National coach Dusan Fitzel yesterday criticised his own players because they still commit mistakes.

At the end of the match, the coach from the Czech Republic said: “We still commit many mistakes and we have to improve. It is true we got a draw, but we could have been punished by other opponents. Do not forget that Austria are still in their mid-season break while we are at our peak at this time of the year.”

Fitzel, however, was pleased with the result. “It is good to draw against Austria, but the performance could have been better. Tactically we played well on both flanks. Many of my players played well, but as usual we could not play an offensive match all the time,” he said, while also confirming that Gilbert Agius was not injured. “He just felt dizzy and after 20 minutes it was all normal,” said Fitzel.

The coach also spoke about the next European Championship qualifying match against Moldova. “It is an away game and I believe it will be difficult. But I must tell my players that we have to keep our feet to the ground. Everyone knows what happened against Lithuania after the victory over Hungary. Yet, I think we can get some positive result there,” he said.

Malta striker Michael Mifsud said he thought Malta played a good match and were unlucky not to have won. “I had two efforts saved by the goalkeepers. They did not have too much chances and they were also very lucky in getting their equaliser,” he said.

Mifsud believes his colleagues are now believing in their capabilities much more than they used to in the past. “The coach has played his role in changing such a mentality. Now we look forward with optimism and hope to get a positive result in Moldova,” he said.

As to his move to Coventry, Mifsud said he was doing his best to win a regular place in the side.”I have had a good start. It is difficult but not impossible,” he added.

Austrian national coach Josef Hickersberger congratulated Fitzel on the draw and said Malta had made a lot of improvement since he had played here several years ago. “We are not happy with the result and even with our performance. I think the hard surface was the main factor behind the several mistakes committed by the players of both teams,” he said.