Malta started its commitments in the UEFA Futsal Euro 2012 Preliminary Round with a 6-1 defeat against superior France in Group D.

France took a three-goal lead within 13 minutes.

In the second half Malta pushed forward and created a couple of goal scoring opportunities but France scored two more goals before Glen Bonello pulled one back for Malta to the joy of the good crowd present at Cottonera Sports Complex.

Barely a minute later La Boette scored the sixth for France.

In the first match, Bulgaria overturned a 2-0 deficit against Lithuania to win comfortably 7-3.

Malta plays Bulgaria today and Lithuania on Monday.