Malta to host Finland in a friendly match on March 3

Malta will be hosting Finland in a friendly match at the National Stadium on March 3.

The game will be part of the national team’s preparation ahead of the EURO 2012 qualifiers which should get underway next autumn. The draws will be held in Warsaw on February 7.

Malta met Finland six times at Ta’ Qali. Following a 2-0 win for the locals in February 1988 and two draws – 0-0 in February 1989 and 1-1 in November 1990, Finland defeated Malta 2-0 in a European Championship qualifier in May 1991 before winning twice in two friendly matches – 2-0 in March 1998 and 2-1 in March 2004.

In the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, the team managed by Englishman Stuart Baxter finished third in their group with five wins, three draws and two defeats. They were the only team in qualifying not to lose to Germany, but came close to a win in the second meeting only to concede an equaliser in stoppage time.

Besides the game against Finland, Malta will be travelling to Aachen for a friendly match against Germany on May 13.