Dusan Fitzel is adamant not to let the euphoria surrounding Malta's headline-spinning result against Turkey detract from the significance of tomorrow's friendly against Armenia (kick-off 8.15 p.m.).
"I am not here to speak about Saturday's match because that belongs to the past now," Fitzel told reporters yesterday. "My focus is on the friendly match against Armenia who have improved a lot as a footballing nation.
"I know how tough Armenia can be because I have watched videos of three matches they've played recently. Their results in the last two qualifiers have been excellent as Armenia beat Poland 1-0 and drew 1-1 against Portugal to jump from 120th to 81st in the FIFA rankings.
"Armenia are very strong in defence and our challenge will be to break them down. I also think that Armenia will make an effort to test their attacking potential against us. Organisation-wise, Armenia and Malta are very close to each other."
The Malta coach confirmed yesterday that the fringe players in his squad will be offered a chance to prove their worth against Armenia.
"I will give a chance to those players who have been out of the team for our recent qualifiers," Fitzel said. "This match is an opportunity for these players to show me that they are good enough to play for the national team."
With midfielder Jamie Pace ruled out by suspension for the next qualifier away to Hungary, Fitzel will also use tomorrow's match to identify the best replacement for the Marsaxlokk dynamo.
As reported in The Times yesterday, Fitzel has selected a 20-man squad for the Armenia friendly. Coventry City striker Michael Mifsud, goalkeeper Justin Haber, who recently earned a contract with Greek club Haidari FC, and Birkirkara midfielder George Mallia are out of the equation but Fitzel has added five players to the squad, namely 'keeper Andrew Hogg (Valletta), Aaron Xuereb and Andrew Cohen (both Hibs), Etienne Barbara (Sliema) and Cleaven Frendo (Marsaxlokk).
Commenting on Mifsud's injury-related absence from tomorrow's friendly, Fitzel said: "Mifsud came back from Coventry with an abdominal problem. In the first half, he took a knock and then gave away five to six balls. I was contemplating taking him off but I waited until half-time. Mifsud received more treatment from the doctor and he was better in the second half.
"Michael would have been available for the friendly but I decided not to risk him. The Coventry coach initially asked for Michael to be released from the friendly but I told him that my plan was to play him for 45 minutes.
"However, there's no point in calling on Mifsud if he's not fully fit. It's better if he continues to receive treatment in the hope that he will be fit to play for Coventry on Saturday (home vs Bristol City). We need Michael to be fit and playing more regularly for his club because that would also benefit the national team."
A question about the players' physical condition after Saturday's exertions somehow acted as a cue for Fitzel to give his assessment on Mifsud's contribution.
"The players' fitness is fine," Fitzel said. "It's normal for our team to suffer a bit in the last 10 minutes of an international match but the players continued to run hard and even created two or three scoring chances. Seeing Gilbert Agius sprinting into the Turkey box when Mifsud had that chance on the counter, I guess that says a lot about the players' physical condition.
"Mifsud was selfish on that occasion," Fitzel observed. "He should have passed the ball to Agius and I have told this to Michael. If Michael learns to play less for himself and more for the team, I'm sure that we will score more goals."
Milan's Gourcuff in France U-21 squad
Meanwhile, Malta's U-21 squad have returned from Bosnia where they suffered a 4-0 defeat in their second European Group 10 qualifier last weekend.
Coach Mark Miller will spend the next two days trying to raise the players' morale for the tough-looking clash with France tomorrow evening at the National Stadium (5.30 p.m.).
Hibs' wing-back Clayton Failla is suspended for tomorrow's match after picking up a second yellow card on Saturday.
France, who beat Wales 1-0 at home on Friday, have some renowned players in their U-21 squad. The likes of Yoann Gourcuff, of Milan, Tottenham defender Younes Kaboul and Newcastle forward Charles N'Zogbia are among the players shortlisted by coach Rene Girard for tomorrow's qualifier.
France U-21 squad
Goalkeepers: J. Jourdren (Montpellier), S. Ruffier (Monaco).
Defenders: H. Bellaid (Strasbourg), M. Dabo (St Etienne), M. Josse (Sochaux), Y. Kaboul (Tottenham), C. Louvion (Le Mans), F. Marange (Bordeaux), V. Muratori (Monaco).
Midfielders: Y. Cabaye (Lille), C. Chantome (PSG), D. Digard (PSG), Y. Gourcuff (Milan), S. Marveaux (Rennes), B. Matuidi (St Etienne), C. N'Zogbia (Newcastle).
Forwards: A. Bonnet (Sedan), S. Gakpe (Monaco), Y. Gouffran (Caen), J. Menez (Monaco), D. Payet (St Etienne), J. Quercia (Sochaux).