Malta takes on Denmark in the opening match of Group B of the UEFA Women’s EURO at the Energi Viborg Arena in Viborg on Thursday, kick-off at 18:00.

Denmark are one of the two favourites in Group B along with Italy and although they missed out on participation in the FIFA Women’s World Cup which was held last summer, they are currently ranked 15th and therefore this will be a most difficult match for the team led by Mark Gatt. In the Women’s EURO 2017, Denmark finished second, losing 2-4 to the Netherlands.

Gatt has included five foreign-based players in his 20-strong squad, namely Motherwell goalkeeper Anna Louise Vincenti, who joined her Malta team-mates in Demmark, Nicole Sciberras, who recently joined the youth squad of Italian club Juventus, PSV Vrouwen midfielder Rachel Cuschieri, and forwards Martina Borg, currently on the books of Sassari Torres, and Maria Farrugia of Sunderland AFC Ladies.

On the other hand, Denmark coach Lars Sondergaard can bank on a strong squad with several players engaged with overseas clubs, including Wolfsburg striker Pernille Harder, and Fiorentina’s Frederikke Skojdt Thogersen.

Malta will be in action once again on Tuesday, facing Bosnia Herzegovina away from home.