Malta to face Bulgaria again in Euro 2016 qualifier at Ta’ Qali

On Friday 12 June Malta will face Bulgaria at the Ta’ Qali National Stadium in a Euro 2016 qualifier, the sixth test for Pietro Ghedin’s lads in Group H.

Addressing the press yesterday, Joe Cassar, Deputy Secretary General of the MFA, photo, said last year, in Sofia, the Maltese boys managed a 1-1 draw against the more quoted opponents.

It will be the 13th match between the two countries since they met for the first time on 11 June 1975, almost 40 years ago to the day. It will be the tenth competitive match of which six were World cup qualifiers and the others in continental competition. Three were friendlies.

Malta managed three draws, one in the World Cup, the other in a friendly and the last one in November – the first point in the group matches.

It has certainly been a familiar trek for Malta where Bulgaria is concerned, and the forthcoming match renews this acquaintance between the two countries.

Apart from snatching a creditable point against Italy following a 2-2 draw in Sofia, the Bulgarians have somewhat disappointed managing only one win against Azerbaijan, leaving them with a mere 5 points out of so many matches with no real hopes of qualifying to the final phase.

Such a situation might favour the local chances of getting a second positive result in this group which might make us aspire that we can in the end avoid the last placing in Group H.

Coach Pietro Ghedin will be relying on a chore of seasoned units supplemented by some emerging talent. Concentration and collective play backed by solid support from the stands could very well do the trick.

He is expected to announce his squad for the two matches in the next few days.

The match on 12 June will kick off at 8.45pm.