The Malta Under-19 side will be hosting the UEFA Under-19 Championship Group 10 mini-tournament between Thursday 12 and Tuesday 17 November. Taking part in the mini-tournament, besides Malta are Cyprus, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands.
Malta plays the first game against the Netherlands on Thursday at 11:15, then meets the Czech Republic on Saturday at 14:00 before the final game against Cyprus on Tuesday at 11:15. All matches from the tournament will be played at the Centenary Stadium, except for the game between the Czech Republic and Netherlands on Tuesday 17 which will be played at the Hibs Ground.
These will be difficult games for the Maltese side considering that the strength of the visiting teams.
Most of the players in the Dutch squad are coming from the Ajax and Feyenoord academies. The team did very well in a recent tournament against Ireland and Turkey. The Czech Republic won four of the last five friendlies and their players are all born 1991. Cyprus, on the other hand, have a number of players based in English academies such as Nottingham Forest, Middlesbrough and Bolton Wanderers.
The provisional squad at the disposal of coach Silvio Vella and his assistant Raymond Schembri are:
goalkeepers Noel Attard (Mosta), Daniel Balzan (Hibs), Andrea Cassar (Hamrun), Jean Matthias Vella (San Gwann);
defenders Ansil Briffa (Pietà), Yessous Camilleri (Valletta), William Camilleri (St. Andrews), Elkien Cauchi (Hibs), Yan Cauchi (Hibs), Keith Fedele (Pietà), Clifford Gauci (Pietà), Ismael Grech (Pietà);
midfielders Joseph Aquilina (Lewes), Clyde Borg (Floriana), Quincy Bregman (San Gwann), Triston Caruana (Hibs), Gary Caruana (Marsaxlokk), Rowen Muscat (Birkirkara), Matthew Robert Gauci (Lowestoft), Matthew Tabone (Hibs), Ryan Sammut (Naxxar);
forwards Lyden Micallef (Mosta), Amadeo Mercieca (Sliema), Steve Pisani (San Gwann), Kadri Sami Cassar (Darthford).