Malta coach Michele Marcolini has announced his 26-man squad ahead of the upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures, where Malta will compete in League D, Group 2 against Moldova and Andorra. This upcoming competition is being described and referred as being a scary and sensitive competition by those who follow Maltese football as it will be the make or break for the Malta FA’s long promised project.
Coaches employed at the technical centre of the MFA have been also quoted to say that this UNL group is also a make or break for Italian coach Michele Marcolini.
The squad features some new faces, including Ħamrun Spartans’ Mattias Ellul, who has earned his first call-up to the national team. Jake Vassallo, although previously named in the preliminary squad, has now made it to the final selection for the first time. Additionally, several players who missed the June international window due to various reasons, have made their return to the squad.
The 26-man squad is as follows:
Goalkeepers
Henry Bonello (Hamrun Spartans FC), Rashed Al Tumi (FC Sheriff Tiraspol – MOL), Matthew Grech (Zabbar St Patrick FC)
Defenders
Kurt Shaw (Hibernians FC), Jean Borg (Sliema Wanderers FC), Zach Muscat (No club), Jake Vassallo (Mosta FC), Luke Tabone (Haverfordwest County AFC – UK), Mattias Ellul (Ħamrun Spartans FC)
Midfielders
Joseph Essien Mbong (Ħamrun Spartans FC), Carlo Zammit Lonardelli (Floriana FC), Adam Magri Overend (Sliema Wanderers FC), Ryan Camenzuli (Ħamrun Spartans FC), Myles Beerman (Sliema Wanderers FC), Teddy Teuma (Stade de Reims FC), Bjorn Kristensen (Hibernians FC), Matthew Guillaumier (FKS Stal Mielec Spolka Akcyjna – POL), Nikolai Muscat (Marsaxlokk FC), Yannick Yankam (Lexington SC), Steven Pisani (Sliema Wanderers FC), Jan Busuttil (Balzan FC)
Forwards
Luke Montebello (Hamrun Spartans), Paul Mbong (Birkirkara FC), Kyrian Nwoko (Floriana FC), Kemar Reid (Floriana FC), Jurgen Degabriele (Hibernians FC)
The team will begin their campaign with a match against Moldova on the 7th of September at the Stadionul Zimbru in Chisinau (kick-off 18:00), followed by a clash with Andorra three days later at the Estadi Nacional in Andorra la Vella (kick-off 20:45). Both of Malta’s upcoming UEFA Nations League games will be aired on TVMSports+.
