‘We’re here to compete, not just to watch,’ says De Leo ahead of tough Netherlands match

Malta faces its toughest test in their World Cup qualifying campaign when they take on the Netherlands in Groningen on Tuesday night (kick-off: 8.45pm).

Emilio De Leo’s side head into the encounter on the back of their first positive result in their qualifying journey, having held Lithuania to a goalless draw at the National Stadium last Saturday and picked up their first point.

Although the performance of the team was far from vintage, the Maltese did just enough to hold on to a merited point that should inject some much-needed confidence in the players ahead of their assignment against the Euro 2024 semi-finalists.

While expectations to pick up any points at the home of the group favourites are somewhat unlikely, coach De Leo will surely be hopeful his players can put on a commendable showing to try and make life difficult for the star-studded Dutch side.

Coach De Leo emphasised that the team’s focus remains consistent, regardless of the opposition.

“We have trained hard, and the group is motivated. It’s a prestigious match, but our mentality doesn’t change based on the opponent,” he said. “I don’t agree with the idea that this is our most difficult game. Every match must be treated equally. The so-called ‘easier’ games on paper can often be the most difficult.

“The Netherlands are a very strong team with a lot of talent. We know what we’re facing – it will be a real test. But we’re not just here to watch; we’re here to compete.”

To reach that objective, the team must improve significantly on Saturday’s performance against Lithuania, particularly in the first half.

The Maltese players struggled for any form of fluency in their play in the first half, with the most concerning factor being their failure to hold the ball for long spells during the first 45 minutes.

That resulted in letting the visitors dictate the tempo of the match and our defensive set-up under continuous pressure.

Things improved after the break as players like Jodi Jones and Joseph Mbong were starting to find more space to operate, with the team finally starting to pose a threat to the Lithuanian defence.

A major boost for De Leo is the return from suspension of two key defenders as Kurt Shaw and Gabriel Mentz are back available and made the final squad, with Zach Muscat and Jean Borg dropped for this match by the Italian coach.

Gabriel Mentz, who missed recent fixtures due to suspension, expressed his pride in wearing the national shirt again.

“It’s an honour to be part of the national team. It was frustrating to sit back and watch from afar,” he said.

“This is one of the best teams in Europe, so it’s a big match. But we’ve prepared well over the past three weeks and we’re ready.”

On Tuesday evening, the Maltese players need to be switched on right from the first minute, or they risk experiencing a long and frustrating night against a Dutch side who are smelling blood and will be hellbent on scoring a resounding win to put themselves in a strong position for top spot in the group.