The Italy-Scotland friendly match this evening at the National Stadium, Ta’ Qali, is certainly the main, if not the only major sports attraction locally this weekend.
Italy are preparing for the Euro2016 finals in France, starting next month, while Scotland will be commencing their preparations for their World Cup qualifiers. For them, this match forms part of a training camp being held here and which will come to an end next Saturday in Metz, where they are scheduled to face Euro2016 finals host country France in another friendly match.
Antonio Conte of Italy is here with his best players but Scotland’s Gordon Strachan is missing four players.
The Italian contingent arrived in Malta yesterday evening and is accommodated at the Westin Dragonara Hotel. They leave the island tomorrow, soon after the end of the match at Ta’ Qali.
Italy squad Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Federico Marchetti (Lazio), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris Saint Germain);
Defenders: Davide Astori (Fiorentina), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Angelo Obinze Ogbonna (West Ham), Daniele Rugani (Juventus);
Wingers: Federico Bernardeschi (Fiorentina), Antonio Candreva (Lazio), Matteo Darmian (Manchester United), Mattia De Sciglio (Milan), Stephan El Shaarawy (Roma), Davide Zappacosta (Torino);
Midfielders: Marco Benassi (Torino), Giacomo Bonaventura (Milan), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Alessandro Florenzi (Roma), Emanuele Giaccherini (Bologna), Jorge Luiz Jorginho (Napoli), Riccardo Montolivo (Milan), Thiago Motta (Paris SG), Marco Parolo (Lazio), Stefano Sturaro (Juventus);
Forwards: Citadin Martins Eder (Inter), Ciro Immobile (Torino), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Graziano Pellè (Southampton), Simone Zaza (Juventus).
Auxiliary goalkeeper: Alex Meret (Udinese).
Scotland manager Gordon Strachan has had to make some changes to the original squad as four players - Barry Bannan (Sheffield Wednesday), Robert Snodgrass, Shaun Maloney, Andrew Robertson (all Hull City) – were not available for today’s match as they were involved in yesterday’s Football League Championship Play-Off final in England. Scotland squad Goalkeepers Scott Fox (Ross County), Jack Hamilton (Heart of Midlothian), David Marshall (Cardiff City).
Defenders: Christophe Berra (Ipswich Town), Gordon Greer (Brighton and Hove Albion), Grant Hanley (Blackburn Rovers), Stephen Kingsley (Swansea City), Russell Martin (Norwich City), Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic), Callum Paterson (Heart of Midlothian), Andrew Robertson (Hull City - France match only).
Midfielders: Ikechi Anya (Watford), Barry Bannan (Sheffield Wednesday - France only), Craig Bryson (Derby County), Oliver Burke (Nottingham Forest), Darren Fletcher (West Bromwich Albion), Shaun Maloney (Hull City - France only), James McArthur (Crystal Palace), John McGinn (Hibernian), Barrie McKay (Rangers), Matt Phillips (Queens Park Rangers), Matt Ritchie (Bournemouth), Robert Snodgrass (Hull City France only).
Strikers: Steven Fletcher (Olympique Marseille), Ross McCormack (Fulham), Steven Naismith (Norwich City).