Malta’s Under 21 side today faces a strong challenge from the Italian Under 20 side in a friendly match at the Hibernians Ground at Corradino.
Coach Mark Miller has had to drop some key players from his squad because of injuries and these include Valletta’s Kurt Zammit and Ian Zammit as well as Kenneth Spiteri of Hibernians.
Miller has drafted into the squad Hibs newcomer Gordon Failla who, so far, has had a splendid season for St Patrick. He was only transferred to the Paolites last week.
For Mark Miller’s team the match will be in preparation for another friendly Under 21 encounter between Malta and Norway on 8 February and that between Malta and Croatia in March in a Euro Qualifying Group fixture of the same category.
The friendly kicks off at 2pm and will be an Open Gate match. Admission is free.
It will be controlled by Chris Lautier, a new Maltese appointee on the FIFA Referees Panel.
The squads
Malta
The Malta Under 21 squad, under the charge of Mark Miller and his assistant Silvio Vella, will be the following:
Goalkeepers: Kristian Calleja (Mqabba), Reuben Gauci (Floriana).
Defenders: David Camenzuli (Pieta), Josef Mifsud (Msida SJ), Ryan Mintoff (Hibernians), Alex Muscat (Sliema W.), Karl Sammut (Pieta), Andrew Spiteri (Pieta), Shaun Tellus (Sliema).
Midfielders: Andre Agius (Sliema), Shaun Bajada (Floriana), Mauro Brincat (Floriana), Christian Cassar (Floriana), Trevor Cilia (Floriana), Paul Fenech (Msida SJ), Cleaven Frendo (Pieta), Gareth Sciberras (Pieta).
Strikers: Nicholas Baldacchino (Floriana), Andre Schembri (Hibernians), Terrence Scerri (Hibernians), Gordon Failla (Hibernians).
Italy
Goalkeepers: Gianluca Curci (Roma), Daniele Padelli (Sampdoria).
Defenders: Michele Canini (Sambenedettese), Andrea Coda (Empoli), Andre D’Agostino (Foggia), Devis Nossa (Pavia), Luca Rossettini (Padova), Marco Zambelli (Brescia).
Midfielders: Simone Bentivoglio (Juventus), Lorenzo Carotto (Como), Daniele Galloppa (Triestina), Matteo Lombardo (Inter), Damiano Mitra (Empoli), Antonio Nocerino (Catanzaro), Michele Troiano (Modena).
Strikers: Andrea Alberti (Sambenedettese), Giuseppe Cozzolino (Giulianova), Giuseppe D’Agostino (Piacenza) and tonino Sorrentino (Parma).
The coach is Paolo Berrettini and his assistant is Corrado Corradini.