HENRY BRINCAT

A victory is needed against Moldova in today’s Euro 2008 qualifier at Ta’ Qali if we are to maintain our hopes of avoiding bottom place in Group C.

And that might not be enough either. At present we occupy the bottom place on five points, just one below today’s opponents Moldova, who have six points. If Malta wins today, we will overtake our opponents by two points and then all would depend on the outcome of the remaining matches. Malta still has to play against Greece in Athens and Norway at Ta’ Qali, while Moldova will play at home against Hungary in their final match.

Taking a glimpse at the standings, it seems obvious that Greece and Turkey are the great favourites to advance to the finals from this group, though Norway are threatening Turkey seriously. They are now just one point behind the Turks who missed out on four precious points in draws against bottom teams Moldova and Malta.

I think that Moldova are also aware of the situation and they are also aiming not just to pip Malta in the battle to avoid bottom place in the standings, but also to taste revenge after the Malta side managed a creditable 1-1 draw in Chisinau.

The Moldovans, encouraged by the home 1-1 draw against Turkey, will be playing with a lot of confidence this evening.

Here coach Dusan Fitzel and his boys have to be aware of the fact that the Moldovans have nothing in particular to aim for except, perhaps, to avoid defeat - even a draw will keep them ahead of Malta. They are probably aware that for Malta it will be difficult to obtain any more points from their remaining clashes against Norway and Greece.

The 2-0 defeat against Hungary last Saturday was no disaster. Considering Fitzel had to reshuffle his midfield due to the forced absence of Gilbert Agius and Jamie Pace, I cannot say our team disappointed.

It was in fact, a fighting performance by our boys, who only succumbed after what I considered two lapses in defence for which Justin Haber had no reply. Otherwise, the goalie was the star on that afternoon in Budapest as he foiled the Magyars time and again with some excellent interventions.

Fitzel, however, will not be opting for different tactics than usual this evening. Jamie Pace will be back in midfield after serving his one-match suspension, but Gilbert Agius will remain out – he is still nursing an injury which will keep him out for a few more weeks.

Fitzel is expected to retain Roderick Briffa in midfield in Gilbert Agius’s role, and I think it will be Kevin Sammut who will make way for the return in midfield of Pace. This will make it possible for George Mallia, who had a good game in Budapest, to move to the left flank.

In defence, Fitzel is not expected to make changes, thus retaining the back four who were on duty in Budapest, that is Scicluna and Azzopardi on the flanks and Said and Dimech in the centre.

One sincerely hopes that a large crowd will once again flock to the national stadium to give its full backing to the side on this important occasion. It worked against the mighty Turks and I see no reason why it cannot be repeated again this evening.