Carragher, Chouaref handed Malta debut by coach De Leo for Finland World Cup qualifier

James Carragher and Ilyas Chouaref were both named in Malta’s starting formation for Friday’s World Cup qualifier at the National Stadium.

Carragher and Chouaref were both handed a passport earlier this year that made them eligible to play for the Maltese national team and coach Emilio De Leo seems to have been impressed with their ability to get accustomed to their new team-mates when he both named them in his starting XI for the match against Finland.

Earlier this year, Times of Malta first revealed how Jamie Carragher, who earned 38 caps for England as a player, and his son, James, had been granted citizenship by registration.

The popular football pundit’s grandfather Paul Vassallo was from Qormi and married an English woman before moving to Bootle in the UK. 

On the other hand, Ilya Chouaref also received his passport also through his Maltese connections through the Xuereb family from Nadur, Gozo, which includes his grandfather.   

On Thursday, Malta coach De Leo sounded delighted with the way both Carragher and Chouaref had settled in nicely with the team and said he was impressed with their level of commitment during training.

That inevitably convinced De Leo to hand both players a starting berth.

Carragher is set to feature in a three-man defence alongside Kurt Shaw and Zach Muscat while experienced duo Steve Borg and Enrico Pepe were forced to settle with a place on the bench.

In midfield, Teddy Teuma was handed to task the team’s engine room alongside Matthew Guillaumier and Alexander Satariano with Joseph Mbong and Ryan Camenzuli patrolling the flanks.

Upfront, Chouaref teamed up with Paul Mbong in a bid to provide attacking spark to the national team who are looking to pick up their first points in their first outing in the World Cup qualifiers.