Malta will start their historic adventure in the 16-team European Championship finals in Belgrade on Sunday when they meet France in their opening Group B match.
After Sunday’s opener, Malta will then face hosts Serbia, the current world champions, on January 14 and Olympic champions Croatia two days later.
At the end of the qualifying phase the Maltese will be involved in the positional play-offs.
Joe Caruana Curran, president of the Aquatic Sport Association (ASA) told a news conference yesterday that this will be a defining moment for our small country when competing against the elite of European and global waterpolo.
“It will be the strongest challenge ever for the Maltese team but it should lead to further improvement in our country’s learning curve,” he said.
“Whatever the results we will not stop here.”
Caruana Curran thanked the coaches and showed the ASA’s gratitude for the backing of the country’s highest authorities and other entities that included Sport Malta and the Good Causes Fund.
Coach Izzo, flanked by his assistant Anthony Farrugia and goalkeepers’ coach Adrian Cachia, spoke about the players’ intensive preparation that started in October.
“I have only words of praise for the players who showed great commitment in recent weeks,” Izzo told reporters.
“During the preparatory period the players underwent gym session and water work-outs which were geared towards redressing the imbalance caused by our team’s normal competitive schedule locally which is not in line with that of the other competing countries where the main season is in winter.”
The Malta coach stressed the importance of the team’s training camp in Spain last month.
“Our training camp in Spain was very useful in terms of tactical options,” he said.
“It mostly involved players fitting into their normal roles when a substitution is made. For instance, the deployment of John Brownrigg as a second centre to replace Jerome Gabarretta or left-hander Matthew Zammit was due to the last-mentioned player’s alternative position on the right flank at given moments.”
Young blood
The inclusion of 17-year-old Ben Plumpton and Nicholas Bugelli, 18, the youngest units to complement the established ones such as captain Niki Lanzon and vice-captain Steve Camilleri, will help the youngsters gain much-needed experience, Izzo said.
Finally, Izzo pinned his hopes on the players performing to their best in Belgrade.
“It will be imperative for the players to give their maximum against the heavyweights Serbia and Croatia. Caution will be upmost in our minds while maintaining an optimal physical and mental condition,” he said.
“Against France a fighting stance which can last long in the game is not out of the question.”
The Malta contingent for Belgrade, which will also include referee Mario Dalli who was appointed by governing body LEN to officiate in the championships, will be leaving Malta today.
Malta squad
A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon, J. Gabarretta, N. Bugelli, M. Meli, M. Zammit, S. Camilleri, J. Camilleri, J. Brownrigg, A. Cousin, B. Plumpton, D. Zammit, N. Grixti.