National coach John Buttigieg is expecting his boys to give Greece a good run for their money when the two sides meet in this evening’s qualifier at Ta’ Qali National Stadium (kick-off 8.30pm).

Despite considering the Greeks as one of the Group favourites – the others are Croatia – Buttigieg said yesterday his players were well prepared for the occasion and he is hopeful that his side will not only perform well as they did in last month’s friendly against Switzerland but also possibly obtain a positive result from this encounter.

Buttigieg said the squad has been preparing for this match since the last six weeks or so with the players doing their utmost to reach their best levels.

Asked about whether Roderick Briffa was available, Buttigieg said all the players in the 19-man squad were available. “Even Briffa is available. I rank his possibilities of making it to the starting line-up at 100 per cent,” he said confidently.

Briffa had been injured in a recent league match and missed Valletta’s last two encounters – including the Trophy quarterfinal against Hibernians. But he is now back to full fitness and eager to play against the Greeks.

Buttigieg described the Greens as a very strong side. “They have several tall players and that makes them slow in their build-up, but from what I have seen and what I have been told, what they lack in speed, they make up for it with physical stamina, technical qualities and vast experience.”

Asked whether he intended to make changes to the side that did so well against Switzerland last month, despite that having been a friendly match, the national coach said: “Despite that being a friendly match, it was also difficult, as all matches are for us. However, there will not be many changes to the side even if we have had to make some changes in the squad for various reasons.”

Buttigieg said he was not in a position to make comparisons with matches played against Greece in the past, especially the 2-0 win at the old Gzira Stadium in 1975. That match is still remembered for the brilliant display of goalkeeping by Robert Gatt, former MFA Under 21 national team coach and now Technical Director of the Association.

Buttigieg said times, tactics, players and everything had changed since then. “We are committed to doing our best for the national team and we hope we can produce our best to make it difficult for the Greeks,” he added.

National team captain Michael Mifsud also addressed yesterday morning’s press conference saying that he was sure his team-mates were all motivated to do their best against the Greeks.

“We have put aside the pay dispute with the MFA - although an agreement seems to be in sight – and we are all looking forward to give our best in this match,” he said.

Malta team

As usual, Buttigieg did not name his starting line-up. “And even if we have another session this evening, we will only be able to name the starting line up tomorrow,” he said yesterday.

But, in my humble opinion, it should not differ much from the following:

J. Haber; R. Briffa, A. Agius, J. Caruana, C. Mamo; S. Bajada (P. Fenech), G. Sciberras, J. Pace, A. Cohen; M. Mifsud, A. Schembri

The Malta squad is made up of the following players:

Goalkeepers: Andrew Hogg (Valletta); Justin Haber (Ferencvaros).

Defenders: Joseph Zerafa (Birkirkara), Jonathan Caruana (Valletta), Roderick Briffa (Valletta), Carlo Mamo (Marsaxlokk), Clayton Failla (Sliema Wanderers), Edward Herrera (Hibernians), Andrei Agius (Birkirkara).

Midfielders: Jamie Pace (Valletta), John Hutchinson (Central Coast Mariners, Australia), Gareth Sciberras (Marsaxlokk), Paul Fenech (Birkirkara), Ryan Fenech (Valletta), Shaun Bajada (Birkirkara), Andrew Cohen (Hibernians).

Strikers: Michael Mifsud (Qormi), Andre Schembri (Ferencvaros), Daniel Bogdanovic (Sheffield United).