Vella selects final squad for UEFA U-17 tournament

Malta Under-17 coach Silvio Vella has selected his final squad of 20 players for the UEFA Under-17 Championship qualifying tournament, being staged in Malta between October 26 and November 1, 2017. The Maltese youngsters will face Belgium, Northern Ireland and Switzerland in Group 1. “This a high-level tournament and our opponents, Belgium, Switzerland and Northern Ireland, are all strong teams,” Vella told www.mfa.com.mt. “It’s going to be a tough competition. Although our players don’t have a lot of international experience, they are a very good group and are looking forward to this tournament with great enthusiasm. “We have been training regularly ahead of these commitments and our objective is to produce creditable performances in every match.” All the players on Vella’s list are on the books of Maltese clubs. The Malta U-17 contingent were due to check in at the hotel after Tuesday’s training session. Malta meet Belgium in their opening match at the Centenary Stadium this Thursday (11am). The second match, also on Thursday, sees Northern Ireland take on Switzerland at 2pm, at the Centenary Stadium. The second matchday, on Sunday, October 29, kicks off with the clash between Belgium and Northern Ireland at 11am followed by the match between Switzerland and Malta at 2pm. Both matches will be staged at the Centenary Stadium. The tournament comes to end on November 1 with the final two group matches – Switzerland vs Belgium at the National Stadium, and Malta vs Northern Ireland at the Centenary Stadium. The two games kick off simultaneously at 11am. MALTA UNDER-17 SQUAD Goalkeepers: Andrea Spiteri (Valletta); Amara Sylla (Birkirkara).Players: Glenn Attard (Birkirkara); Shaun Dimech (Valletta); Liam McKay (Pietà Hotspurs); Andreas Vella (Hibernians); Clyde Bouvet (Pietà Hotspurs); Christian Gauci (San Ġwann); Jake Ghio (Pietà Hotspurs); Sebastian Grech (Birkirkara); Karl Mohnani (Melita); Sheldon Pisani (Pietà Hotspurs); Matthew Portelli (Hibernians); Bradley Sciberras (Floriana); Jamie Sixsmith (St Andrews); Ryan Tonna (Valletta); Paul Mbong (Birkirkara); Russell Vella (Ħamrun Spartans); Alexander Satariano (St Andrews); Carlo Zammit Lonardelli (Birkirkara).FORMATQualifying roundThe qualifying round, played in autumn, is made up of 13 groups of four countries playing in one-venue mini-tournaments. The top two from each pool progress alongside the four third-placed sides with the best record against the leading pair in their groups. Elite roundIn the elite round, held in early spring, those 30 qualifiers plus the top two seeds – given a bye this far – compete in eight mini-tournament groups of four. The group winners and seven runners-up with the best record against the teams first and third in their section advance to the finals to join the hosts. Final tournamentIn the final tournament – to be held in England from May 4 to 20, 2018 – the contenders are split into four groups of four, with the front two from each proceeding to the knockout phase.