Malta plays its third qualifying Group C match – the second at home – this time facing Hungary, still smarting from a home defeat at the hands of joint Group leaders Turkey last Saturday.

The Magyars need a victory to get back into the reckoning for qualification from this Group which also includes defending champions Greece, who have collected six points from their opening two matches, and Norway, who are also on six points, but from three matches.

But Malta has made it clear that they will be no stepping stone this evening as they will be trying to obtain their first positive result in this campaign.

National coach Dusan Fitzel saw today’s opponents from close range on Saturday as he spied on them on the occasion of the Budapest match against Turkey.

Despite the fact that Hungary were not impressive at all, the coach from the Czech Republic must be aware that there is still quite a gap between the two teams today although he also knows that Malta has risen to the occasion in some matches in the not too distant past, for example,a gainst Croatia and Bulgaria during the last World Cup qualifying campaign.

For today’s match, Fitzel will not be able to make use of two players – defender Ian Ciantar and striker Ivan Woods.

The former is ruled out through injury, while Woods is suspended for this encounter.

Fitzel, as usual, declined to name his starting line-up, but last Friday, his assistant Mark Miller gave an indication that the 11 starting the match will be those who played against Turkey with the exception of Ciantar and Woods, who might be replaced by Kenneth Scicluna and George Mallia.

If that is so, the team to face Hungary should be the following:

Haber; Scicluna, Wellman, Said, Dimech; Agius, Sammut, Pace, Mallia, Mifsud, Schembri.

After yesterday evening’s training session, Fitzel said he was happy with the condition of his players, but still expected a tough match from the Hungarians.

He said: “Their defeat against Turkey last Saturday means that they are coming here to win and get back into the reckoning. It would have been different had they beaten Turkey.

“It is a pity there is not much interest here in the national team. With some strong support we would do much better,” he said.

The squads

Malta

Goalkeepers: Justin Haber (Royal Excelsior Virton, Belgium), Mario Muscat (Hibernians)

Defenders: Ian Azzopardi, (Floriana) Luke Dimech (M’Xlokk), Brian Said (Sliema), Kenneth Scicluna (B’Kara), Steve Wellman (M’Xlokk)

Midfielders: Gilbert Agius (Valletta), Trevor Cilia (Floriana), George Mallia B’Kara), Jamie Pace (M’Xlokk), Peter Pullicino (Msida SJ), Kevin Sammut (M’Xlokk), Gareth Sciberras (M’Xlokk

Strikers: Andrew Cohen (Hibernians), Michael Mifsud (Lillestrom, Norway), Terence Scerri (Hibernians), Andre Schembri (M’Xlokk)

Hungary

Goalkeepers: Gabor Kiraly (Crystal P.), Marton Fulop (Tottenham)

Defenders: Casaba Feher (PSV Eindhoven), Zoltan Kiss (Teva), Laszlo Eger (Ejido), Vilmos Vanczak (St Truiden), Leandro (Teva),

Roland, Juhasz (Anderlecht), Vilmos Sebok (Zte FC), Peter Halmosi (Teva), Adam Komplos (Teva)

Midfielders: Pal Dardai (Hertha Berlin), Andras Horvath (Spron), Balasz Toth (Kayseri), Attila Polonkai (REAC), Peter Kabat (Pasching)

Strikers: Szabolcs Huszti (Hannover), Zoltan Gera (West Bromwich), Peter Czvitkovics (MTK Budapest), Imre Szabics (Mainz), Sandor Torghelle (PAOK Thessaloniki), Thomas Sowunmi (Slovacko).