Malta hosts the Netherlands in another match from Group G of the European Qualifiers leading to the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the National Stadium on Thursday, kick-off at 20:45.
Following the heavy 8-0 defeat in Groningen last June, Malta will be all out to give their opponents a hard time following a positive international window last month where Malta went close to beating Lithuania in Vilnius although finally having to settle for a 1-1 draw and a win over San Marino in a friendly match.
The draw with Lithuania was in fact the second points for Malta in Group G following a goalless draw with Lithuania at Ta’ Qali in June. Malta had lost 0-1 to Finland at Ta’ Qali, 2-0 to Poland in Warsaw and 8-0 to the Netherlands in Groningen.
Photos courtesy of Malta FA
Addressing the media on Wednesday, Malta coach Emilio De Leo said “We began a journey a few months ago, one of growth, of obstacles and difficulties, of tough matches and games where we face strong and talented opponents, like what will happen tomorrow, and what happened in the first leg. We know that our objective, on one hand, must be to continue the growth and improvements we’ve been making and specifically to show that we have learned, because if you play against the best, it has to be an opportunity. An opportunity to learn from the mistakes we have made. Not repeating them is the primary goal we set ourselves in the dressing room. But on the other hand, to continue expressing ourselves, continue having fun, continue building our identity, which I believe we also did in the away match. Naturally, the result was very negative, but I believe that the result also helped us in subsequent matches to continue growing, to continue demonstrating what we’re doing, and I think we demonstrated that in the last international window as well.”
Commenting about the game in Groningen, De Leo said “There have certainly been technical and tactical errors that we must avoid repeating. We certainly know this, but the first thing we asked of the players these days was their attitude – trying to bring our best qualities to the table, showing courage, and self-confidence. We know we have highly talented players who are growing, improving, and who can cause problems for anyone. Then, more specifically, maintaining concentration for as long as possible in all game situations, shortening any type of technical-tactical reading of the game because we’re facing players who are able to perceive and execute technical moves in very short timeframes. So, our biggest challenge is to focus on technical interpretations that are defensive on one side and offensive on the other, in very short timeframes. On the other hand, not changing our identity and doing so with great courage and self-confidence.”
“There will be spaces that need to be occupied, knowing that there are balls that need to be covered, as perhaps we weren’t able to do well in the first leg. There are situations where we need to be better at marking our opponents. There are situations where when we break back, we need to be more clinical and more focused in the final 25-30 meters. We’ve been working on this… tactically, starting with a game plan and changing it as we go… we’ve been practicing this too.”
In recent weeks, players in the YoHealth Malta Premier played five matches in two weeks – six in three weeks and in the case of Hamrun Spartans, seven in three weeks. A large number of matches in a short period of time usually leads to a significant increase injuries due to insufficient physical and mental recovery.
De Leo failed to be drawn in commenting on the issue, saying “I don’t want to get into a political discussion because this is the destiny of football at the international level, not just in Malta. We have players who are tired; some who have suffered injuries and could not be with us. But this also hits the Netherlands or the other teams we’ll face. It’s a destiny that concerns everyone. For my part, on a general level, there must be balance on that point of view. It’s not an issue that concerns Malta alone, but football in general. On the other hand, I want to look at the positive side. There are many players who are enjoying important international experiences, like Joseph Mbong, which are certainly to our advantage. They are going to gain important experiences. This is making the whole movement grow. On the one hand, they have the responsibility of being representatives of Maltese football going abroad and I have the responsibility to make sure that players find balance because there are many commitments and stressful moments, but we willingly accept it.”
Malta had Kurt Shaw sent off in the game against Finland, two players cautioned and Ilyas Chouaref sent off in Poland, three players cautioned against Lithuania at home, two players cautioned against the Netherlands and six players cautioned and Jake Azzopardi sent off in the game against Lithuania away from home. In fact, apart from Azzopardi, Zach Muscat and Paul Mbong are ruled out through suspension.
Asked about this worrying number of yellow and red cards Maltese players had been receiving in recent matches, De Leo said “It is certainly not a strategy. There is a lot of desire, a lot of involvement, a great will on the part of the players to be determined, to be involved in what we do and what we express. We have raised the bar in terms of tactical knowledge, in terms of motivation, and perhaps this sometimes leads to excessive and exaggerated passion and ardour. It is a team that wants to grow and improve in that respect and be more balanced … to have an emotional balance. We are working hard on this. Going back to the recent situations we have suffered, I don’t think there have always been shortcomings on our part. But we must always work without excuses and we are talking about a process… even when decisions aren’t right, we must metabolise them, overcome them, and work to improve. The answer is the emotional balance we must achieve.”
