Grima earns Heese's nod for Zagreb trip

Malta coach Horst Heese yesterday handed Massimo Grima a berth in his final 18-man squad for Wednesday's 2006 World Cup assignment in Croatia.

Grima, 25, was recalled to the national squad only four months ago but his fine performances for Valletta in the Premier League as well as the commitment he has displayed during the training drills at the Ta' Qali grounds seem to have convinced Heese to take the former Malta U-21 skipper to Croatia.

"I have nothing but praise for Grima," Heese commented after a Malta training session recently. "Since we called him to train with us, his attitude has been excellent."

Grima had been included in Heese's squad for the friendly matches away to Andalusia (0-0) in December and at home to Norway (0-3) last month.

In the friendly against Norway, which also doubled up as former skipper David Carabott's swansong, Grima came on in the second half for Steve Wellman. His inclusion in the squad for the Croatia qualifier represents his first call-up for a competitive match away from our shores.

Heese finalised his 18-man squad after the training session yesterday evening, the last one for the Maltese squad before they board an Air Malta charter flight early tomorrow morning on their way to Zagreb.

Jeffrey Chetcuti, one of the more experienced elements in the Maltese team, had to pull out of the squad yesterday after he felt pain in his left hamstring.

"This hamstring injury has been bothering me for some weeks but I hoped that the pain would recede by the time the squad flew out to Zagreb," Chetcuti said.

"This morning, though, I felt that my injury was seriously limiting my movement on the pitch and after consulting the MFA doctor, it was decided that it would be better if I skipped this match because I'm not fully fit.

"This has not been my luckiest season for Malta," Chetcuti, 31, added.

"I had to miss some matches due to increasing work commitments and now that I have started to train regularly after I opened my own business, my chances of playing against Croatia have been upset by injury."

Chetcuti's withdrawal is a further blow for Heese who on Monday lost Birkirkara's Roderick Briffa to a knee injury.

Newcomer Renie Forace, of Valletta, gained his first official call-up to the national squad after being named in Heese's 18-strong group. Floriana's Wellman and Jamie Pace, of Marsaxlokk, were the ones who suffered exclusion yesterday evening.

Foreign-based players Michael Mifsud, of Lillestrom in Norway, and Mansfield Town's Luke Dimech are expected to join up with the Maltese squad in Croatia tomorrow.

Wednesday's qualifier, Malta's fifth in this World Cup qualifying trek, will be played at the Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb (kick-off 6 p.m.).

Malta's 18-man squad...

Goalkeepers - Saviour Darmanin, Justin Haber (both Birkirkara).

Defenders - Ian Azzopardi (Floriana), Luke Dimech (Mansfield, England), Adrian Pulis (Hibs), Brian Said (Sliema W.), Renie Forace (Valletta).

Midfielders - Gilbert Agius (Valletta), Stefan Giglio (Sliema W.), Massimo Grima (Valletta), George Mallia (Birkirkara), Claude Mattocks (Sliema W.), Kevin Sammut (Msida SJ), Peter Pullicino (Hibs), Ivan Woods (Sliema W.).

Strikers - Etienne Barbara (Birkirkara), Andrew Cohen (Hibs), Michael Mifsud (Lillestrom, Norway).

Miller's selection

Mark Miller, the Malta U-21 coach, also trimmed his 26-man squad to 18 players yesterday ahead of the UEFA U-21 qualifier away to Croatia at FC Radnick's Velika Gorica Stadium on Tuesday (kick-off 4 p.m.).

On Friday, Croatia won their U-21 qualifier against Iceland 2-1 to make it four wins in four matches and strengthen their top position in the group. In another Group Eight qualifier on Friday, Sweden obtained a 2-1 away win against Bulgaria.

A back problem has ruled Pietà goalkeeper Andrew Hogg out of the trip to Croatia.

Hibs' speedster Clayton Failla is also sidelined with injury while Floriana's Mauro Brincat has been overlooked for selection after he stopped training with the Malta U-21 squad following the 1-0 defeat to Turkey U-20 in a friendly match earlier this month.

Miller's final list contains two relatively new faces in Mosta's in-form player Dyson Falzon and Birkirkara goalkeeper Bernard Paris.

Malta U-21 squad

Goalkeepers - Reuben Gauci (Floriana), Bernard Paris (Birkirkara).

Defenders - David Camenzuli (Pietà H.), Josef Mifsud (Msida SJ), Ryan Mintoff (Hibs), Alex Muscat (Sliema W.), Shaun Tellus (Marsaxlokk).

Midfielders - Andrei Agius (S. Mascalucia), Roderick Bajada (Msida SJ), Shaun Bajada (Marsaxlokk), Christian Cassar (Floriana), Dyson Falzon (Mosta), Paul Fenech (Msida SJ), Cleaven Frendo (Marsaxlokk), Gareth Sciberras (Pietà H.).

Forwards - Trevor Cilia (Floriana), Terrence Scerri (Hibs), Andrè Schembri (Marsaxlokk).