Following the defeat to Northern Ireland on Sunday, the national team continued its preparation ahead of the clash with Kosovo on Friday at their training base in Bad Kleinkirchheim, Austria.

After the friendly match with Kazakhstan was cancelled after Malta’s opponents faced problems obtaining the necessary visa to travel to Austria. A decision which prompted some changes in the training camp schedule and the squad will anticipate its return back home by two days, to this Saturday afternoon.

Photo: Copyright www.stephengatt.com/Malta FA

Meanwhile post-Northern Ireland, on Monday the boys were split into two groups, one lot on the training pitch for an evening session, the ones who started the match executed some indoor recovery at the hotel.

Tuesday saw the entire squad back onto the training pitch led by Head Coach Devis Mangia with some activation drills to start off, followed by tactical movements, with set-pieces practise also performed.

Malta’s opponents in three days time are deemed as very powerful, met Malta twice in first UEFA Nations League edition three years ago, in both matches Kosovo emerging winners, 5-0 at Ta’ Qali in November 2018, and 3-1 at the Fadil Vokrri Stadium in Pristina a month earlier. 

Malta’s goal in that game away from home was scored by defender Andrei Agius who will be reaching this 100 caps milestone, honorably wearing the Malta National Team, if picked for action in Friday’s friendly match.

Malta v Kosovo friendly international at the tail end of Malta’s training camp in Austria, on Friday at 6pm in Klagenfurt.