The Malta national team will be in action for a fourth time in twelve days, hosting San Marino in a match from Group D2 of the UEFA Nations League at the National Stadium on Sunday, kick-off at 8:45pm.
This will also be the third UEFA Nations League match in a week and the second against San Marino. Malta had defeated San Marino 2-0 at the San Marino Stadium in Serravalle last Sunday courtesy of two second-half goals by Jan Busuttil and Matthew Guillaumier.
On Thursday, Malta lost an important game against Estonia, losing 1-2 with the visitors notching the winner deep into stoppage time. However, what was most worrying was the number of technical mistakes. Two mistakes led to Estonia’s two goals which eventually handed them an edge in Group D2 and now all they need to secure promotion to League C is to avoid losing to Malta at home in September.
Off the pitch, on Friday, the passing away of national team kit manager Mark Piscopo, better known as Lullu, came as a shock for the players, technical staff and all those involved in the national team and the association.
Addressing the Match Day -1 press conference on Saturday, Malta coach Devis Mangia said “I want to give my condolences from me, the technical staff, all the staff and the players to Lullu’s family – in particular, his wife and his son. This is one of the most difficult moments.”
“When I met Lullu for the first time, I said ‘he is a pillar of the national team’. I will leave, the players will change but Lullu will be always there.”
“The only thing that we can do now is to honour his memory and to do our best tomorrow to maintain open this group … win the game and then see what will happen in September.”
When asked how challenging was it to lift the morale of the players, considering the disappointing defeat to Estonia, Mangia said “It is difficult in a normal situation. You can imagine how more difficult it is now.” At the end, this is football. We are speaking about a person who is no longer here. Football is a game … everything passes. “
“It is clear that this is the game that we have to play. We have to do our best. If we win, we maintain open the group. But the real thing is that we can honour Lullu with a good performance and a good result.”
Zach Muscat added that Lullu was always there to lift the spirits of the national team players, especially when results were not those desired.
“Allegrija … kuraġġ …. those are the words which come to mind when I think about Lullu. When the mentality of the national team was a bit different, something which only the players could understand, he was always there to lift the pressure and the tension off the players. He used to help us process certain results with his joyful character and help you understand the better things in life. He was a key figure in the dressing room. The players always looked up to him,” added Muscat.
Story: MFA
Photo: Stephen Gatt
