From Sweden with love...

When Croatia were here last week for a World Cup qualifying match, victory was regarded a formality as the Croats were banking on maximum spoils to consolidate their lead at the top of Group Eight.

The visiting Croats spent most of the match urging on their team, confident that a one-goal lead would prove enough to hand them the three points.

The match was played on the eve of a public holiday, one that is fondly treasured by the majority of the Maltese. September 8, or Victory Day as it is commonly known, remembers the heroics of those who repelled the great siege of the Ottoman Turks in 1565 and, more recently, during the difficult years of World War Two.

Maybe it was this spirit that spurred our team into action on September 7. As the festa fireworks lit up the night sky, Stipe Pletikosa, the Croatian goalkeeper, never imagined that he would be beaten from a free-kick that would complicate his team's march towards the World Cup finals in Germany next summer.

As Stephen Wellman's shot sailed past a maze of players crowding the penalty area and into the Croatians' net, the Maltese who bothered to venture to the stadium, erupted with joy.

The national team not only notched a deserved equaliser but also scored their first goal on home soil in this qualifying campaign.

This was no ordinary feat however. This was tiny Malta dealing a huge blow to the haughty Croats, the group leaders.

Goals scored by the Maltese in competitive matches at home are very hard to come by. The last time we managed a goal in a World Cup qualifier at Ta' Qali was in the 4-1 reverse to Iceland in 2001.

Yet, here was modest Malta making some noise as curious spectators Sweden could not believe their luck.

A last-gasp goal in Budapest propelled the Swedes to the top of the standings but this was only thanks to the shock result in Malta.

Things are getting a bit tricky for Croatia as they gear up for their final two qualifiers. On October 8, it's the showdown in Zagreb against Sweden.

Prior to the result in Malta, the Swedes were facing a must-win scenario before their match against Croatia in Zagreb. Now the situation has changed drastically.

A draw in Zagreb and a home victory against Iceland would lead the Swedes to Germany and leave the Croats computing the mathematical equations as to whether they will sneak into the finals as one of the two best runner-up teams in the groups or face a two-legged play-off.

Few have dwelt on the importance of this result. With Malta on two points and Iceland on four, here is a realistic chance for our nation to avoid bottom place.

A victory against Bulgaria in our final match at home next month and a defeat for Iceland against Sweden would mean exactly that.

Significant match

So, there is no need to remind Horst Heese and his players about the significance of the upcoming match. A billboard on the Birkirkara bypass is again enticing supporters to venture to the stadium to support the national side come October 12.

I have a hunch that this time football enthusiasts will make the trip to Ta' Qali in the hope of witnessing at first hand the end of a 30-year barren spell since Malta last won a competitive match on home soil.

Here is a chance for Heese to leave his mark. And what better way than to achieve this in his last match at the helm... a place in local football history awaits the German.

Three decades is a long time... too long to wait, especially for those who have been following the team on a regular basis.

The MFA did well to issue a statement thanking those who were at the stadium last week. Perhaps next time, the MFA would make it a point to remind fans that their presence should be accompanied by vociferous support.

Unfortunately, Malta's memorable 1-1 draw was marred by some Croatian hot-heads who vented their anger by smashing seats and hurling them in all directions.

The few police officers on duty were caught off guard and the MFA clearly did not anticipate crowd trouble on the stands.

The police were clearly not prepared to handle the violence caused by a faction of Croatian fans. Nor were they equipped to defend themselves.

This incident should serve as an eye-opener. In Malta, we do have a habit of going overboard whenever something of the sort happens. I won't be surprised if next month, an army of police officers are deployed on the terraces.

However, whenever the national team plays with so much at stake, police presence has to be more evident.

During league matches, police are present in good numbers and they are known to come down heavily on any individual who dares disobeys the simplest of instructions.

Last week, the hooligans were allowed a good half hour of mayhem during which they unleashed their angst without control.

I dread to think what would have happened had the enclosure been packed with diehard Maltese fans.

But, while the Croatians are still licking their psychological wounds, now is the time for Heese and his lads to finally obtain the first ever competitive win at Ta' Qali.