Ghedin and Vella announce final squads for forthcoming friendlies
National coach Pietro Ghedin and Under-21 national coach Silvio Vella yesterday announced their final squads for their forthcoming friendleis next week. Both sides will be in action next Tuesday with the national team facing Iceland, and with the Under-21 side hosting Cyprus.
For Pietro Ghedin this will be another important after the slender defeat against Slovenia in a World Cup qualifier on Friday. Malta is still in search of the first point in the qualifiers after four matches played.
Iceland made great strides forward in the last decades and are fresh from their stunning performances in the Euro 2016 in France, where they even managed to eliminate mighty England.
Michael Mifsud was included in the final list, as the Valletta striker is searching for the 123 national cap, which will make him the most capped player. With his presence against Slovenia Michael Mifsud played his 122nd game with the national team, reaching David Carabott’s mark.
Pietro Ghedin’s final squad for the Iceland friendly are the following: Goalkeepers: Justin Haber (Floriana), Andrew Hogg Hibernians
Defenders: Andrei Agius (Hibernians), Steve Borg (Valletta), Ryan Camenzuli (Floriana), Ryan Camilleri (Valletta), Clayton Failla (Hibernians), Sam Magri (Dover Athletic), Daniel Zerafa (Tarxien), Joseph Zerafa (Birkirkara)
Midfielders: Luke Gambin (Barnet), Bjorn Kristensen (Hibernians), Rowen Muscat (Birkirkara), Andre Schembri (Boavista), Gareth Sciberras (Birkirkara), Ryan Scicluna (Birkirkara), Steve Pisani (Floriana)
Forwards: Alfred Effiong (Balzan), Jean Paul Farrugia (Sliema W), Michael Mifsud (Valletta).
Meanwhile Silvio Vella named his squad, which includes a lot of newcomers to the group for the friendly match against Cyprus. The Under-21 squad is the following:
Goalkeepers: Jake Galea (St.Andrew’s), Philip Schranz (Tarxien R)
Defenders: Karl Micallef (Pieta H), Kurt Zammit (Tarxien R), Dunstin Vella (Hibernians), Daniel Buckle (Hibernians), Christian Degabriele (Pieta H), Sean Cipriott (Balzan)
Midfielders: Zachary Scerri (Gzira U), Juan Corbolan (Gzira U), Jake Grech (Hamrun S), James Brincat (Birkirkara), Dexter Xuereb (Mosta), Neil Pace Cocks (Pieta H).
Forwards: Jurgen Suda (Valletta), Jurgen Degabriele (Hibernians), Joseph Mbong (Hibernians), Kyrian Nwoko (St.Andrew’s)