National team coach Ray Farrugia said yesterday on the eve of the match against Sweden in Stcockholm, that our main aim is to continue on the building process started a year ago, with the introduction of new young players in the team.

Malta faces an uphill task this evening against Sweden at the Friends Arena, the third match in this Group. Malta has so far gained three points with the victory against Faroe Islands and the defeat against Spain.

Ray Farrugia said that the match as expected is a difficult one but he is confident that his boys will give a positive performance. Farrugia stressed that this building process has to continue. It will be a difficult process but it is the only way forward for local football to make progress.

Farrugia hinted that Jake Grech and Luke Montebello will be in the starting line-up. He said that in the last twelve months youngsters like Joseph Mbong, Nwoko and Corbolan have gained a regular place in the squad. He also mentioned Matthew Guillaumier who has potential but unfortunately could not make the trip because of injury.

Farrugia said that we lost several players ahead of this match, but he said that there are others ready to take their place. Speaking about our opponents today he said that they are a very solid squad, and have improved a lot lately, playing more as a team.

He said that Malta always suffers against Scandinavian opposition, but he said that even Malta made great strides forward in the last year, both in the Nations League matches and also in the first Euro qualifiers.

Farrugia said that our mentality is changing and we created a lot of scoring chances in the last matches played, and also scored regularly. Farrugia said that although Malta would be looking for a positive result, he would be more pleased with a positive performance.

Goalkeeper Henry Bonello said that they are well prepared for this double fixture against Sweden today and at home against Romania on Monday. Bonello said that although more pressure is expected on his defence today, their preparation was like any other match.

Like his coach, Henry Bonello, who played both matches against Faroe Islands and Spain, said that he is confident that the side will produce a good performance. Asked by the Swedish media for any special attention to the Swede's most dangerous players, Bonello said that there is no one in particular.  

 

Previous encounters

15 October 1972               Sweden v Malta                               7-0

11 November 1973          Malta v Sweden                               1-2

23 May 1984                       Sweden v Malta                               4-0

17 November 1985          Malta v Sweden                               1-2

16 November 1986          Malta v Sweden                               0-5

24 May 1987                       Sweden v Malta                               1-0

28 February 2001              Malta v Sweden                               0-3

04 September 2004         Malta v Sweden                               0-7

04 June 2005                      Sweden v Malta                               6-0

10 June 2009                      Sweden v Malta                               4-0

09 September 2009         Malta v Sweden                               0-1