UEFA U-21 Championship: Fatigued Schembri the only doubtful starter in Mark Miller’s line-up

Malta Independent Tuesday, 6 September 2005, 00:00 Last update: about 13 years ago

National Under 21 coach Mark Miller could not name his starting line-up yesterday as he was still waiting to see whether Andre Schembri of Marsaxlokk will be available for today’s match against the Croatians at the Hibs Ground (kick-off 7pm).

Miller said Schembri was complaining of fatigue problems and it was very unlikely that he would be available for today’s match.

Miller said that if Schembri remains unavailable, Christian Cassar of Floriana will take his place with Trevor Cilia replacing Paul Fenech, who will fill in the void left by Roderick Bajada of Msida, who is suspended for today’s clash, as is Floriana’s Nicolo Baldacchino.

Miller’s probable formation is the following:

Reuben Gauci, Alex Muscat, Ryan Mintoff, Gareth Sciberras, Clayton Failla, Shaun Bajada, Andrei Agius, Paul Fenech, Trevor Cilia, Christian Cassar, Cleaven Frendo.

Miller said he expected today’s match to be one big, tough match. “I need to have a team of fighters. I cannot field a player who is not ready to fight for every ball. The Croatians are the strongest in the group. They are strong, fast and technically good.

“But we are also well prepared. We trained in the morning only yesterday and then had a good result. I just hope that my boys will play some good football as they did against Hungary last Friday despite the 2-0 defeat in Budapest. I think that was the best match we have played so far in the Group qualifiers,” said the coach.

Women’s match at 4pm

Malta and Croatia also face each other in the UEFA women’s championship match at Corradino today (kick-off 4pm).

National coach Pierre Brincat and his assistant Alfred Zammit have the following squad of players at their disposal:

Goalkeepers: Tonina Dimech, Rita Tagliaferro.

Defenders: Maria Azzopardi, Rebecca D'Agostino, Chantal Marie Fenech, Leslie Ann Galea, Isabelle Mazzitelli, Natasha Pace, Alexia Jane Scicluna, Lyndsey Shead, Anne Marie Vella.

Midfielders: Theresa Agius, Jane Coates, Marisa Deguara, Rosanne Gatt, Chantal Grech, Dorianne Theuma.

Strikers: Ylenia Carabott, Sarah Jane Caruana, Kathleen Saliba.