{"id":53194,"date":"2025-11-16T19:29:33","date_gmt":"2025-11-16T18:29:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/?p=53194"},"modified":"2025-11-16T19:29:33","modified_gmt":"2025-11-16T18:29:33","slug":"coach-emilio-de-leo-and-jake-grech-ahead-of-poland-clash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/2025\/11\/16\/coach-emilio-de-leo-and-jake-grech-ahead-of-poland-clash\/","title":{"rendered":"Coach Emilio De Leo and Jake Grech ahead of Poland clash"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Coach Emilio De Leo outlined the team\u2019s condition and preparations ahead of Malta\u2019s final group match against Poland. He explained that, due to yesterday\u2019s travel schedule, today will be the first and only opportunity to properly assess the players before the match. Coach De Leo was speaking during the MD-1.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"689\" data-end=\"1234\">De Leo highlighted the importance of having Teddy Teuma and Ryan Camenzuli back in the group, noting that their availability is a significant advantage. He spoke with warmth and appreciation about Jake Grech, emphasising his affection and respect\u00a0for the player. De Leo recalled moments that showed Grech\u2019s character, including the time he left him on the bench: \u201cHe had tears in his eyes, and that makes him a special footballer. It is no coincidence we are banking on him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1236\" data-end=\"1636\">Looking ahead to Poland, De Leo stressed that although Malta will be facing a strong side, the team should not feel like victims. Instead, they must express their qualities, stay positive, and not allow themselves to be discouraged. \u201cThis window has given us something we didn\u2019t have in previous ones. We are still cultivating a team. Results aside, the performances have shown growth,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1638\" data-end=\"2261\">Closing the press conference, goal-scorer Jake Grech reflected on his recent breakthrough. He described his first international goal as \u201ca double satisfaction,\u201d made even sweeter by Malta\u2019s first away win in 12 years. However, he noted that the team often left the pitch disappointed throughout the group, believing they could have collected more points and converted more chances\u2014especially in the home match against Finland and the fixtures against Lithuania. Scoring for Malta was, he said, \u201can incredible, indescribable emotion,\u201d adding that playing for the national team is every footballer\u2019s dream, and scoring is an added bonus.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2263\" data-end=\"2492\">Grech also looked ahead to facing Robert Lewandowski and his team mates, calling it an invaluable opportunity. \u201cIt\u2019s always a chance to learn. We\u2019re lucky to share the pitch with such legends, and you can only grow from these experiences,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2494\" data-end=\"2599\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">Malta vs Poland \u2013 Tomorrow at the National Stadium, 20:45<br data-start=\"2553\" data-end=\"2556\" \/>Tickets available from tickets.mfa.com.mt<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_53194\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"53194\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 -102 0 -56 133 -378 171 -413 34 -32 83 -37 129 -13 70 36 67 87 -16 290 -86 209 -89 214 -129 231 -35 14 -42 15 -82 7z\"\/><path d=\"M3689 3066 c-15 -9 -33 -30 -42 -48 -48 -103 -147 -355 -147 -375 0 -98 131 -148 192 -74 13 15 57 108 97 206 80 196 84 226 37 273 -30 30 -99 39 -137 18z\"\/><path d=\"M583 2784 c-38 -19 -67 -74 -58 -113 9 -42 211 -354 242 -373 16 -10 45 -18 66 -18 51 0 107 52 107 100 0 39 -1 41 -124 234 -80 126 -108 162 -133 173 -41 17 -61 16 -100 -3z\"\/><path d=\"M4250 2784 c-14 -9 -74 -91 -133 -183 -95 -150 -107 -173 -107 -213 0 -55 33 -94 87 -104 67 -13 90 8 211 198 130 202 137 225 78 284 -27 27 -42 34 -72 34 -22 0 -50 -8 -64 -16z\"\/><path d=\"M2275 2693 c-553 -48 -1095 -270 -1585 -649 -135 -104 -459 -423 -483 -476 -23 -49 -22 -139 2 -186 73 -142 361 -457 571 -626 285 -228 642 -407 990 -497 242 -63 336 -73 660 -74 310 0 370 5 595 52 535 111 1045 392 1455 803 122 121 250 273 275 326 19 41 19 137 0 174 -41 79 -309 363 -465 492 -447 370 -946 591 -1479 653 -113 14 -422 18 -536 8z m395 -428 c171 -34 330 -124 456 -258 112 -119 167 -219 211 -378 27 -96 24 -300 -5 -401 -72 -255 -236 -447 -474 -557 -132 -62 -201 -76 -368 -76 -167 0 -236 14 -368 76 -213 98 -373 271 -451 485 -162 444 86 934 547 1084 153 49 292 57 452 25z m909 -232 c222 -123 408 -262 593 -441 76 -74 138 -139 138 -144 0 -16 -233 -242 -330 -319 -155 -123 -309 -223 -461 -299 l-81 -41 32 46 c18 26 49 83 70 128 143 306 141 649 -6 957 -25 52 -61 116 -79 142 l-34 47 45 -20 c26 -10 76 -36 113 -56z m-2057 25 c-40 -58 -105 -190 -130 -263 -110 -324 -59 -707 132 -981 25 -35 42 -64 37 -64 -19 0 -241 119 -326 174 -188 122 -406 314 -532 468 l-58 71 108 103 c185 178 428 349 672 473 66 33 121 60 123 61 2 0 -10 -19 -26 -42z\"\/><path d=\"M2375 1950 c-198 -44 -350 -190 -395 -379 -18 -76 -8 -221 19 -290 114 -284 457 -406 731 -260 98 52 188 154 231 260 27 69 37 214 19 290 -38 163 -166 304 -326 360 -67 23 -215 33 -279 19z\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/i> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif\" border=0 \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Coach Emilio De Leo outlined the team\u2019s condition and preparations ahead of Malta\u2019s final group match against Poland. He explained that, due to yesterday\u2019s travel schedule, today will be the first and only opportunity to properly assess the players before the match. Coach De Leo was speaking during the MD-1. De Leo highlighted the importance [&hellip;]<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_53194\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"53194\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 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alt=\"Loading\" src=\"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif\" border=0 \/><\/p>\n<div 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Lynch","author_link":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/author\/bernardlynch\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Coach Emilio De Leo outlined the team\u2019s condition and preparations ahead of Malta\u2019s final group match against Poland. He explained that, due to yesterday\u2019s travel schedule, today will be the first and only opportunity to properly assess the players before the match. Coach De Leo was speaking during the MD-1. De Leo highlighted the importance&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53194","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=53194"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53194\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":53196,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53194\/revisions\/53196"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/53195"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53194"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=53194"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=53194"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}