Maltese football needs deep reflection after humiliating loss

Never has the Maltese men’s national football team played in a crunch match as the double-header against Luxembourg of the past two weeks, in the UEFA’s Nation’s League. 

It was a unique chance for Malta to get promoted to League C from League D, where it has languished since the Nation’s League started being organised. It was a rare chance for Maltese football fans to savour some form of substantive victory and be proud of the national colours. 

Unfortunately, it was not to be. Malta was humiliated by fellow minnows Luxembourg over two legs with a 5-0 aggregate. The hopes of celebrating Malta’s promotion were dashed by two lacklustre performances by the men in red. There are no ifs and buts; the team simply did not rise to the occasion. The fighting spirit was not there. The appetite to go for goal was lacking. The focus was missing. The build-up on the pitch was sluggish. The oomph was simply not there. 

To say the result was disappointing is an understatement. Luxembourg dominated both games—63% possession at Ta’ Qali Stadium and 58% possession at Luxembourg Stadium. In the away game when Malta was expected to go all out to try and recover lost ground, the team only managed 14 shots, with five on target. But the statistics are irrelevant because what counts is the final outcome—a missed opportunity to get promoted to League C. 

For fans it hurts to know that in the next Nation’s League tournament (2026/2027), while Malta will be playing in League D, smaller nations like San Marino, the Faroe Islands and Luxembourg will be playing in League C. 

However, the embarrassing loss to Luxembourg is just a symptom of deeper structural problems in Maltese football. Former national team player Andre Schembri made a pertinent observation in post-match comments on social media, when speaking of a “fragmented culture” in player development. “We don’t lack effort. We don’t lack people. What we lack is coherence, alignment, and courage,” Schembri observed and warned that minor adjustments will not be enough to address the problem. 

“If we truly want to move forward, we must be brave enough to rethink the system and build a new one, not just adjust the current one,” Schembri said. 

And maybe that is what is required at this stage—a deep reflection on what is wrong and a holistic, concrete plan to change course. 

The disappointment will not be solved by simply changing the coach or embarking on another fishing trip abroad to attract foreign players with some ancestral link to Malta. 

The Malta Football Association also has to rethink certain precepts that have creeped into the national team psyche such as the insistence to have a foreign coach at all costs and the lack of scouting in domestic leagues for up-and-coming talent with an appetite to prove themselves on the national stage. 

But there are other defects that need addressing. Today, Malta has no minors’ league, which is having its consequences on domestic player quality. A footballer playing regularly up until U-17 can suddenly find himself sitting on the bench of the main team for several seasons because of an influx of foreign players, some of which bring no added value to the Maltese game. The alternative would be for that player to join a club in the lower divisions to play regular football. But in a period when he should be aiming higher, the player suddenly finds himself playing at an inferior level. 

There are other aspects of the game that need improving but to do so a concerted effort is required involving the MFA, the Malta Premier League and the clubs. We understand that national team football may impinge on the interests of the clubs but it does not need to be like that. The pride to play for the national team should serve as a driving force, like it does in women’s football, where the fighting spirit is evident in the ground in every match. 

But pride alone is not enough to achieve results that are consistent. A mentality change is required. Unfortunately, too many male footballers are mollycoddled to the point that opportunities to play abroad are squandered because they feel home sick. Too many male footballers have a defeatist mentality when playing against foreign opponents. Many lack stamina because they prefer being seduced by the slow pace of the domestic league rather than challenge it and excel. Coaches and administrators seem comfortable with close defeats as long as the team played well. 

This is by no means an exhaustive critique of Maltese football and we are certain that there are several voices out there who can provide deeper reflections and meaningful solutions. 

Maybe it’s time for the MFA to break out of its cocoon, listen, evaluate and act, even if it means stepping on the toes of those who have grown too comfortable in their posts.