Check Out Malta’s 23-Man Squad For This Weekend’s Euro 2020 Qualifying Clash Against Sweden
Malta coach Ray Farrugia has announced the 23-man squad that will be facing Sweden in the upcoming Group F match for the Euro 2020 qualifiers.
After naming a provisional 26-man team for the away clash with Sweden on Friday and the home match with Romania days later on Monday, Farrugia and his team had to revise the list when injuries struck Senglea Athletic winger Leighton Grech and Sliema Wanderers midfielder Ryan Fenech.
Veteran Maltese captain Michael Mifsud will not be taking part in the Stockholm contest as he is still recovering from minor injuries. The decision on whether he’ll be a part of the team facing Romania in Ta’ Qali will be taken after the team’s return on Saturday.
Group F is a very tough one for Malta, but it hasn’t been all doom and gloom for the tiny island
Malta grabbed a morale-boosting 2-1 victory over the Faroe Islands Last March before conceding to a respectable 2-0 home defeat to Spain.
Coach Farrugia is going ahead with the original line-up who was part of the opening qualifiers, but injuries of Birkirkara midfielder Matthew Guillaumier, Ħamrun Spartans defender Karl Micallef, Hibernians striker Jurgen Degabriele and Sliema Wanderers forward Jean Paul Farrugia have given Ħamrun Spartans midfielder Triston Caruana and Mosta’s Dexter Xuereb a chance to prove their mettle in the field.
As per the points tally, Spain top the group with six points, Sweden stands with four, and Malta and Romania are in joint third place with three points.
This will be Malta’s third encounter in the Euro 2020 qualifying campaign.
Check out Malta’s full squad below
GOALKEEPERS
Henry Bonello (Valletta), Justin Haber (Gżira United), Andrew Hogg (Birkirkara).
DEFENDERS
Andrei Agius (Hibernians), Ferdinando Apap (Hibernians), Steve Borg (Valletta), Jonathan Caruana (Valletta), Joseph Mbong (Hibernians), Zach Muscat (SC Olhanense, Portugal), Dexter Xuereb (Mosta), Joseph Zerafa (Valletta).
MIDFIELDERS
Triston Caruana (Ħamrun Spartans), Juan Corbalan (Gżira United), Paul Fenech (Balzan), Luke Gambin (Luton Town, England), Jake Grech (Hibernians), Bjorn Kristensen (Hibernians), John Mintoff (Sliema Wanderers), Rowen Muscat (Valletta), Dunstan Vella (Hibernians).
FORWARDS
Alfred Effiong (Balzan), Luke Montebello (Birkirkara), Kyrian Nwoko (Valletta).
Malta faces Sweden this Friday at 8:45pm at the Friends Arena in Stockholm. Good luck reds!