Malta’s national team will again be in action today when it faces Azerbaijan in a friendly match in Baku (kick off 6pm).

It is the first match being played by Pietro Ghedin’s side after the excellent 1-0 win against Armenia in Yerevan in June.
That match generated a lot of enthusiasm in Maltese football circles and everyone now hopes for more positive results in such international matches, even in a friendly like that being played today.
As every other match, it will not be easy, but this will certainly make the game a very useful exercise in view of the forthcoming  World Cup qualifiers against Denmark and Bulgaria next month.
Ghedin has taken the following squad for the match and it is from these players that he will be selecting his starting formation:
Goalkeepers: Henry Bonello (Sliema W.), Justin Haber (Birkirkara FC), Nicholas Vella (Tarxien R.). Defenders: Andrei Agius (Sassari Torres, Italy), Jacob Borg (Sliema W.), Ryan Camilleri (Hibernians), Clayton Failla (Hibernians), Clifford Gatt Baldacchino (Sliema W.), Mark Scerri (Sliema W.). Midfielders: Shawn Bajada (Valletta FC), Roderick Briffa (Valletta), Paul Fenech (Birkirkara FC), Ryan Fenech (Valletta), Edward Herrera (Birkirkara FC), Rowen Muscat (Birkirkara FC), Gareth Sciberras (Birkirkara FC). Strikers: Andrew Cohen (Hibernians), Michael Mifsud (no club), John Mintoff (Sliema W.), Andre Schembri (Omonia Nicosia). There are four uncapped players in Ghedin’s squad – Nicholas Vella, Jacob Borg, Clifford Gatt Baldacchino and Mark Scerri - but the Italian is expected to retain the same formation which had done so well in Yerevan, except for the forced absences of Sliema defender Alex Muscat and City’s central defender Luke Dimech. Muscat’s place is expected to be taken by Jacob Borg, Mark Scerri or Clifford Gatt Baldacchino. Gareth Sciberras might be used as a substitute for Dimech.
It is to be noted that Michael Mifsud will be playing his 97th match for Malta, meaning that if he plays the remaining three World Cup qualifying matches, he will earn his 100th cap.