Malta remains 175th in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking as published on Thursday.
Malta is still fifth from bottom in Europe, lying ahead of Moldova (177), Liechtenstein (186), Gibraltar (195) and San Marino (210). Just ahead of Malta is Andorra (158th).
In the coming days, Malta will be playing three friendly matches. On May 30, Malta faces Northern Ireland (48th), Kosovo (120th) on June 4 and Kazakhstan (124th) on June 7. The first two matches are scheduled at the Worthersee Stadion in Klagenfurt and the match against Kazakhstan will be played at Lavanttal Arena in Wolfsberg.
These friendly matches will serve as preparation for the remaining matches from Group H. Malta plays Cyprus at Ta’ Qali on September 1 before two clashes away from home against Slovenia on the 4th and Russia on the 7th. In October, Malta hosts Slovenia and then plays Cyprus away from home before the final two home fixtures against Croatia and Slovakia at Ta’ Qali .
Meanwhile while recent months have seen a raft of league championships build to a climax, it has been a quiet period for international football – something mirrored in the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Ranking.
With only one match played since the last edition was published – a Ukraine-Bahrain friendly that ended all square the Top 50 remains unchanged, with Belgium leading the way from France and Brazil.
England are fourth, followed by Portugal, Spain, Italy, Argentina, Uruguay and Denmark to complete the top ten.
Photo: Copyright Mark Zammit Cordina/MFA