Malta face hosts Slovakia in opening match

Dirk Dowling's Malta national team today plays its first match from the qualification round of the European Championship Group A when facing hosts Slovakia in Bratislava. Malta had earned the right to participate at this stage of the championship after...

Dirk Dowling's Malta national team today plays its first match from the qualification round of the European Championship Group A when facing hosts Slovakia in Bratislava.

Malta had earned the right to participate at this stage of the championship after a superb third placing in the Group B qualifiers in Sweden last year. On that occasion, Malta beat Turkey 7-6 in the play-off for 3rd/4th place.

Dowling has a depleted squad in Slovakia as the chances of retaining the Group A status seem very remote, if not impossible. Besides playing against stronger opponents this time around, Malta will award two walkovers on Saturday and Sunday as the ASA contingent returns home in time for the local general elections.

Among the key players not travelling with the ASA delegation were Jonathan Valletta, John Paris, Francesco Cutajar and Charlie Zammit, all unavailable.

Today - vs Slovakia. Tomorrow - vs Turkey. Friday - vs Greece.

Walk-overs: (Saturday) vs Romania; (Sunday) vs Poland.

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