The Malta national team will be playing two friendly matches against two finalists of the EURO 2016 – the Czech Republic and Austria. These friendly matches will both be played in Austria on Thursday 26th and Tuesday 31st May respectively.

In fact, the Czech Republic will be holding a training camp between the 21st May and 2nd June in Seefeld in Tirol.

The Czech Republic won Group A of the European Qualifiers ahead of Iceland, Turkey, Netherlands, Kazakhstan and Latvia. Austria, on the other hand, won Group G ahead of Russia, Sweden, Montenegro, Liechtenstein and Moldova.

Malta played the Czech Republic eight times, four of which away from home – suffering two heavy 6-1 and 6-0 defeats in 1994 and 1996, 3-2 in 2001 and 3-1 in 2012.

On the other hand, Malta and Austria met nine times, the last being a friendly match in May 2008, just before the kick-off of the EURO 2008, ending in a 5-1 win for Austria. In the only other two matches on Austrian soil, Malta lost 4-0 in 1972 and 9-0 in 1977.

Before these two friendly matches, Malta will be hosting Moldova for another friendly match on Thursday 24th March at the National Stadium, kick-off at 15:00.