Seven players promoted from Under-19 squad as Woods names Under-21 squad for Spain, Hungary qualifiers

National Team UEFA
by Antoine Busuttil

The Malta Under-21 Team is bracing itself for a new cycle of international football, with a new competition, particularly daunting beckoning starting off with a home double fixture in the September window against Spain on Friday 8th September, and Hungary on Tuesday 12th September, as the Tony Bezzina Stadium will also re-emerge as venue for these high profile fixtures.

Coach Ivan Woods has stepped into the hot seat with one target of raising the standard of this group of players, push their development forward and further prepare them to represent Malta not in times afar on the international senior stage.

The first squad selection for coach Woods includes seven players who turned out for Malta in the UEFA Under-19 Championship last month with the likes of Hugo Sacco, Mattias Ellul, Jake Micallef, Andy Borg, Ben Hili, Basil Tuma, and Brooklyn Borg all being promoted to the Under-21 squad.

Experienced players representing their country at this level, the likes of Matthias Debono, Matthew Ellul, Karl Mohnani, James Vella, Aleandro Garzia, Mattia Veselji, Andrea Zammit, and Jake Engerer were all confirmed in the squad, and all vying to set the ball rolling and perform to the very best of their abilities, and as part of this particularly young squad that nonetheless comprises several promising individuals.

The full U21 provisional 30-man squad reads like this:-

GOALKEEPERS – Dylan Ciappara (Mosta FC), Reeves Cini (Pieta’ Hotspurs FC, Matthias Debono (Naxxar Lions FC), Hugo Sacco (Eastern New Mexico University).

CENTRAL DEFENDERS – Matthew Ellul (Żabbar St. Patrick), Zean Leonardi (Pieta Hotspurs), Mattias Ellul (Santa Lucia), Owen Spiteri (Floriana FC), Deacon Abela (Swieqi United FC), Karl Mohnani (Melita FC), James Vella (Sliema Wanderers FC).

MIDFIELDERS – Jake Micallef (Boavista FC), Kurt Bondin (Żebbuġ Rangers FC), Matthew Debattista (Melita FC), Andy Borg (Gżira United FC), Nick Cutajar (Melita FC), Dale Mifsud (Marsaxlokk FC), Gianluca Sciberras (Mosta FC), Aleandro Garzia (Floriana FC), Kurt Briffa (Pieta’ Hotspurs FC), Owen Sciberras (Żabbar St.Patrick), Benjamin Hili (Balzan FC), Nikolai Micallef ((Naxxar Lions FC).

OFFENSIVE PLAYERS – Jamie Carbone (Santa Lucia FC), Basil Tuma (Reading FC), Mattia Veselji (Floriana FC), Andrea Zammit (Valletta FC), Jake Engerer (Sliema Wanderers FC), Jed Valletta (Santa Lucia FC), Brooklyn Borg (Gżira United FC).