When the FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010 qualifying groups were unveiled early in January our national team coach, Dusan Fitzel, took no time in pointing out the stern tests Malta will have in the campaign that lies ahead. It is, one can say, a recurring situation.

Understandably, our permanent tag of minnows cannot be erased, especially when one considers the size of our country and the resultant demographic limitations.

We battle on as well as we can in the hope that we reach pre-set targets. It will be no exception this time, but our recent showings indicate that we are playing positive football and also holding our own against famed opposition.

The teams in our group are very strong. In no way did Fitzel play down the credentials, even of Albania, the lesser-known team among the other five making up the lot. Besides that, Denmark, Hungary, Portugal, and Sweden are all footballing countries of repute and, needles to say, Malta will again be facing a daunting task.

The World Cup group matches are due to start in September, with Malta coming up against the much-vaunted Portugal in the first encounter at home. Meanwhile, and ahead of those matches, Fitzel will have to examine all options as to the individuals around whom he will build his squad.

Yardstick

Domestic competitions will always constitute a yardstick according to which Fitzel bases his selection. But a more fitting and comprehensive gauge is the international platform, where our players will have to perform at higher levels.

The forthcoming Malta International Football Tournament between 2 and 6 February, on the threshold of the 2010 World Cup qualifying chapter, should provide our coach with an opportunity to evaluate the qualities of his players, while also having a look at new faces he may introduce. In fact he has picked a squad of 28 players.

The countries to be hosted in this event are Armenia, Belarus and Iceland. This biennial international tournament, the 14th of its kind, after it started in 1986 under the name of the then sponsors, Rothmans, will no doubt be very useful preparation for Malta in view of the team’s bigger competitive commitments later this year.

These three opponents are certainly no new acquaintances. Malta played Armenia twice in friendlies, in 1994 and last year, having lost both matches.

For Belarus, this will be the fourth time they will be facing our national team and their second participation in this tournament. They beat us in the 2004 event, and again a year later in a Euro qualifier in Malta, while we managed to share the spoils in the corresponding away match in that competition.

Iceland are more familiar opponents, this being the third time they are participating in the tournament and the 13th encounter against Malta overall. Nine defeats, two wins and a draw are our package in World Cup, Euro qualifiers, tournament and friendly matches against these Nordic opponents.

Beyond the competitive element of the tournament, there will be an opportunity for the Maltese public to admire the skills of some internationally-renowned players who turn out at least on a weekly basis for big clubs in European leagues and Euro competitions, including the Champions League.

Star performer

Arsenal’s Alexander Hleb is the first to spring to mind. This player from Belarus possesses exquisite qualities as a constructive midfielder, as well as a forward-thrust that can never be underestimated. Indeed, a star performer who should be one of the main attractions during the tournament.

Besides this player, Belarus have about seven others playing for Russian, German and Italian teams.

Unfortunately Iceland’s Eidur Gudjohnson, of Barcelona, also of Chelsea fame, will not be in his country’s squad which contains about 15 players currently engaged with clubs in England, Sweden, Italy, Norway and Holland. Two of these, Hermann Hreirardsson and Rafn Steinsson play for Premier League clubs in England.

Certain standing

Armenia, too, has its share of players performing in bigger and more renowned leagues such as those in Sweden, Denmark, Rumania, Cyprus and Moldova.

As one can see, these are players of a certain standing who will grace our soil early in February. They will add to the spectacle and ignite greater interest among the Maltese, who normally watch these footballers on the small screen.

Due to this exposure on TV there is a tendency to take the reputation of these players for granted.

But only until we have the chance to see them playing in our midst. And such tournaments are links towards this end.

On top of that, we have the opportunity to see our own players in action, especially those who are successfully plying their trade abroad. We need not say more about Michael Mifsud, while Luke Dimech, Andre Schembri, Justin Haber and Udo Nwoko are also attractions in themselves.

The Maltese public cannot miss the opportunity of admiring quality players in action, and good crowds are expected to fill the home stands on match days.

The attractive three-day ticket packages and the incentives offered by the sponsors, Coca Cola and Vodafone, should lure people of all ages, including families, to the stadium to give our players the support they need to perform with pride and dignity.

As usual, the very organised Supporters’ Group, South End Core, will give the lead in this backing.

It is expected that the public will complement this group in a massive way. Our boys in Red will need all the vocal push they can get.

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Tournament programme

Today

3pm Belarus-Iceland

5.15pm Malta-Armenia

Monday 4 February

5.30pm Belarus-Armenia 7.45pm Malta-Iceland

Wednesday 6 February

5.30pm Iceland-Armenia 7.45pm Malta-Belarus