“Our aim is to deliver a strong performance and make all the fans, especially those who have traveled to London, proud,” said National Teams Head Coach Michele Marcolini during the MD-1 press conference as Malta faces England on Friday at Wembley Stadium.
Coach Marcolini explained that the goal is for Malta to replicate the same performance as against Ukraine. However, this doesn’t solely depend on the Maltese players but also on the quality of the opponents. It goes without saying that England is considered one of the best teams in the world. Even if they are leading by two goals, they continue attacking with determination as if the score were still level. They have had impressive home performances, such as a 3-0 victory against Italy and a 7-0 win against North Macedonia.
“England might choose to rotate the squad since they have already qualified. Consequently, a number of players may be given the nod. These players will be eager to leave their mark and impress the manager,” said Coach Marcolini.
“This is every boy’s dream. We are fortunate enough to be living it. Even though we anticipate challenges, we will face them together with a positive mindset and aim to deliver a commendable performance.”
When asked about Kemar Reid, Coach Marcolini mentioned that the player has had an excellent start to the season with Floriana, scoring several goals and delivering consistent performances. “From the beginning, Kemar has demonstrated his commitment to the team, which is crucial for collective success. He might get his chance tomorrow,” concluded Marcolini.
Present at the press conference was Teddy Teuma, who missed the last international commitment due to injury. He spoke at length about his ankle injury, which caused him to miss several matches. He was also suspended in the last team game and is eager to play again. He concluded by expressing his excitement about playing against top players and learning from the game.
Malta will play their last Euro 2024 qualifier against England on Friday, 16th November, at Wembley Stadium (kick-off 20:45 CET).