Malta will be facing San Marino away from home in the first match from League D Group 2 at the San Marino Stadium on June 5. The fixtures were released by UEFA on Friday.
In the second match on Thursday June 9, Malta hosts the loser of the play-out between Cyprus and Estonia and three days later, Malta hosts San Marino.
The last match is on Friday September 23 is away from home to Cyprus or Estonia.
Malta is obliged to play friendly matches on June 2-4 and September 25-27. Other friendly matches should be played in March in view of the UEFA Nations League commitments.
MATCHDAY 1
Thursday 2 June
D2 Cyprus/Estonia vs San Marino (20:45)MATCHDAY 2
Sunday 5 June
D2 San Marino vs Malta (15:00/18:00)MATCHDAY 3
Thursday 9 June
D2 Malta vs Cyprus/Estonia (20:45)MATCHDAY 4
Sunday 12 June
D2 Malta vs San Marino (20:45)MATCHDAY 5
Friday 23 September
D2 Cyprus/Estonia vs Malta (20:45)MATCHDAY 6
Friday 26 September
D2 San Marino vs Cyprus/Estonia (20:45)
While Malta is ranked 175th. San Marino is ranked 210th, Cyprus 105th and Estonia 107th.
Malta and San Marino have never met in a competitive match, meeting only in a friendly match in August 2012, winning 3-2 away from home.
With regards to Cyprus and Estonia, they first need to take part in the relegation play-outs, scheduled for March 24 and March 29 – first leg to be played in Estonia.. Cyprus finished at the bottom of Group C1 with four points in a group which included Montenegro, Luxembourg and Azerbaijan while Estonia finished last in Group C2 with three points in a group which included Armenia, North Macedonia and Georgia.
The loser of the play-out will be facing Malta.
Malta and Cyprus met eight times – four friendly matches, two EURO qualifiers and two World Cup qualifiers. Malta won two, Cyprus three with the other three matches ending in draws. In the European qualifiers, earlier this year, Malta beat Cyprus 3-0 at Ta’ Qali, holding them in a 2-2 draw in Larnaca.
On the other hand, Malta and Estonia met six times with Malta winning two matches, Estonia winning two and the other two matches ending in draws.The only competitive matches between the two countries were the World Cup qualifiers played in 1992 and 1993 when Malta and Estonia drew 0-0 at Ta’ Qali, winning 1-0 away from home in Tallinn.
Photo: Copyright domenic aquilina