National team starts preparation ahead of June’s EURO 2020 qualifiers

The national team’s preparations for the upcoming Euro 2020 Group F qualifying matches against Sweden and Romania are underway.

Malta coach Ray Farrugia has selected a group of players to start training with the national squad ahead of the away match against Sweden on June 7 and the home qualifier against Romania three days later.

Birkirkara midfielder Matthew Guillaumier has pulled out with injury.

The initial list does not include players from Balzan and Valletta, who will meet in the FA Trophy final, and those based overseas.

The full provisional squad will be announced after the FA Trophy encounter on Saturday.

Malta kicked off their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign with a 2-1 home victory over Faroe Islands. In their second match, also at the National Stadium, Malta lost 2-0 to Spain.

PROVISIONAL LIST

GOALKEEPERS
Justin Haber (Gżira United); Andrew Hogg (Birkirkara).

DEFENDERS
Andrei Agius (Hibernians); Ferdinando Apap (Victoria Hotspurs); Joseph Mbong (Hibernians); Dexter Xuereb (Mosta).

MIDFIELDERS
Triston Caruana (Ħamrun Spartans); Juan Corbalan (Gżira United); Ryan Fenech (Sliema Wanderers); Jake Grech (Hibernians); Leighton Grech (Senglea Athletic); Bjorn Kristensen (Hibernians); John Mintoff (Sliema Wanderers); Dunstan Vella (Hibernians).

FORWARDS
Michael Mifsud (Birkirkara); Luke Montebello (Birkirkara).