On Monday forthcoming, the Malta Under-21 side ably headed by coach Silvio Vella will commence its' commitments within another UEFA Under-21 European Qualifying Campaign with a very difficult test again a more illustrious opponent - that of Belgium, and away from home.
With Malta's record-tally of 11 points and a creditable fourth position still echoing from the last 2017 UEFA European Under-21 qualifying campaign, Silvio Vella and his boys flew to Luxembourg where they will meet Luxembourg in a friendly international at the Stade Albert Berchem as a build-up to the big game on Monday, March 28th against the Belgians in Louvain.
The Red Devils will be Malta's first big test in their forthcoming 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualifying Group Stage campaign. Malta have been mixed up in Group 6 together with Sweden, Belgium, Turkey, Hungary and Cyprus.
Head coach Silvio Vella and his U-21 side, still fresh from being awarded with the "Coach of the Year" and "Team of the Year" accolades in the recent SportMalta Ghazliet Sportivi Nazzjonali Awards, will be looking ahead to another positive run in such competiton.
Interesting to note that nine of the eighteen players in Vella's squad all made part of the Malta U-17 squad which participated in the UEFA European Under-17 Championship final tournament staged in Malta in May 2014.
A key player who will surely figure an important role in this "new" Under-21 side is none other than Hamrun Spartans midfielder Jake Grech, who has been in outstanding form for his club this season.
The Malta Independent Sports Team caught up with the Malta Under-21 captain ahead of these two important tests for Under-21's. "I believe that we have a very good squad with the the best technical staff available. Our friendly match against Luxembourg on Thursday will be a real good test and build-up for our first UEFA European U21 qualifier against a more quoted team, that of Belgium. I am sure that if we continue working hard together the way we are doing we can get back with two very good results from both of these matches" stated Grech to the Malta Independent.
Malta figured in a home 2-2 draw against Cyprus in their last U-21 friendly international played at the Hibernians Stadium in November 2016.
With results clearly lacking from the senior side, this promising Under-21 side, most of whom will soon be making part of the senior side in the very near future, will look forward to extending another positive outcome in such competition.
MALTA U-21 SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Jake Galea (St Andrews); Philip Schranz (Tarxien Rainbows).
Defenders: Jean Borg (Valletta); Michele Sansone (Sliema Wanderers); Karl Micallef (Ħamrun Spartans); Nikolai Muscat (San Ġwann); Dunstan Vella (Hibernians); Kurt Zammit (Tarxien Rainbows).
Midfielders: Myles Beerman (Rangers, Scotland); Jurgen Suda (Pietà Hotspurs); Juan Corbalan (Gżira United); Jake Grech (Ħamrun Spartans); Matthew Guillaumier (Birkirkara); Zachary Scerri (Gżira United).
Forwards: Jurgen Degabriele (Hibernians); Aidan Friggieri (St Andrews); Joseph Mbong (NK Inter Zapresic, Croatia); Kyran Nwoko (St Andrews).