‘MALTA WILL FIGHT TOOTH AND NAIL TO DISRUPT ENGLAND’
ENGLAND have only ever lost 11 European Championship qualifying matches.
Malta, meanwhile, have won just four in their history.
Making it five in Ta’ Qali on Friday evening would go down as one of the country’s greatest achievements – on or off the pitch.
Mark Miller, an Englishman who has coached a number of Malta’s top clubs as well the country’s Under-21 side, admits that’s unlikely to happen.
But he says England would do well not to underestimate how much this match means to people in the country.
Miller (right) said: “The two most followed countries in Malta are England and Italy.
“So to have them both in the same qualifying group is huge for them.
“The ground will be full, the atmosphere is going to be fantastic.
“This is a massive game for Malta and they’ll fight tooth and nail to make it as tough as possible for England.
“Welcoming this side to Malta is an historic moment.
“I think the last time England played here in 2017 I said it was like a Lamborghini taking on a Mini.
“That’s probably even truer today than it was then.
“England were only 1-0 up with five minutes to go then but still won 4-0, which shows you what they’re capable of.
“Malta will be doing everything they can to avoid a heavy defeat.
“If Malta could beat England, it would be a miracle.
“If it did happen? Well, it would be absolutely humiliating for England. It would seriously damage everybody’s reputation and pride.
“I can’t imagine what the English media would do with it, too!”
The Three Lions have a perfect record against the hosts, winning five out of five against a country that have won just seven out of 218 qualifiers for both the World Cup and European Championship.
Malta have scored just once against England.
And that was a Richard Wright own goal in a Euro 2000 warm-up friendly.
Their 1-0 defeat to Sir Alf Ramsey’s side in February 1971 is the closest they’ve come to pulling off a shock in a competitive international.
But whatever happens this week, there will be a party atmosphere on the island as soon as England land. And Miller believes Malta’s best chance is catching England cold as the mercury soars in the middle of the Mediterranean.
“England will always be viewed as one of the biggest games simply because of the coverage we have of the Premier League,” says Miller.
“Having England’s best on the island is always a special day. It’s a game the people have been looking forward to since the draw was made.
“If Malta has any advantage, it’s the fact that the England players will not be at peak match fitness after a really long season and the winter World Cup.
“Malta will know that they can’t just go out and attack this England side, they’ll get torn apart if they do.
“They’ll defend and then wait for their moment to counter.”