Buttigieg, Farrugia name provisional squads for EURO 2012 and Under-21 qualifiers

National coach John Buttigieg and Under-21 coach Ray Farrugia named the provisional squads for the forthcoming EURO 2012 and UEFA Under-21 Championship qualifiers.

The senior side faces Greece in a EURO 2012 qualifier on Saturday 4th June at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium, in Piraeus, Athens. On the other hand, the Malta Under-21 side meets Finland and Lithuania in two games away from home. Malta takes on Finland on Friday 3rd June at the Tehtaan Kenttä, Valkeakoski while on Tuesday 7th, Malta faces Lithuania at the Siauliai Central Stadium, Siauliai.

The Malta ‘A’ squad is made up of:
goalkeepers Justin Haber (Ferencvaros), Andrew Hogg (Valletta), Reuben Gauci (Marsaxlokk);
defenders Roderick Briffa (Valletta), Edward Herrera (Hibs), Jonathan Caruana (Valletta), Andrei Agius (Birkirkara), Clayton Failla (Sliema), Shaun Bajada (Birkirkara), Steve Borg (Valletta), Joseph Zerafa (Birkirkara);
midfielders Gareth Sciberras (Marsaxlokk), John Hutchinson (Central Coast Mariners), Ryan Fenech (Valletta), Paul Fenech (Birkirkara), Jamie Pace (Valletta), Trevor Cilia (Birkirkara);
forwards Daniel Bogdanovic (Sheffield United), Andre Schembri (Ferencvaros), Andrew Cohen (Hibs), Ivan Woods (Floriana), Christian Caruana (Floriana), John Mintoff (Sliema), Michael Mifsud (Qormi).

The twenty players in the Under-21 squad are:
goalkeepers Daniel Balzan (Hibs), Adrian Parnis (Sannat), Steve Sultana (Nadur);
defenders Owen Bugeja (Floriana), Yessous Camilleri (Rabat), Cleaven Cassar (Pietà), Kane Paul Farrugia (Mosta), Matthew Robert Gauci (Hibs), Luca Martinelli (Melita), Zach Muscat (Pietà), Jonathan Xerri (Vittoriosa);
midfielders Clyde Borg (Floriana), Triston Caruana (Hibs), Sheldon Grech (Pietà), Bjorn Kristensen (Hibs), Rowen Muscat (Birkirkara);
forwards Steve Pisani (Hibs), Miguel Ciantar (Sliema), Leighton Grech (Vittoriosa), Terence Vella (Birkirkara).