National coach John Buttigieg is hoping to see his team maintaining the momentum after the 2-0 victory over Georgia last month.

This evening his side will be facing Cape Verde Islands in another friendly match (kick off 8.30pm) in preparation for next Wednesday’s more important clash – a World Cup qualifier against Sweden at Ta’ Qali.

Buttigieg said he considered every match to be important, not least the friendlies such as that being played today. “I am sure my players will be fully concentrated on today’s match. It is only after today’s match is over that we turn our concentration on our next opponents, that is, Sweden,” he said yesterday morning.

Buttigieg said he was sure his players will show the same commitment they had shown against Georgia and will be trying to get another positive result. “The morale is high after the Georgia win and by winning again we will give ourselves a bigger boost for next Wednesday’s clash. They (Cape Verde) are not inferior opponents to us, but we cannot take any risks. In fact, we do not trust them on the field of play and we have to play our own match, as usual,” said Buttigieg.

The coach said he was not yet in a position yesterday to announce his starting line-up. “For me the result and the performance will be very important. It is my intention to give all the players in my squad a chance. The national team, however, is open to all,” he added.

Asked whether he was happy with the form of his national squad players with their teams in the league matches played so far, Buttigieg said they had played only a few matches. “The league is only in its initial stages. Some players are not yet fully fit physically, while others have found it difficult to play in the heat. Yet, we must continue explaining that there is a big difference playing in the Maltese field and in the international field. Here we cannot make any sort of comparison,” he said.

Two players missing tonight’s match because of injuries are Alex Muscat and Gilbert Agius. The coach, however, said that this was more as a precaution to have both players available for Wednesday’s clash against Sweden.

The coach said he was concerned by the fact that Michael Mifsud has not yet settled down with a team. “I was happy with his form in the match against Georgia. Although he is lacking match practice, the others have played just a few matches. It would be more ideal for him to have a team,” said the coach.

Buttigieg also spoke about defender Luke Dimech who is once again out of the squad. “For me, what happens in the dressing room remains secret. It is something between him and me. The situation has not seen any new developments since he was dropped for the match against Georgia,” he added.

Buttigieg was also asked whether he was concerned that in this friendly, his players might not take today’s match seriously in view of next Wednesday’s clash against Sweden. “I am not concerned. I am sure that my players will give their all this evening as well. Let us not forget that we will have four to five days for our players to recover, so I do not see any problem,” he said.

Asked whether the Premier League suspension would leave an impact on the squad, Buttigieg replied in the negative. “Although I would have preferred to see the league continue, we must admit there will only be a one-weekend stop (next weekend) as this week no league matches were scheduled because of the international games,” he said.

Buttigieg has selected the following 18 for tonight’s match (goalie Mario Muscat is on standby)

Goalkeepers: A. Hogg, J. Haber.

Defenders: I. Azzopardi, J. Caruana, A. Agius, B. Said, K. Scicluna, M. Muscat.

Midfielders: J. Pace, K. Sammut, R. Briffa, A. Cohen, S. Bajada, R. Fenech, C. Failla.

Strikers: M. Mifsud, A. Schembri, J.P. Mifsud Triganza.