MFA press conference - 2016 European Qualifiers

It is common knowledge that Malta’s records in international football are none too exalting. Various reasons account for this. Limited resources resulting in a dearth of talent, failure of our youths to fulfil their early promise, our players’ lack of exposure on the big stage and several foreigners blocking home-grown talent from blossoming in our top division are among the many reasons why Malta ranks low in the international standings.  Beyond the flaky, battling performances such as the gritty display against Croatia when we were reduced to ten men after half an hour and succumbed to a second late goal in a 2-0 away defeat, our national team is notoriously used to coming out second best, never mind earning some sort of respect when we run our superior opponents close or achieve a points-earning result.The upcoming Euro 2016 France Group H matches against Norway and Italy on the 10th and 13th October respectively are two more opportunities for our team to earn some sort of acknowlegement when we confront nations of a higher standing.Norway, still smarting from their 2-0 home defeat against Italy, will want to put that setback behind them when they face Malta on the 10th October at Ta’ Qali National Stadium. Their playing style tends to rely on physical, combative fare and that puts the onus on our players to confront such opposition with equal sturdy play and fruitfully collective tactics.  Italy, more accomplished and always prime contenders to qualify from a qualifying group, will be eager to keep up their clean slate. Our national team will be under pressure to perform to the best of their ability against the ‘Azzurri’ and give the home crowd something to relish. No doubt, the stands should be bulging with spectators, with the Maltese supporters’ backing providing an extra fillip to our units.Respect from our renowned opponents from the north and especially from the nearby peninsula can only be earned through a polished display of football back by a positive result.We all yearn for that.    MATCH TICKET PRICES SINGLE MATCH TICKETS        ADULTS  -  MATCH DAY SALES  West A StandWest C StandMillennium StandSouth StandNorth Stand NORWAY€ 20€ 20€ 12€ 8€ 10 ITALY€ 50€ 50€ 30€ 20€ 20        CHILDREN (Under 12)  -  MATCH DAY SALES  West A StandWest C StandMillennium StandSouth StandNorth Stand NORWAY€ 10€ 10€ 5€ 2€ 2 ITALY€ 20€ 20€ 10€ 5€ 5                       Notes.                 The sale of tickets for the West A Stand and the North Stand of the National Stadium will be reserved for visiting fans;Sectors West A, B and  C will be on allocated seating,However, seating at Millennium Sectors D and F, as well as the North and South Stands will be on a free seating basis;There will also be a limited number of spaces at the West A Stand and the Millennium Stand E and F for persons confined to a wheelchair. Such persons will be admitted into the stadium Free of Charge (upon prior request and on a first come first served Basis). These persons will however need to be accompanied by another assisting person who needs to be in possession of a match ticket bought at the standard rates; Such requests should be sent to events@mfa.com.mtAll GOALCARD holders will obviously be entitled for Free Entrance to the respective Stadium Sectors;For more information  -  Tel: 2338 6000  -  e-mail: norman.saliba@mfa.com.mt  TICKET SALES Match Tickets will be out for sale from Saturday 13th September 2014. SINGLE MATCH TICKETS will be available from the points of sales listed hereunder: MFA OFFICES  -Ta' Qali– Millennium StandEROS STATIONERS - PaċevilleKSU Office – On CampusLION KING STATIOINERS- G'ManġiaMATRIX  -  Republic Street, VallettaMATRIX  -  Main Street, PaolaMATRIX  -  Skyparks, MIA,TEAMSPORT  -IklinSTAR TOURIST SERVICES – BuġibbaGFA OFFICES– Xewkija, GozoONLINE on www.mfa.com.mt ALL Tickets Sales will be available online on www.mfa.com.mt   It is very important for tickets bought online to be printed by the purchaser. For security reasons, Online Purchases can be made on a ONE CLICK – ONE TICKET basis, i.e. each ticket will have to be purchased separately. Tickets will only be available for sale at the Stadium Ticket Booths on Match-Day, if these are not Sold Out prior to match-day.IMPORTANT INFORMATION OPENING OF STADIUM  -  The National Stadium will be open for the public at 18:30hrs for both matches and gates will remain open until the start of the second half.TICKET BOOTHS  -  Ticket booths will be opened as follows;TICKET OFFICE AT WEST B  - on both occasions the Ticket Office at West B will serve as a ticket collection point for VIP (West B), and accreditation point for Non-Rights Holders and PhotographersMLT-NORWest A Booth  -  Sale of Tickets for West A and North StandsWest C Booth -  Sale of Tickets for West C and South StandsMillennium D Booth   -  Sale of Tickets for Millennium D and South StandsMillennium  F Booth  -  Will be used as a Ticket Information PointMLT-ITAWest A Booth -  Sale of Tickets for West A and Ticket Information PointWest C Booth  -  Sale of Tickets for West C and South StandsMillennium D Booth  -  Sale of Tickets for South StandMillennium  F Booth -  Sale of Tickets for North Stand TICKET SALES   -   While Ticket Sales are still available for both matches the MFA would like to inform the public that all tickets for both Millennium D and Millennium F Stands for the MLT_ITA match have been SOLD OUTTURNSTILES  -  Spectators are reminded that entrance into the stadium will only be allowed through the turnstiles at the entrances indicated on the ticket in their possession. It is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT that spectators present themselves at the turnstiles in possession of the actual ticket or the printed ticket if the purchase of their ticket was made online.SEATING  -  As is the normal practice on the occasion of international matches West A, B and C Stands will be on allocated seating, i.e ticket holders are to sit on the seat as indicated on their ticket. – However, in all other sectors of the stadium, i.e. in the Millennium, North and South Stands a Free Seating Policy is adopted.TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT  -MLT-NOR – (10 Oct) The ring roads encircling the National Stadium will be closed for traffic on match-day from 08.00hrs onwards. from the roundabout in front of the Millennium Stand, up to the entrance to the West Stand Car Park.MLT-ITA – (12 Oct) Match Day -1     -   The ring roads encircling the National Stadium will be closed for traffic on match-day -1 from 16.00hrs onwards. from the roundabout in front of the Millennium Stand, up to the entrance to the West Stand Car Park.MLT-ITA – (13 Oct) Match Day    -   The ring roads encircling the National Stadium will be closed for traffic on match-day from 08.00hrs onwards. from the roundabout in front of the Millennium Stand, up to the point upon leaving the Malta Model Aircraft Association flying site.PARKING  -  The West Stand and Millennium Stand Car Parks will on both occasions be exclusively reserved for drivers holding a Reserved Parking PassSTADIUM ORDERS  -  Spectators are to follow any instructions given out to ensure that all Safety and Security Regulations are observed. It is important for one to note that for ALL European Qualification matches a strict  NO-ALCOHOL POLICY is to be observed inside the stadium.FAN GATHERING  -  On the occasion of the Malta vs Italy match, thanks to the initiaitve by CISK (our national teams Gold Sponsors),  a Fan Gathering Zone will be set up inside the MFCC Grounds which will be open from 5pm onwards. The activity will include entertainment, face painting, promotional offers, etc.ENTERTAINMENT  -  On both the MLT-NOR and MLT-ITA match-days there will be an entertainment programme inside the National Stadium which will start at 19,00hrs.