Devis Mangia, the Head Coach of the National Teams, has selected an extended squad of 30 players ahead of the triple header which will see the national team play home against Cyprus and away against Slovenia and Russia as part of the national team’s commitments in Group H of the European Qualifiers – World Cup 2022.
Supporters will be back to watch the national team at the National Stadium for the match against Cyprus on September 1, since the team played behind closed doors since 2019. It will be the first game in front of supporters since Head Coach Devis Mangia took the helm.
On Saturday September 4th, Malta will play Slovenia in Ljubljana, and three days later, on September 7th, faces Russia in Moscow.
Head Coach Devis Mangia was constrained to make a number of changes to the squad who played against Kosovo and Northern Ireland in June 2021. Goalkeepers Matthew Grech and Cain Formosa of Pembroke Athleta and San Gwann FC respectively were called up for the first time.
There were a further 7 changes from the squad that played the friendly matches three months ago. Floriana’s Brandon Paiber returns to the national team as he got his first call-up under Devis Mangia’s helm. He joins Jan Busuttil who once again forms part of this provisional squad, together with Gzira United’s Nevin Portelli and Sliema Wanderer’s striker Omar Elouni. The 30-man squad includes Steve Borg, Paul Mbong and Zach Muscat who had missed the matches in June.
After having played three matches in Group H, Malta has obtained one point in a draw in Slovakia. Malta lost to Russia in its first match of the competition at home, and the away to Croatia.
Devis Mangia will reduce his squad to 25 players before the departure to Slovenia.
MALTA SQUAD
GOALKEEPERS
Henry Bonello (Ħamrun Spartans); Cain Formosa (San Ġwann); Jake Galea (No Club); Matthew Grech (Pembroke Athleta)
DEFENDERS
Andrei Agius (Hibernians); Steve Borg (Gżira United); Karl Micallef (Ħamrun Spartans); Zach Muscat (Casa Pia); Enrico Pepe (Birkirkara); Kurt Shaw (Sliema Wanderers)
MIDFIELDERS
Cain Attard (Birkirkara); Ryan Camenzuli (Floriana); Triston Caruana (Valletta); Juan Carlos Corbolan (Ħamrun Spartans); Joseph Essien Mbong (Ħamrun Spartans); Nicolai Muscat (Gżira United); Brandon Diego Paiber (Floriana); Steven Pisani (Gżira United); Nevin Portelli (Gżira United); Teddy Teuma (R.U. Saint Gilloise); Dunstan Vella (Hibernians); Dexter Xuereb (Gżira United); Yannick Yankam (Birkirkara)
FORWARDS
Jan Busuttil (Floriana); Shaun Dimech (Valletta); Omar Elouni (Sliema Wanderers); Jake Grech (Hibernians); Paul Mbong (Birkirkara); Luke Montebello (Birkirkara); Alexander Satariano (Frosinone Calcio)
