Marcolini expecting high-level performance against Czech Republic in international friendly

Malta head coach Michele Marcolini will be expecting a high-level performance from the national team as they face Euro 2024 finalists the Czech Republic in a friendly at the Stadion Grodig in Austria on Friday (kick-off: 7.30pm).

The match against the Czech side is part of a double-header of friendlies that will also see the team face Greece on June 11 at the same venue and serve as preparation ahead of the start of the UEFA Nations League in September where the team face Moldova and Andorra.

Marcolini has been working with his players for a month or so, with his work focused on improving some tactical aspects of his team’s game and the Italian sounded pleased with the preparation done by his players.

“I am very pleased with the training sessions done during the past three weeks,” the Malta coach told the Times of Malta.

“Our focus was to try and continue to improve our team’s game and a key aspect was that all the players understand that the team has made a significant step forward and identify those areas where we need to do better.

“The team’s performance has improved a lot in the last two international windows and it’s important that we maintain this trajectory.

“Against the Czech Republic, I expect my team to maintain a high level of performance and play with a lot of intensity. That is something that I expect match after match.

“We are a team that has become an increasingly compact group, that knows that we have to fight for every ball and my expectation is that the team always plays with a lot of confidence.

“This is something that we already showed in recent matches where we posed a major threat to our opponents. It’s important that we continue to believe in ourselves and show the will that we always want something more.”

Asked what he expects to see from the Czech Republic, the Malta coach had a clear mind.

“We know that we have a tough job in our hands as we are facing a team who will be playing in the Euro 2024 finals this month,” Marcolini said.

“They have some great players in their squad and their coach will be keen to assess his players’ form before taking part in such a big tournament.

“But we are determined to try and get a positive result from this match and improve our confidence ahead of our major appointment this year – our participation in the UEFA Nations League.”

Positive performances

Marcolini has been at the helm of the national team for more than 18 months now and the Italian said there has been great improvement in the team’s play.

“I am very happy with the improvements shown by my team since the start of my adventure as Malta coach,” Marcolini said.

“Match after match our performances continued to improve and at the moment we are playing with more confidence and there is consistency in terms of positive performances.

“If you analyse our games we are having more shots on targets against superior sides such as Ukraine, Slovenia and Belarus while we produced an amazing performance against a top side like England.

“For me, we made a major step forward both inside and outside the pitch. We have a very united group of players and it’s important now that we continue to believe in our defensive and offensive principles.

“We need to maintain this positive attitude and if we do that I am confident we can do something very good with this team.”