The letter by Herman Buttigieg (TMID, 18 September) made me look up the results achieved in the recent World Cup qualifiers by countries that like us are considered as “minnows”. I included countries with a population smaller or about the same as Malta but excluded Iceland and Cyprus. This is what I found:

Malta v Portugal 0-4, Albania v Malta 3-0; Kazakhstan v Andorra 3-0, Andorra v England 0-2, Andorra v Belarus 1-3; Liechtenstein v Germany 0-6, Azerbaijan v Liechtenstein 0-0; Luxembourg v Greece 0-3, Switzerland v Luxembourg 1-2; San Marino v Poland 0-2; Serbia v Faroe Islands 2-0, Faroe Islands v Romania 0-1; Montenegro v Bulgaria 2-2, Montenegro v Eire 0-0.

It is obvious to me that Malta's performance till now was the worst of all. The largest number of goals were scored against us (over two matches). I don't think it is solely a case of building self-confidence but of having more of the national team players playing abroad where the training they receive is professional and the level of the football played is much higher.

In the meantime the national team coach can't do much more than put 10 men behind the ball and hope for the best.

Adrian Borg

L-Iklin