In their first group stage game of their World Cup qualification campaign, Malta will host Finland at Ta’Qali National Stadium on Friday.
Malta have never participated in a World Cup and finished last in sixth place with five points in their qualifying group for the 2022 World Cup, while Finland ended up third with 11 points and only narrowly missed out on a playoff spot.
Match preview
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The hosts played out a 0-0 draw in the Nations League with Andorra in their previous game on November 19, and they can be proud of their performance given they were reduced to 10 men in the 17th minute.
It should be noted that Malta have now kept four consecutive clean sheets, whereas they had only kept four in their prior 21.
The Reds conceded 30 goals in their 2020-21 World Cup qualifying campaign, and only two of the other 54 teams in the European bracket conceded more.
Boss Emilio De Leo‘s side have been beaten in 20 of their last 24 qualifying matches – winning just one – but they are unbeaten in their past four in all competitions, achieving victory three times.
Malta have proven difficult to overcome at home considering they have won two, drawn three and been defeated in just one of their six most recent outings at Ta’Qali National Stadium.
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Meanwhile, Finland were beaten 2-0 by Greece in the Nations League on November 17, a game in which they created no big chances and produced just one shot in the entire first half.
The visitors have failed to find the back of the net in four of their past six, and only scored two goals in that period.
However, the Eagle Owls did beat Malta 5-0 on in March 2018 in their only previous meeting, scoring three times by the 27th minute.
Manager Jacob Friis‘s team will have to improve considerably on their recent performances if they are to win on Friday given they are on a losing streak spanning six matches.
Finland are also winless in their last six outings, succumbing to defeat on five occasions in that time.
Team News
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Malta may start a back three consisting of Kurt Shaw, Enrico Pepe and Jean Borg in Gabriel Mentz‘s absence.
Matthew Guillaumier and Teddy Teuma could appear in a double pivot, while striker Basil Tuma may be supported by Paul Mbong and Trent Buhagiar.
Opponents Finland are likely to station centre-backs Miro Tenho, Robert Ivanov and Leo Vaisanen in front of goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky.
Glen Kamara and Kaan Kairinen are candidates to feature in midfield behind forwards Robin Lod, Joel Pohjanpalo and Benjamin Kallman.
Malta possible starting lineup:
Bonello; Shaw, Pepe, Borg; J Mbong, Guillaumier, Teuma, Camenzuli; Buhagiar, P Mbong; Tuma
Finland possible starting lineup:
Hradecky; Tenho, Ivanov, Vaisanen; Alho, Kamara, Kairinen, Hakans; Lod, Pohjanpalo, Kallman
We say: Malta 2-0 Finland
Malta have been exceptional at the back, and they could have success against Finland’s struggling forward line.
The visitors have also been poor away from home, and their form on the road should make the hosts clear favourites to claim all three points.
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