Michele Marcolini trims Malta squad to 26 players for Gibraltar, N. Macedonia games

North Macedonia encounter part of Euro 2024 qualifications

Italian coach Michele Marcolini has dropped five players from his initial 31-man provisional squad as Malta continues its preparations for the international matches against Gibraltar and North Macedonia.

The Gibraltar match is an international friendly set to be played next Wednesday while the North Macedonia tie is part of Malta’s Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, scheduled for September 12.

For these two games, Marcolini has retained the foreign-based players including Teddy Teuma who found the net for the second straight game in France’s Ligue 1.

Zach Muscat, on the books of Farense, had an unfortunate weekend after being shown a red card in the 1-0 defeat to Famalicao in Portugal’s top-flight.

Meanwhile, Cain Attard was in the starting formation for Belenenses as they as defeated Tondela 1-0 in the second-tier.

Matthew Guillaumier came on from the bench for Stal Mielec in their 1-1 draw at Ruch Chorzow while Jodie Jones played for Notts County in their 3-1 victory over Accrington Stanley in League Two.

SQUAD

GOALKEEPERS
Henry Bonello (Ħamrun Spartans), Matthew Grech (Żabbar St Patrick’s), Jake Galea (Valletta).

DEFENDERS
Steve Borg (Ħamrun Spartans), Zach Muscat (Farense, Portugal), Enrico Pepe (Birkirkara), Kurt Shaw (Hibernians), Jean Borg (Sliema Wanderers), Cain Attard (CF Os Belenenses, Portugal).

MIDFIELDERS
Juan Corbalan (Ħamrun Spartans), Ryan Camenzuli (Ħamrun Spartans), Adam Magri Overend (Floriana), Steven Pisani (Santa Lucia), Matthew Guillaumier (FKS Stal Mielec Spolka Akcyjna, Poland), Nikolai Muscat (Marsaxlokk), Bjorn Kristensen (Hibernians), Brandon Paiber (Valletta), Yannick Yankam (Birkirkara), Teddy Teuma (Stade de Reims, France), Jake Grech (Balzan), Joseph Mbong (Ħamrun Spartans).

FORWARDS
Jurgen Degabriele (Hibernians), Jodi Felice Jones (Notts County, England), Kyrian Nwoko (Floriana), Paul Mbong (Birkirkara), Luke Montebello (Ħamrun Spartans).