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Pepe named in Malta starting XI; Lewandowski on the bench for Poland

Photo: Matthew Ashton/Getty Images

Malta national teams head coach Emilio De Leo effected one change to his starting formation for tonight’s FIFA World Cup qualifier against Poland in Warsaw (kick-off: 8.45pm).

De Leo was forced to make do without Kurt Shaw who is serving a one-match ban following his late dismissal against Finland on Friday.

Gżira defender Enrico Pepe was handed a recall to the starting formation in a three-man defence alongside James Carragher and Zach Muscat.

Otherwise the Malta coach reconfirmed all the players with Matthew Guillaumier again skippering the side from midfield where he will be assisted by Teddy Teuma and Alex Satariano with Ryan Camenzuli and Joseph Mbong patrolling the flanks.

Ilyas Chouaref and Paul Mbong will again lead Malta’s forward line.

As regards Poland, coach Michal Probierz decided to start without his star striker Robert Lewandowski who was included among the substitutes.

The Barcelona star was replaced with an injury in Poland’s 1-0 win over Lithuania and although he trained with the rest of his team-mates, Probierz decided not to take risks and opted for former Milan forward Krzysztof Piatek.

Aston Villa’s Matty Cash was also dropped to the bench at the expense of Jakub Kaminski on the right flank.

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