Malta’s women coach Mark Gatt has named a squad of 20 players for the upcoming UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 qualifier against Denmark. The Maltese girls host the Nordic side this Tuesday in a game that due to the anti-coronavirus protocols will be held behind closed doors at the Centenary Stadium (kick-off: 18.30).
For this game, coach Gatt kept faith with most of players who were called up for Malta’s two qualifiers of 2020 so far – against Georgia (2-1 win) and Bosnia-Herzegovina (3-2 defeat) last March.
Sassuolo forward Haley Bugeja, fresh from a Serie A brace on her debut against Napoli which drew plaudits from all over Europe, is one of the several foreign-based players included in Gatt’s squad.
Italy-based Nicole Sciberras, Emma Lipman, Rachel Cuschieri and Martina Borg are also called up. They are joined by Maria Farrugia, who plies her trade at English club Sunderland.
Forward Ylenia Carabott, who joined Belgian side RCSC Charleroi will be making a return to the national team squad after missing out on the Georgia and Bosnia-Herzegovina ties due to coronavirus protocol.
Malta champions Birkirkara are represented by none less than six players. Five players of Swieqi United are also named in the squad including experienced defender Charlene Zammit who is one game away from her 70th cap. Mġarr United and Raiders Għargħur are also represented with Brenda Borg and Jodie Attard respectively.
The Maltese girls have four points so far after their 1-1 draw against Israel and the Georgia victory. After facing Denmark, Gatt’s team will wrap up the commitments with a double-header away at Georgia and Israel.
Denmark, on their part, are currently joint-leaders with Italy on 18 points, in Group B. They travelled to Malta from Sarajevo after defeating Bosnia
4-0.
SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Janice Xuereb (Birkirkara); Jodie Attard (Raiders Għargħur).
Defenders: Stephania Farrugia (Birkirkara); Emma Lipman (Lazio, Italy); Ann-Marie Said (Birkirkara); Nicole Sciberras (Juventus, Italy); Alishia Sultana (Birkirkara); Charlene Zammit (Swieqi United).
Midfielders: Brenda Borg (Mġarr United); Ylenia Carabott (RCSC Charleroi, Belgium); Rachel Cuschieri (Lazio, Italy); Jade Flask (Swieqi United); Veronique Mifsud (Birkirkara); Dorianne Theuma (Swieqi United); Emma Xuereb (Swieqi United); Gabriella Zahra (Birkirkara); Shona Zammit (Swieqi United).
Forwards: Martina Borg (Sassari Torres, Italy); Haley Bugeja (Sassuolo, Italy); Maria Farrugia (Sunderland, England).
