Malta women’s coach Tesse names final squad for Latvia Nations League clash

Malta women’s national teams head coach Manuela Tesse has named a final squad of 22 players who will be travelling to Latvia on Tuesday ahead of their opening match from the UEFA Nations League.

For the Italian coach, this will be the first competitive match in charge of the national team who will be playing in League C – Group 1 and face Latvia, Moldova, and Andorra, in home and away matches between September and December. 

Malta’s first match against Latvia will be played on September 22 at the Jūrmalas Pilsētas Stadium Sloka, with kick off set at 4.30pm (local time). 

The national team will then host Moldova at the Centenary Stadium the following week.

As from this year, the Nations League, a biennial international women’s senior team competition, will feature three leagues with promotion and relegation between them. 

Champions will be determined by an additional tournament. 

The spotlight on this competition is further enhanced by the fact that it will also act as part of the qualifying process for the UEFA Women’s Championship, FIFA Women’s World Cup and Women’s Olympic Football Tournament.

The five group winners in League C will be promoted to League B, whereas the three best-ranked second-place teams in League C will play off against the three best-ranked third-place teams of Group B. 

The winners will play in Group B of the European Qualifiers’ phase.

THE SQUAD

GOALKEEPERS: Janice Xuereb (Birkirkara), Maya Cachia (Como).

DEFENDERS: Emma Lipman (Como), Charlene Zammit (Birkirkara), Stephania Farrugia (Birkirkara), Jessica Lee Dimech (Swieqi United), Valentina Rapa (Birkirkara), Georgiana Mifsud (Valletta), Emma Xuereb (Swieqi United), Ann Marie Said (Birkirkara).

MIDFIELDERS: Rachel Cuschieri (Sampdoria ITA), Shona Zammit (Swieqi United), Brenda Borg (Mgarr United), Nicole Sciberras (Hibernians), Veronique Mifsud (Birkirkara), Gabriella Zahra (Birkirkara).

STRIKERS: Raina Giusti (Birkirkara), Leah Alice Ayres (Hibernians), Maria Farrugia (Lewes FC), Maya Lucia (NK Split), Haley Bugeja (Inter Milano), Ylenia Carabott (London Seaward FC).