National coach Dusan Fitzel will be giving the players who did not play against Turkey last Saturday to prove themselves they are worthy of a place in his Malta squad tomorrow in the friendly against Armenia.
He told reporters yesterday that despite being a friendly, this match will prove to be important. “Armenia have improved a lot. Suffice to say that they drew with Portugal and beat Poland in their Group A matches so far in the Euro 2008 qualifiers. They have a Scottish coach who has turned them into an English-style playing team.
“Despite all this, I am sure we can compete with them, especially if we again have the same backing from the fans as that of last Saturday. In this match, I will be giving more chance to those players who did not figure against Turkey. It is in such matches that they have to show me that they are good enough to be in my squad,” he said.
In Budapest next month, Fitzel will have to find a replacement for midfielder Jamie Pace, who will be suspended after receiving a yellow card on Saturday.
The boss from the Czech Republic even found time to criticise Coventry striker Michael Mifsud. “Had he not been selfish near the end, we could have won the match on Saturday. He should have played more collectively. Yet I can confirm that he arrived from Coventry with an injury. After a poor first half, however, he improved a lot in the second,” said Fitzel.
The coach said Haber, Mifsud and George Mallia have been dropped for tomorrow’s clash. “As for Mifsud, I think it would be better for him to be in better shape to continue fighting for a regular place at Coventry City. He will only be returning to England on Thrusday, but on this occasion, I thought it would be better to try and avoid an injury for Mifsud which might keep him out of the Coventry side next Saturday,” he added.
Veteran defender Brian Said, scorer of Malta’s first goal last Saturday, said: “It was a great honour for me to score that goal against Turkey. I must thank the fans who were fantastic. We were very happy to see all those people at Ta’ Qali providing such an electric atmosphere. We wish to see them back at Ta’ Qali in our forthcoming matches.”
Asked whether he was marking Cetin on the occasion of Turkey’s second goal, Said said Malta’s always played the zonal system in such matches. “What I can say is that he is a tall and strong player and, quite unfortunately for us, won that tussle, even if we could have done better on that occasion,” he added.