The Malta Independent on Sunday
Pietro Ghedin remains optimistic ahead of another very difficult encounter
Football - World Cup 2018 Qualifier ● Gareth Sciberras decides to call it a day
Silvio Vella Like anybody else, national coach Pietro Ghedin is well aware that today’s World Cup qualifier from Group F against Slovakia at Ta’ Qali will be yet another extremely difficult test for Malta.
Speaking to the media at the MFA technical centre before Malta’s fifth game in this qualifying group, and still in search for the first points, Mr Ghedin made it clear that Malta is facing a very strong team, ranked 25th in the world, one of EURO 2016 finalists and entertaining high hopes of qualifying for next year’s World Cup finals in Russia.
“If we don’t stay compact, it would be very difficult for us against Slovakia. We have to play as a family to achieve a good result “warned the national coach.
Malta presently lie bottom of the Group and have conceded home defeats against Scotland (1-5) and Slovenia (0-1) and away to England (0-2) and Lithuania(0-2).
Injuries, suspensions and omissions for the coach’s ‘technical’ rea- sons, have deprived Malta of fielding the strongest and most experienced side for today’s match. Experienced defenders Andrei Agius of Hibernians and Jonathan Caruana of Valletta are both suspended. Valletta’s Rowen Muscat is injured while Hibernians’ Clayton Failla, defenders Steve Borg of Valletta and Alex Muscat of Sliema Wanderers as well as Balzan’s forward Alfred Effiong have not been included in the Malta squad.
Lack of form and commitment might be the reason for some notable absentees and Ghedin has no regrets about his selections.
“It was only a technical reason for dropping these players. We wanted to give a chance to some others but the door is always open for anybody who harbours ambitions to play for the national team” assured Pietro Ghedin.
No doubt, Mr Ghedin is confident in the group of players he has at his disposal and remains optimistic. “I believe in my players” he said. He emphasized the hard work the players have gone through, with the technical staff, during this past week. They have talked about the systems and the conditions and everybody is eager to play.
Mr Ghedin reminded about Malta’s limitations and the inability to change our system much from one opponent to the other.
“We try to do our best every time. I always have two or three ideas about how to play but that depends on how the team goes into the field to face our opponents”.
Mr Ghedin said that his coaching staff has worked hard on the players’ physical condition and the squad can be rated as 80 per cent fit.
This is the sixth meeting between Malta and Slovakia since the two sides first played each other in a home friendly in March 1994.
Malta suffered five defeats, the last being in a September 2014 friendly in Zilina, won by Slovakia with a Nemec goal. Pietro Ghedin was also the Malta coach then.
Several players who played in that friendly, have also been included in today’s Slovakia squad by coach Jan Kozak and these include goalkeeper Kozacic, defenders Pekarik, Durica and Hubocan, as well as midfielder Hamsik and forward Nemec, who all play with foreign clubs.
Although Mr Ghedin is still undecided about one or two starters, Malta’s formation today should not differ from five at the back, four in midfield and one striker.
With Andrew Hogg starting in goal, Sam Magri, Ryan Camilleri and Zach Muscat should be the central back three with any two of Cain Attard, Joseph Zerafa or Jacob Borg as wide backs.
In midfield, any three of Paul Fenech, Gareth Sciberras, Luke Gambin and the returning Ryan Fenech will be in contention for a starting berth, with Andre Schembri in a more advanced role to support Michael Mifsud in attack.
Also present for yesterday’s prematch press conference was midfielder Gareth Sciberras who officially announced his decision to retire from football at the end of the current season.
Today will therefore be Sciberras’ 52nd and last appearance for the national team after a 17-year-long playing career. The 34- year old Birkirkara midfielder, who made his international debut in December 2003 against Poland, has also informed his club about this decision and wished to officially thank the MFA and all the coaches and team mates who have supported him during all these past years, with special mention to his wife Daniela. Gareth Sciberras, who is looking forward to see the national team perform well in his farewell match tonight, has expressed his desire to dedicate more time for him personally and his family, away from the game.
In a short comment, Pietro Ghedin said that he tried to convince Gareth to think it over but the player had already made up his mind and he therefore could only thank Sciberras for what he has given to the national team and local football in general.