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Malta’s Only Ever Scored One Goal Against England… ish

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England is like that one ex of yours. You know the one; you’re ostensibly civil with one another, you work together well, but every now and again they can’t help but poke that old wound with a stick.

As we all sit back and watch tonight’s World Cup Qualifier, let’s remember the other times England and Malta went head to head on the field of competition. Football History Class is now in session.

3rd February 1971: UEFA European Championship

The first time Malta and England faced off against each other. We’d only gained Independence from them a few years earlier, but we hadn’t yet become a Republic. The air was tense and Maltese supporters reportedly filled the old Empire Stadium in Gzira to over double its capacity. This was the most important football match Malta had seen in a century. Supposedly, the Maltese jeered and taunted every misstep the English made for the entire match, even throwing fruit at them, but the match still ended in our defeat. 

Final Score: Malta: 0, England: 1.

1971

12th May 1971: UEFA European Championship

After the brutal treatment the English received on our end a few months before, they were out for blood. With over 40,000 supporters at their backs filling the Wembley Stadium, the English team devastated the Maltese. The match was so one-sided, and reports say the English goalkeeper didn’t even have a single shot to save. 

Final Score: Malta: 0, England: 5

1971 Take 2

3rd June 2000: International Friendly 

It would be just shy of 30 years before the Maltese and English would go head to head in a competition. Completely different teams, completely different countries, but football fans across the island were ecstatic at the prospect of getting one back at our old rulers. This turned out to be the only match where Malta managed to score a goal against England. The only problem? That one goal was an own goal made by England’s Richard Wright.

Final Score: Malta: 1, England: 2

Football Final

8th October 2016: FIFA World Cup Qualifier

16 years later, we got another chance at it all. And though we once again suffered a defeat, it wasn’t as easily given. This was the match that our own goalkeeper Andrew Hogg stole the show with a series of incredible saves, and a few pre-match comments that made UK headlines. Even the English were impressed. 

Final Score: Malta: 0, England: 2

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Tag a football fanatic for all the nostalgia

READ NEXT: Stages Of Watching A Malta Football Match

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