Under-21 side faces Slovenia on Friday

The Malta Under-21 side plays the eighth game in Group 2 of the UEFA Under-21 Championship qualifying round, taking on leaders Slovenia at the Športni Park in Lendava on Friday, kick-off at 19:00.

The team led by Ray Farrugia lost four out of the last five matches which were played at home and now eye a good performance in Lendava after collecting four points from the first two games which were played away from home. The team is currently joint-fourth with Ukraine on five points.

Ahead of Thursday morning’s training session, Farrugia emphasised on the fact that the players needed to have a positive mentality like the games against Finland and Lithuania last year as it would enable the team to add more points to its tally. He said that the fact that the team score seven goals so far shows progress.

The Malta Under-21 coach said he hopes the players would not repeat the mistakes they did against Slovenia at the Hibs Stadium in September.

The starting line-up is expected to be: Steve Sultana, Zach Muscat, Owen Bugeja, Yessous Camilleri, Matthew Gauci, Mark Scerri, Rowen Muscat, Bjorn Kristensen, Ryan Scicluna, Jonathan Bajada, Terence Vella.

Also at his disposal are Daniel Balzan, Adrian Parnis, Luca Martinelli, Clyde Borg, Triston Caruana, Miguel Ciantar, Jean Paul Farrugia, Leighton Grech, Steve Pisani.

The match will be controlled by Bulgarian referee Nikolai Yordanov.

Another qualifier is in programme on Wednesday against Sweden at the Orjans Vall Stadium in Halmstad.

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