Two friendly matches for Malta before EURO 2016 qualifiers

albania-malta140305JBThe Malta national team will be playing two friendly matches away from home against Gibraltar and Slovakia before the EURO 2016 qualifiers which kick-off in September.

Malta plays Gibraltar on June 6 and then Slovakia on September 4. The Group H EURO 2016 qualifiers get underway for Malta with an away match against Croatia on September 9. Malta then hosts Norway and Italy on October 10 and 13 before another away match to Bulgaria on November 16.

This will be the first clash between Malta and Gibraltar. The Gibraltar Football Association was formed as the Gibraltar Civilian Football Association in 1895 and is one of the oldest national associations in the world but was only admitted to UEFA last year. They played their first full international in November, holding Slovakia in a goalless draw in Faro, Portugal. Earlier this month they lost 1-4 to the Faroe Islands and 0-2 to Estonia.

On the other hand, Malta met Slovakia five times. Malta hosted Slovakia in a friendly match at Ta’ Qali in March 1994, losing 1-2 but then Malta held Slovakia in a 1-1 draw in a friendly match away from home in August 1994. Slovakia then registered a 6-0 win at home in 1996 and a 2-0 win at Ta’ Qali in 1997 in two World Cup qualifiers. Slovakia won 3-0 in a friendly match in August 2006.

In a friendly match with Albania earlier this month, Malta lost 2-0 in Durres.

Photo: Copyright © Joe Borg