Malta will be facing Group favourites Croatia this evening in a European Championship qualifier which was originally scheduled to be played on 12 October.

The match in Zagreb is Malta’s fourth in Group F which also includes Greece, Georgia, Latvia and Israel. Earlier Malta lost 1-3 to Israel, 2-0 to Latvia and 1-0 to Georgia.

National coach John Buttigieg is forced to make some changes today to the side that lost to a last gasp goal in Georgia last month.

With Andrei Agius and Andrew Cohen suspended and with defender Carlo Mamo still being treated for an injury, the coach must make these changes as Malta faces another difficult task away from home.

Today’s opponents, Croatia, are probably the most in form side of all the teams and should prove to be more than a handful for Malta.

The Croatian side will certainly be going all out for the three points this afternoon and will put pressure on the Malta fort right from the very first whistle.

Buttigieg is prepared for this onslaught and is planning to try to contain the Croatians in midfield with a 4-5-1 formation.

It is not yet known who Buttigieg will make use of. Apart from still having some hope of including Carlo Mamo on the left flank, the coach might be intent on pushing Birkirkara’s Joseph Zerafa or Hamrun’s Massimo Grima into the fray, alongside Jonathan Caruana, in the heart of the defence. Before departure, Buttigieg contended that he had a number of players capable of playing that central defensive role.

Another contender could be Edward Herrera of Hibernians, although the latter’s favourite role is on the flank.

And John Hutchinson of Central Coast Mariners seems to be the favourite to take the place of the suspended Andrew Cohen, even if Ryan Fenech of Hamrun and Kevin Sammut of Valletta are both in form at present.

It is certainly a difficult choice for Buttigieg in the knowledge that he will have to instruct his boys to adopt a cautious approach considering the strength of the opposition.

At present, Greece lead the group with eight points from four matches, Croatia follow with seven from three games, Georgeia six points from four, Israel and Lativa four points from four and Malta with no points from three matches.

The match in Zagreb kicks off at 5.30pm and is being screened live by GO (Sports Channel).