The Malta national team led by Ray Farrugia, arrived in Bucharest on Friday after a long trip from Oslo, and then transferred to Ploiesti where they will face Romania at the Ilie Oana Stadium.

Later on Friday the Malta players a light training spin, the first after the defeat against Norway on Thursday. All players were tired after a long trip and a few hours night sleep after the Norway match, but otherwise in good shape.

Zach Muscat is still nursing an injury after colliding with goalkeeper Henry Bonello early in the Oslo game, and is still doubtful for the clash against Romania. This will only be the second clash between the two nations with the only previous match played at Ta' Qali last June, with Romania emerging easy winners 4-0.

Romania will be going all out for victory against Malta on Sunday to keep their qualification hopes alive. Their defeat in Bucharest against Spain on Thursday was a severe setback to the side led by former international Cosmin Contra.

At the moment Spain are virtually through as they are in command of the group with maximum points, 15 from five matches. They are followed by Sweden who have 10 and Norway who with eight points have leaped above Romania who stand with seven points.

With Sweden and Norway clashing at The Friends Arena in Stockholm in an almost decisive Scandinavian derby, Romania must take advantage of their game against Malta and try to grab the points at stake.

Malta coach Ray Farrugia will certainly make some changes to the team that started against Norway on Thursday. It will be another arduous task for the local boys against a polished Romania side.

Malta lost 2-0 against Norway with Ray Farrugia describing the performance as a great tactical achievement. However the Malta team rarely ventured forward and found it very hard to construct play, especially in the first half when the Norwegian pressing gave the Maltese little or no space ta manoeuvre.

Usually these back to back matches are hard for the local players with little time to recover and little time to train, especially when these back to back matches are on foreign soil, with much wasted time on travelling.

However as Farrugia said in Oslo before the match against Norway, the team is well prepared physically and he has a good selection from which to rotate and select fresh legs, for this difficult match against Romania.