Ahead of Malta's very difficult UEFA EURO 2020 European qualifier Group F leaders Spain on Friday (kick-off 20:45) at the Ramon de Carranza Stadium, TMI spoke with Malta head coach Ray Farrugia about his plans for this match and Malta's last commitment on Monday next at the National Stadium in Malta against Norway - a match which puts down the curtain for Malta for this European qualifying campaign.

"Since I and my team took over, our plan has been - from the very beginning - that of sticking out our necks and risking for the sake of Maltese football. Our main objective was that of bringing in new youngsters (combined with the experience of more experienced ones) and we have been doing just that. Case in point is the latest two new faces in the squad, goalkeeper Rachid El Tumi, who is only 19 years old and another promising youngster, Brandon Paiber. These crop of youngsters are the future generation of Maltese football.  We have stuck out our necks for these objectives and I can tell you that we will be doing so even in these two matches against Spain and Norway. This project was based on these fundamental objectives. Having the guts to risk. This is the future of Maltese football," stated Ray Farrugia.

Both Farrugia and central defender Andrei Agius commented about the difficult opposition ahead of the match during the Malta Press Conference at the same stadium. "We are going to play against one of the best teams in the world if not the best," stated Farrugia.  

"We have to do our best and get the best we can out of this match even if it looks very difficult. As our coach has just stated we are playing against a world-class team and it will be difficult but we are prepared," stated Andrei Agius

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