National coach Dusan Fitzel yesterday named an 18-man squad for next Wednesday’s friendly against Austria.

There are no surprises in his selection, though young goalie Andrew Hogg has been preferred to veteran Mario Muscat. There is also a recall for Birkirkara defender/midfielder Roderick Briffa, his first after returning from a long-term injury.

The squad is the following:

Goalkeepers: Justin Haber (Marsaxlokk), Andrew Hogg (Pieta H.).

Defenders: Ian Azzopardi (Floriana), Roderick Briffa (Birkirkara), Ian Ciantar (Sliema W.), Luke Dimech (Marsaxlokk), Brian Said (Sliema W.), Steve Wellman (Marsaxlokk).

Midfielders: Gilbert Agius (Valletta), Roderick Bajada (Sliema W.), George Mallia (Birkirkara), Jamies Pace (Marsaxlokk), Kevin Sammut (Marsaxlokk), Gareth Sciberras (Marsaxlokk).

Strikers: Andrew Cohen (Hibernians), Michael Mifsud (Coventry, England), Terence Scerri (Hibernians), Ivan Woods (Sliema W.).

Wednesday’s match, which kicks off at 6pm, will mark the 50th anniversary of Malta’s baptism of fire on the international football stage.

That memorable day was 24 February 1957 when Malta played Austria in a friendly match at the Empire Stadium Gzira in front of an official attendance of 17,421 but which was certainly watched by more spectators who found a vantage point on the roofs, balconies and windows around the stadium.

The narrow 3-2 defeat for Malta against the then strong and respected Austria team caused a stir in the football world in those days. However, our gallant display, as much as the result, will remain cemented in our football folklore.

This will be an occasion for the elderly football enthusiasts, who were present at the Empire Stadium half a century ago, to rekindle those memories and give hearty support to our present team when they face the Austrians.