Malta will host Gibraltar in a friendly before their Euro 2024 qualifying. In the most recent FIFA world rankings, only 10 countries are ranked below Gibraltar (198th). Malta is ranked 27 places ahead of their opponents in position 171.
Preview (Malta vs. Gibraltar)
Unsurprisingly, neither Malta nor Gibraltar have accrued any points through their first four Euro 2024 qualifying matches. The former lost to North Macedonia, the current tournament champions Italy, England, and Ukraine in Group C. Malta held the Blue and Yellow superbly until Viktor Tsyhankov’s penalty kick in the 72nd minute sealed the victory. The solitary triumph for Michele Marcolini’s team since the beginning of the year was a narrow 1-0 friendly victory away to Luxembourg at the beginning of June, thanks to a second-half goal from Kyrian Nwoko, who now has four goals for the international team.
Malta will play at home against North Macedonia on Tuesday to resume their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign. They enter the friendly match on Wednesday having lost each of their previous four home games. However, the Reds will look to upset Gibraltar after defeating them 2-0 in their most recent friendly match. Gibraltar, meanwhile, is getting ready for their first friendly match of 2023. They have lost four straight 3-0 matches in Group B against Greece, Netherlands, France, and the Republic of Ireland.
Los Llanis initially frustrated Ireland in their most recent match on June 19 at the Aviva Stadium. However, the home team turned the tide after the break. Goals from Mikey Johnston, Evan Ferguson, and Adam Idah eventually helped Stephen Kenny’s team run away with a convincing victory. Gibraltar is getting ready for its upcoming Euro 2024 qualifying encounter against Greece on Sunday. First, they will try to win their first international game since beating Andorra 1-0 at home.
Team News
With the exception of four players, all of Malta’s 26-man roster for this month’s international break plays at the club level in the Maltese football pyramid. Zach Muscat of Farense and Enrico Pepe, the team’s captain, might form a back three, while Cain Attard of Belenenses and Teddy Teuma of Reims could play at right wingback and center midfield, respectively.
Aymen Mouelhi might start as center-back with Bernardo Lopes and 40-year-old captain Roy Chipolina in place of injured Dundalk defender Louie Annesley. After earning his first two international caps in June against France and the Republic of Ireland, Torrijos attacker Ayoub El Hmidi may continue to start in front of Tjay De Barr of Wycombe Wanderers. Both countries have had difficult Euro 2024 qualifying matches so far this year, but they will head into their friendly match on Wednesday confident that they can earn a rare victory on the international scene. But since there isn’t much between these two clubs, we think Ta’ Qali will end in a scoreless draw.
Malta 1 – 1 Gibraltar
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