Meanwhile Joseph Mbong said “We live to play these type of games against these European giants. We wish to perform tomorrow. We wish to play the best game we possibly can in front of our supporters tomorrow. Hopefully, we will have a good attendance, who can cheer us on and hopefully, we get something of the game as well.“
“Obviously, we were disappointed after the game against the Netherlands. We wanted to make sure to bounce back from that performance. And I believe that in the past international window, we did that. Our aim is to improve and tomorrow we want to make up for the mistakes we did. We learned from them. We discussed with the coach, what mistakes we did, and what we can improve. Hopefully tomorrow we will show that we learn from them and will not repeat them.”
Asked whether the qualification for the league stage of the UEFA Conference League will help players like him, Mbong said “Playing in that type of competition helps a lot because of the quality you face, the intensity of the games which is higher than that of local games. So instead of playing two games in a month with that intensity, playing three or four helps you much more. Getting used to playing in top-level stadiums full of supporters like the last game (against Jagiellonia) was a great opportunity for me and definitely helps me grow as a player as well. I guess that this is the most important thing you can take from these games.”
For this game, Emilio De Leo welcomes the return of two key players, Stade de Reims midfielder Teddy Teuma, who is back in the squad after recovering from injury, and Ħamrun Spartans wing-back Ryan Camenzuli, who missed the September matches.
The squad is made up of:
Goalkeepers
Henry Bonello (Ħamrun Spartans FC), Rashed Al Tumi (Sliema Wanderers FC), James Sissons (Chesterfield FC – ENG).
Defenders
Juan Carlos Corbalan (Marsaxlokk FC), Kurt Shaw (Sorrento FC – ITA), Enrico Pepe (Marsaxlokk FC), Jean Borg (Sliema Wanderers FC), Gabriel Mentz (Gżira United FC), Kean Scicluna (Zabbar St Patrick FC), Ryan Camenzuli (Ħamrun Spartans FC), Myles Beerman (Sliema Wanderers FC).
Midfielders
Matthew Guillaumier (Panserraikos FC – GRE), Brandon Diego Paiber (Valletta FC), Alexander Satariano (Athens Kallithea FC – GRE), Yannick Yankam (Valletta FC), Teddy Teuma (Stade de Reims FC – FRA), Adam Magri Overend (Sliema Wanderers FC), Andrew Borg (Gżira United FC)
Forwards
Joseph E. Mbong (Ħamrun Spartans FC), Jodi Jones (Notts County FC – ENG), Ilyas Chouaref (Sion FC – SUI), Irvin Cardona (AS Saint-Étienne – FRA), Basil Tenywa Tuma (Reading FC – ENG), Keyon Ewurum (Valletta FC), Kemar Reid (Birkirkara FC).
The Netherlands share the top spot in Group G with Poland with ten points but have a game in hand. They defeated Finland 2-0 away from home, Malta 8-0, were held in a 1-1 draw by Poland and defeated Lithuania 3-2 away from home.
Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman has invited 24 players for the game against Malta and the one against Finland. However Dutch midfielder Quinten Timber and AZ striker Mexx Meerdink withdrew from the squad due to injuries and Teun Koopmeiners of Juventus received a late call to the squad.
The players to make the trip to Malta are:
Nathan Ake and Tijjani Reijnders (Man City), Memphis Depay (Corinthians), Virgil van Dijk, Jeremie Frimpong, Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool), Denzel Dumfries and Stefan de Vrij (Inter), Mark Flekken (Bayer Leverkusen), Quilindschy Hartman (Burnley), Jan Paul van Hecke and Bart Verbruggen (Brighton and Hove Albion), Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona), Justin Kluivert (Bournemouth), Donyell Grind (Aston Villa), Robin Roefs (Sunderland), Jerdy Schouten (PSV), Xavi Simons and Micky van de Ven (Tottenham Hotspur), Jurrien Timber (Arsenal), Teun Koopmeiners (Juventus) and Wout Weghorst (Ajax)
This will be the eighth clash between Malta and the Netherlands with Malta yet to score a goal, conceding thirty six in the process. In the matches played on home soil, Malta had lost 0-8 in December 1990 and 0-4 in October 1995.
Malta vs Netherlands will be controlled by Croatian officials, namely referee Duje Strukan who will be assisted by Alen Jakšić and Marjan Tomas and fourth official Patrik Kolarić. The Video Assistant Referee is Ivan Bebek, assisted by Dario Bel.