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The
Malta National team
Shake-up needed immediately
Michael Mifsud leaving two Icelandic defenders helpless in
last Wednesday’s match |
After
the 5-0 thumping at the hands of Denmark, Malta suffered the humiliation
of losing 4-1 at home to Iceland. I recently wrote that after such
debacles coach Josif Ilic should go and that Michael Mifsud should
start playing for the national side. He did on so Wednesday and
he was practically the best player on the field. RAY ABDILLA speaks
about the realities of the national team, and feels that a shake-up
is needed without delay.
It is not the norm that Malta takes the lead in an international
match, we usually absorb the pressure and try playing on the counter
attack. We know our limitations and play according to the opposition.
Against the Czech Republic, in that famous 0-0 draw, we had defended
for long stretches and, with some good luck and a superb Mario Muscat
display in goal, we did it.
Against Albania, who were not as strong as the Czechs, we were routed
3-0. But that was away from home, even though our marking should
have been better. They even had a man sent-off with the score still
at 0-0, but we were nevertheless an under par side.
Again it was a superb match for goalkeeper Muscat, who outclassed
the others and his point blank saves kept the Albanians at bay.
It happened once again against Denmark a couple weeks ago. Not only
was our marking awful, but Ilic himself had admitted at the time
that we did not have the players to mark the Danish strikers.
It seems that we failed to learn our lesson and, unfortunately,
it happened again last Wednesday. Against a lesser side our opponents
were catching us frequently. To refresh one’s mind, it was
Iceland we were playing, not Denmark or the Czech Republic.
To be fair, the Icelanders have improved very much and in the last
Euro qualifiers they even gave the French a fright. But still we
were playing a side that approximately 20 years ago we beat not
at home but at the neutral stadium of Messina. It was a competition
match and the game was played in Messina because of a ban at the
Gzira Stadium.
However, we can’t go on bringing up excuses all the time. The
Rothmans Premier League is now over and done with. Valletta are
the Champions, Sliema runners-up and Birkirkara practically third.
Some told us recently to forget the Swedish debacle because of the
league commitments. But against Iceland, we’ve gone back to
the level we were at during the match in Sofia (when we lost to
Bulgaria without even having a shot at goal) - a Maltese team lacking
ideas with hardly any plan at all and a team lacking midfield creativity.
On a positive note, at last Sliema young prodigy Michael Mifsud
was given his chance. The media, including SportToday has been crying
out for a long time to give Malta’s top scorer a chance, and
at last his baptism by fire commenced last Wednesday. And he surely
proved the media and the critic’s right.
He was a joy to watch. A player who still give the Maltese football
enthusiasts hope that we can do well. We are not saying that we
will qualify for the finals of a big competition, such as the World
Cup or the European Championships but at least foreign teams, especially
in Malta, will be made to sweat to win the points.
Michael Mifsud’s goal against Iceland was superb. The way he
controlled the ball and blasted it into the net was a real joy to
watch. For me he is already of an international stature and if this
lad keeps his head, I would not be surprised that he will make it
with a big European club in the very near future.
He is the type of player who resembles Michael Owen of Liverpool.
His pace, his control of the ball and his change of speed is amazing.
Having a partner who could shied the ball well and open spaces for
him will make him more deadly and surely a better player.
So what’s the problem with the national team? In midfield we
still lack creativity. Stefan Giglio is a very good player but he
can’t be the player that does everything. The tigerish CSKA
Sofia midfielder needs a player beside him who can read the game
well, tackle well and create as well.
It is not easy to find that type of midfielder, but if I had to
pick one, it is Massimo Grima. Sorry, "Zazu", I don’t
want to ruin your Under 21 side but don’t have any options,
although my views could be implemented if the present Under 21 coach
would be made national coach.
The Maltese spectator has all the right to criticise and boycott
the games. Unfortunately these kind of results are contributing
to a sparse crowd at Ta' Qali despite the fact that women and pensioners
could go and watch for free.
So what is wrong? I believe that Josif Ilic should take full responsibility
for this debacle. During his reign we managed to get some good or
fair results but it is time now for a change. I believe that Ilic
was not as successful as some of his predecessors such as Guentcho
Dobrev and Pippo Psaila.
The Under 21 Malta side under the guide of Ray ‘Zazu’
Farrugia, played on Tuesday evening drawing 1-1 to Iceland. Once
again the kids are showing the way forward.
The senior side managed by Josif Ilic needs a change and it just
has to recover not only from Wednesday’s loss, but also from
losses at the hands of Albania, Bulgaria, and Denmark while also
having to recover from other huge disappointments such as the 5-0
defeat against Iceland last July.
Remember when we beat this lot when we were only part-timers? We
beat them not in Malta but in Messina thanks to a Leli Fabri drive
(sorry but I had to mention it again).
Iceland simply won a one-sided friendly international 4-1 against
Malta on Wednesday with Chelsea’s striker Gudjohnsen the inspiration
behind their victory.
Some might argue that with any other coach at the helm we still
wouldn’t perform miracles and would keep on losing.
Yes, that may be the case but still like any Prime Minister, President
etc. a change always instils a more positive atmosphere. There should
also be a discussion if we need to find another way forward for
our national team players. Should we revert to our old full-time
professional scheme?
I THINK SO. And I also think we should invest more in our youngsters.
Maybe, even now, we should start playing the likes of Michael Mifsud
- who looks as if he is the nearest product to Carmel Busuttil.
A word on Busuttil is that the Maltese should thank this man for
being our ambassador for Maltese football and it is a great pity
that he had to retire with such a match. How he would have loved
to have had the likes of Ray Vella (Mundu), Michael Degiorgio, Martin
Gregory, Alex Azzopardi, etc. beside him at the time.
But life should go on and we should look to the future now. We should
start looking at the likes of Massimo Grima, Claude Mattocks, Mark
Anthony Bonnici, Adrian Mifsud, Rene Forace, Malcolm Licari and
Joe Farrugia.
A pat on the back should be also given to David Carabott, who on
Wednesday celebrated a century of performances with the national
side. He is another player who always gave 100 per cent for his
country.
The future! Well some might ask - who I am to make a decision on
such a delicate issue as the Malta national side? Yes, maybe so,
but I think I’m entitled to an opinion.
I believe that with Ray ‘Zazu’ Farrugia at the helm, Carmel
Busuttil as his assistant and a line-up similar to: Muscat; Bonnici,
Chetcuti, Forace, Scicluna, Grima, Giglio, Camilleri, Mifsud, Agius,
Zahra, wouldn’t be bad for a start.
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