The Malta Under-21 squad got their training camp underway in Čatež, Slovenia on Thursday. 

New Head Coach Gilbert Agius and the group made up of twenty-two outfield players plus three goalkeepers will spend twelve-days in the small village in eastern Slovenia intensively preparing for a tough competition coming up, starting in September with home fixture against Northern Ireland and away fixture against Russia.

Back to this current camp in Slovenia, the two friendly matches coming up in the next few days against Qatar Under-23 on Sunday, and the Under-21 side of Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday 4th, will surely render coach Agius with a better picture of the potential of his players and clearly where they stand in their development and the experience they must acquire when it comes to represent their country on the international stage.

This new-look squad comprises several uncapped players all vying to prove themselves at this Under-21 level.

Not long after their arrival at the Hotel Terme Čatež on Thursday afternoon, where they were warmly welcomed, the Malta Under-21 squad made the five-minute walk down the road to the training pitches.

The players completed their first training session on perfect pitch condition before returning to the hotel.

All twenty-five players in the group selected by head coach Gilbert Agius looked in great shape and good spirit.

On Sunday, the squad will play its first friendly match against Qatar’s Under-23 Olympic team at 18:00 at the Stadium Lucko Zagreb, in Croatia.

Meanwhile, the Qatar’s side facing Malta is currently in a month-long preparation camp, planned as part of the team’s preparations for the qualifiers for the AFC U-23 Finals to be held at the end of October 2021.