Malta concluded its group matches with a third defeat but most certainly playing their best match so far. Up against group leaders Croatia, who were coming from victories against Slovakia (7-0) and Portugal (5-0), Malta put up a dogged performance.

Pressing the Croats as high up the field as possible all the Maltese players should be commended for their diligence and focus. Croatia took a two-goal lead by the end of the first quarter and was 3-0 up at half-time.

The third quarter saw them get two further goals. Malta kept at their game and was rewarded with two goals in the last quarter. Keith Bajada scored the first and Juan Sarcia converted a penalty a couple of minutes from the final whistle. 

Earlier on Monday, Malta's adventure at the EuroHockey Championship III in Gibraltar continued  with a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Slovakia. A lacklustre first quarter in which they suffered two goals paved the way for this defeat. No goals were scored in the 2nd and 3rd quarter as the Maltese upped their game. A poor penalty corner conversion rate and a missed, twice taken penalty, meant that the Maltese got no reward for their efforts. Early in the 4th Quarter Luke Bajada pulled one back but any hopes of salvaging a point were squashed when the Slovaks broke and scored their third four minutes from time.

The two top teams from Pools A and B will face off in the semi-finals with Switzerland facing Portugal and Croatia taking on hosts Gibraltar. The remaining four teams (Turkey, Slovakia, Lithuania and Malta) will be grouped into Pool C keeping any points they won in the direct matches. To this effect, Turkey, who beat Lithuania and Slovakia, who beat Malta will start, will start off with three points while the others will start with no points. The team finishing bottom of Pool C will be relegated to Championship IV.