International Friendly: Tesse backs Malta to maintain progress in tough Italy test

The Malta Women’s National Team face a challenging yet exciting test tomorrow (Friday) as they take on Italy in an international friendly. The match serves as preparation for next year’s UEFA Women’s Nations League qualifiers, kicking off in February.

Tomorrow’s friendly not only promises to be an intense contest on the field but also holds special significance for Malta women’s national team head coach Manuela Tesse, an Italian national who will be leading her team against her native country for the very first time.  The last two encounters between the two nations go back to 2019, with Italy winning both games.

Malta’s preparations for the friendly began last Sunday and peaked today with a final training session at the match venue, the Stadio Tre Fontane in Rome. 

Commending the progress and resilience shown by Malta in their final UEFA Euro Qualifiers earlier this year, Tesse described the game against Italy, Women’s EURO 2025 finalists, as an opportunity for the Malta players to further measure their progress against top-tier opposition.

“Italy are a very strong team but every match is an opportunity for us to grow, challenge ourselves, and show our potential as we have done against Northern Ireland and Portugal,” Tesse said on the eve of the match, conscious of Italy’s potential and their high position in the FIFA women’s rankings.

This international friendly is a personal milestone for coach Tesse, a former Italy women’s national team captain and assitant coach, who noted: “Italy will always be part of me, but right now, my heart is with Malta. This is my team, and we are ready to give everything tomorrow.”

With several key players sidelined with injuries, the development of young and emerging talent will come into focus tomorrow. Coupled with the experience of the established players called up by Tesse, this friendly is an important step in the ongoing journey to further improve the standards and competitiveness of the Malta women’s national team.

Despite the tough task at hand, the team will be focused on improving key aspects of their game, learning from their more-experienced opponents, and showcasing the determination that defined their recent performances.

MATCH INFORMATION

The match will be broadcast live on TVM Sports+, starting at 18.15. Fans of Maltese football can expect a passionate and determined performance from their team as they take on one of Europe’s football powerhouses.