental side this evening as the players of Bayern Munich, Werder Bremen and Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack, the captain, are not available for selection due to club commitments.
The absence of Germany's leading lights is likely to be perceived by many as a boost for Malta's chances of averting a heavy defeat but Buttigieg warned that the fringe players will be ultra-motivated.
"Most of their players will be fighting to make the final list," Buttigieg said.
"They are vying to be in the World Cup and that's a very big incentive for them.
"There is no disputing the fact that the Germany players will be looking to produce a strong performance to show their coach that they deserve to make the squad.
"We know, there is a gulf between the level of football in the two countries but I'm confident that my players will do their best to give a good account of themselves."
Since flying into Germany on Tuesday, the Maltese squad had two training sessions. On Tuesday evening, the team practised on a rain-soaked pitch in the Dutch town of Vaals and yesterday, they trained at the venue, the Tivoli Stadium.
Typically, Buttigieg gave nothing away about his team but the indications are that his starting formation will not differ much from the Finland friendly which Malta lost 2-1 after throwing away a 1-0 lead.
Justin Haber and Andrew Hogg are challenging for the no.1 jersey. Andrei Agius will probably partner Kenneth Scicluna in central defence with Alex Muscat likely to be assigned the right-back role.
Shaun Bajada and Clayton Failla are the two main contenders for the left-back slot. Jamie Pace and Ryan Fenech are in line to resume their partnership in central midfield with Andrew Cohen and Roderick Briffa likely to be deployed on the right and left wings respectively.
Up front, Daniel Bogdanovic should operate behind main striker Michael Mifsud, the team captain, although the two forwards will probably receive instructions to interchange during the game.
"We have to be cautious because we're playing away from home and against a very strong nation," Buttigieg said.
"That said, we will not make drastic changes to our game. We play with four at the back but we always encourage our players to push forward. In previous matches, we played 4-4-1-1 or 4-4-2 but these are only modules.
"Most of the teams today put nine men behind the ball and one up front. Only the big guns sometimes play with two pure strikers but even the top sides prefer to play with one forward these days."
Massimo Grima is the only surprise inclusion in Buttigieg's 18-man squad. The Qormi midfielder is not exactly a newcomer as he has already played 11 times for Malta but Grima has not made the final squad for an international match for several years.
"Massimo has done well for his club and has also looked more committed during training with the national squad," Buttigieg replied when asked about Grima.
"We still believe he can give more. Massimo is a very good passer of the ball and his qualities can be useful to the team."
Malta's preparations for the Germany friendly kicked into gear after the Premier League wrapped up last Wednesday. Tiredness is a cause of concern but Buttigieg has given an optimistic update about the players' physical condition.
"On the whole, the level of fitness is good," he said.
"They are also showing motivation to play against Germany and that's a positive sign."
Flashback... May 27, 2004
Germany 7
Malta 0
Ballack 15, 17, 59, 85, Nowotny 33; Frings 42; Bobic 90
Germany: J. Lehmann, A. Hinkel ('45 P. Freier, '63 S. Kehl), A. Friedrich, J. Nowotny, D. Hamann ('69 J. Jeremies), F. Bobic, K. Kuranyi ('45 M. Klose), M. Ballack, B. Schneider, P. Lahm ('69 C. Ziege), T. Frings.
Malta: M. Muscat, G. Sciberras, J. Chetcuti, I. Azzopardi ('75 R. Bajada), B. Said, A. Zahra ('60 P. Pullicino), N. Turner ('80 S. Darmanin), S. Giglio, M. Mifsud, I. Woods, A. Zahra.
Referee: A. Stredak (Slovakia).
Red card: Muscat 79. Att: 22,000.
Michael Ballack scored four goals as Germany trounced Malta 7-0 in a friendly match in Freiburg.
Billed as their first pre-Euro 2004 test, Germany, then under the charge of Rudi Voeller, outclassed Malta whose resistance fizzled out after Ballack struck two quick goals to put the hosts 2-0 up inside the opening 17 minutes.
Coach Horst Heese's decision to switch to a four-man defence backfired then as Germany punished Malta's difficulties to adjust to the new system.
Jens Nowotny and Torsten Frings increased Germany's advantage to four goals by the end of the first half.
Ballack scored two more goals after the break to take his tally to four and Fredi Bobic completed the rout when scoring Germany's seventh in stoppage time.
Malta finished the match with 10 men after goalkeeper Mario Muscat was red-carded 11 minutes from time for bringing down the goalbound Miroslav Klose.