National team head coach Devis Mangia trimmed down the squad to twenty nine players ahead of the friendly match against Venezuela in programme on Wednesday at the National Stadium, kick-off at 19:00.

This friendly match should serve as preparation ahead of the first three matches from the UEFA Nations League – against San Marino away from home on June 5 and the two home clashes against Estonia and San Marino on June 9 and June 12 respectively.

The players who failed to make it to the final squad are goalkeeper Matthew Grech (Pembroke), Triston Caruana (Valletta), Steven Pisani (Gzira) and Yannick Yankam (Birkirkara).

On the other hand, part of the squad are James Brown of St. Johnstone and Floriana captain Matias Nicolas Garcia who are both set to make their debut on Wednesday.

The players selected by Mangia are therefore:

goalkeepers Henry Bonello (Hamrun), Cain Formosa (San Gwann), Jake Galea (Balzan);

defenders Ferdinando Apap (Hibs), Jean Borg (Valletta), Steve Borg (Hamrun), James Brown (St. Johnstone), Karl Micallef (Hamrun), Zach Muscat (Casa Pia), Enrico Pepe (Birkirkara);

midfielders Cain Attard (Birkirkara), Ryan Camenzuli (Floriana), Juan Carlos Corbalan (Hamrun), Matias Nicolas Garcia (Floriana), Matthew Guillaumier (Siena), Adam Magri Overend (Floriana), Joseph Essien Mbong (Hamrun), Nikolai Muscat (Gzira), Brandon Diego Paiber (Floriana), Teddy Teuma (Union St. Gilloise), Dunstan Vella (Hibs);

forwards Jan Busuttil (Floriana), Jurgen Degabriele (Hibs), Luke Gambin (Hamrun), Jake Grech (Hibs), Paul Mbong (Birkirkara), Luke Montebello (Birkirkara), Alex Satariano (Pergolettese), Mattia Veselji (Floriana).