Newcomers Brimmer, Cardona in line for debut
Malta national coach Emilio De Leo is urging his players to set their sights on bringing home a positive result as the national team takes on Lithuania in a World Cup qualifier in Kaunas on Thursday evening (kick-off: 6pm).
Malta are currently bottom of the group with just one point to show from four matches, but on Thursday they have the opportunity to leapfrog the Lithuanians if they manage to secure all three points.
However, the national team’s challenge is far from easy as they will be without two key midfielders in Teddy Teuma, who is nursing an injury, and Matthew Guillaumier, who must serve a one-match ban.
But still, the Italian coach is not too downhearted as he has sent a rally cry to his players to give everything they have in a bid to return home with a positive result.
“We have to try and bring home a positive result,” De Leo told a news conference.
“As I always say, we started this journey just a few months ago, and every match is helping us to learn something new about ourselves. Not just matches where we can win points, but also those games where we face very strong nations.
“We need to be intelligent enough to use everything we have learnt from those matches and apply it in our next games.”
Asked about the absence of Teddy Teuma and Matthew Guillaumier, De Leo admitted that it’s a big loss for the team, but at the same time, it will be an opportunity for other players to prove that they deserve to have more playing time in the team.
“We are talking about players who, obviously, are very important for us,” De Leo said.
“At the same time, I am very happy on the new players and there are many young players who are making their contribution to raise the level of this group.
“Players like Guillaumier, Teuma, and James Carragher, who is out injured, are obviously reference points in the group, but other players are leaders too in the group.
“Therefore, I am seeing these losses as an opportunity for other players to stake their claim for more game time.”
For the clash against Lithuania, De Leo can bank on Australia-based midfielder Jake Brimmer and striker Irvin Cardona, who is on the books of French side Saint-Etienne.
De Leo said that these new players will provide much-needed experience in playing in top foreign championships.
“They are players who have great experience in playing in some top championships and for us it’s an added value,” De Leo said.
Physical threat
“I am very pleased to note that they have taken little time to adapt to the new surroundings, and they have shown a lot of determination and attachment to the country’s badge, which is really important.
“I am sure that their experience will be very valuable and can be great role models for our youngsters.
“Now we have assembled a squad that has a mix of players who only joined the set-up in the past few months and others who have much more experience in the set-up. The young players have the opportunity to show their talent, like Kean Scicluna and James Sissons, just to name a few.
“Having such a blend in our squad will be our way forward so that we can aspire to achieve positive results in the near future.”
Turning his sights on Lithuania, De Leo admitted that he is expecting a very difficult game as the home side will be determined to get a positive result in front of their fans, but still he is positive that Malta can have its say.
“We know Lithuania very well, since we faced them last June,” De Leo said, in reference to the goalless draw at the National Stadium.
“We are aware that they will try to take control of the game and try to make the most of their physical power.
“However, we will not be intimidated. We must compensate for our physical shortcomings with determination and hard work, and strive to make amends for missing out on victory in that June fixture.
“We need to believe in ourselves and in our technical qualities to try and bring home the result we are all aspiring for.”
