Malta kick-started their European Championship 2008 qualifying group campaign in fumbling fashion when they were soundly beaten by Bosnia Herzegovina at home early in September and then finished on the wrong end of a 2-0 scoreline against Turkey in an away match played on neutral German soil a few days later.

Our national team will try to make amends for these two defeats with a gratifying performance against Hungary on Wednesday that will hopefully be reflected by a positive result.

This fence-mending exercise by Dusan Fitzel’s side against opponents who were faced with a similar task when suffering a 4-1 home drubbing at the hands of Norway in their first match and then responded with a 3-1 away victory against Bosnia Herzegovina, is surely a difficult proposition.

Although Malta will not easily shed off the tag of minnows, past performances suggest that, at times, they managed to pull off surprise results even against all odds.

Holding Croatia and then Bulgaria to 1-1 draws in the World Cup 2006 qualifying group matches this time last year indicated that our team is capable of turning the form-book upside down when least expected.

In a home match in December 1988 and then in Hungary four months later, our team rocked the Magyars when they twice held them to a draw

(1-1 and 2-2) in World Cup qualifying matches.

Could those results be a good omen for the Maltese to raise more than a flutter on the European scene?

An optimal frame of mind, a sound defensive set-up as a platform to disciplined collective play when moving forward, and an ability to grab scoring opportunities will be needed by our players in order to come out of the match with their heads held high.

These psychological and technical qualities on the pitch will have to be complemented by constant support from the stands. Such backing has to be provided by all of us who have our national team at heart.

Wednesday’s match will be another opportunity for the team to raise our hopes and make us believe that Malta can, after all, shake the world order and spring surprises.

The onus is on the Maltese to perform soundly and at the same time, on our supporters to turn up in numbers and give their wholehearted backing to their national team.

Hungary, replete with players who ply their trade in England and other top European countries, certainly have the technical edge, but the Maltese can never be underestimated.

Indeed, one hopes for better pastures for Malta’s national side as they pit their strength against the Hungarians on Wednesday.

The match kicks off at 7.15pm

ALEX VELLA

MFA Media Communications officer