Joe Brincat will have to wait to make his 100th appearance for the Maltese international team after being ruled out of Wednesday's friendly against F.Y.R. Macedonia due to a hamstring injury.

Training camp
The Sliema Wanderers FC midfield player suffered the injury during the national's squad's recent ten-day training camp in Germany, and he also missed his club's 3-1 UEFA Cup qualifying round defeat against KP Polonia Warszawa, although he is expected to return for the second leg on 29 August.

Held to wait
Maltese coach Siegfred Held is delaying announcing his party for Wednesday's match as he waits on the fitness of a number of players, including Sliema's Ian Ciantar and Birkirkara FC's Michael Spiteri, William Camenzuli, George Mallia, Justin Haber and Chucks Nwoko, all of whom travelled to Ukraine to play FC Metalurh Zaporizhya in the UEFA Cup this week.

Slovenia opener
Held's side face their first EURO 2004™ qualifying match on 7 September against Slovenia, and will also meet in Cyprus, Israel and reigning champions France in Group 1.