Malta keen to make more of a mark

Malta have named a 27-man squad as they begin preparations for the resumption of their best-ever UEFA European Championship campaign.

High hopes
Dušan Fitzel's men will take on Albania in a Tirana friendly on 22 August before their next UEFA EURO 2008™ match at home against Turkey on 8 September. The squad, including Birkirkara FC goalkeeper Omar Borg and Hibernians FC defender Aaron Xuereb for the first time along with the relatively untried Marsaxlokk FC striker Cleavon Frendo, will head to the Czech Republic next Monday for their annual pre-season training camp. Malta, who have never finished above last place in a qualifying section for the UEFA European Championship, are sixth in the seven-team Group C and just two points behind fifth-placed Hungary, who they beat 2-1 last October.

Malta squad
Goalkeepers: Omar Borg (Birkirkara FC), Justin Haber (Haidari FC), Andrew Hogg (Valletta FC), Mario Muscat (Hibernians FC).

Defenders: Ian Azzopardi (Sliema Wanderers FC), Luke Dimech (Macclesfield Town FC), Josef Mifsud (Valletta FC), Peter Pullicino (Marsaxlokk FC), Brian Said (Sliema Wanderers FC), Kenneth Scicluna (Valletta FC). Stephen Wellmen (Marsaxlokk FC), Aaron Xuereb (Hibernians FC).

Midfielders: Gilbert Agius (Valletta FC); Roderick Bajada (Sliema Wanderers FC), Roderick Briffa (Sliema Wanderers FC), George Mallia (Birkirkara FC), Jamie Pace (Marsaxlokk FC), Kevin Sammut (Marsaxlokk FC), Gareth Sciberras (Marsaxlokk FC).

Forwards: Etienne Barbara (Sliema Wanderers FC), Daniel Bogdanovic (unattached), Andrew Cohen (Hibernians FC), Cleavon Frendo (Marsaxlokk FC), Michael Mifsud (Coventry City FC), Terence Scerri (Hibernians FC), André Schembri (Eintract Braunschweig), Ivan Woods (Sliema Wanderers FC).