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The Malta Women’s National Team will take on Switzerland on Friday in their penultimate UEFA Women’s European Qualifiers fixture, with Head Coach Manuela Tesse expressing confidence in the work carried out by her squad during the build-up to the match. Malta enters the encounter following an extended preparation period which saw several domestic-based players training regularly alongside the national team setup. The camp also provided an opportunity for a number of younger players from the Under-17 and Under-19 national teams to train with the senior squad, an initiative Tesse believes is important for the future of women’s football in Malta. “We have prepared very well for this game,” Tesse said. “Not only during the last few days, but throughout the past month. We have worked consistently with the local players and also involved players from our youth national teams. Giving them the opportunity to train with the senior squad provides motivation and inspiration, and it is something that I believe has been very valuable.” Malta faces a difficult challenge against a Swiss side ranked among Europe’s strongest teams, in the first match to be played at this newly inaugurated AIL Arena stadium in Lugano. Looking ahead to the match, Tesse stressed the importance of collective effort, discipline and maintaining the team’s tactical shape. “We need to be committed, aggressive and very good at keeping our shape both when defending and attacking. If every player performs at their best and we play together as a team, I believe we can produce a positive performance. It is important that we work collectively rather than rely on individual players.” Despite already being relegated from League B, Tesse highlighted the progress made by her side throughout the campaign, particularly considering the number of injuries suffered by key players. “Even though we have been relegated, I believe we have shown good football throughout the campaign. We have managed to score against strong opposition and that is a positive sign. We are building for the future and developing a new generation of players. The average age of this squad is very young, which gives us optimism for the years ahead.” The coach also pointed to the long-term potential of the current group, noting that the experience gained during this campaign will be valuable as Malta continues its development on the international stage. Malta will be aiming to conclude the qualifying campaign positively, with Friday’s encounter against Switzerland representing another opportunity for the team’s emerging talents to gain experience against top-level opposition. Match Kick Off is at 7.30pm Source: MFA Photo: MFA