Malta U21 Coach Mazzotta eyeing positive results and player development in EURO Qualifiers

Ahead of Tuesday’s UEFA EURO U21 Qualifying opener against Greece, Malta U21 National Team Coach Davide Mazzotta has identified positive results, together with player development, as the key objectives for the campaign.

The Malta U21 National Team will be facing Greece in their first match of Group F, where they will also be facing Georgia, Germany, Latvia and Northern Ireland.

Speaking on the eve of matchday, Coach Mazzotta remarked that the Malta U21 National Team’s objective for the qualifiers is twofold.

“The main goal is to develop our players and allow them to gain experience through these qualifiers, hoping that some, many, or maybe even all of them, can one day be the future of the Senior National Team. The second is obvious: to deliver brave performances while trying to achieve positive results,” he explained.

For Tuesday’s match, which will be played at the Centenary Stadium, Ta’ Qali, at 19:00hrs, Coach Mazzotta has called up a 22-man squad. Over the past few weeks, the team has had a number of changes, particularly due to injuries to key players at their respective clubs.

“It’s not easy to instil our philosophy and mentality in a group in just a few days, especially since they come together from different countries. But that’s not an excuse for anyone. As one of my former coaches used to say: ‘on the pitch it’s 11 of them and 11 of us,’” Coach Mazzotta affirmed.

He stated that while there are a number of tough matches ahead, the team will give its all. This starts from the staff, as he expects everyone to give their 100 per cent, including himself and the technical department, knowing the team gains strength from one another.

“Our idea of mentality does not allow us to ever throw in the towel. There are very few things that we find unacceptable, and among these are not always believing and not reacting to difficulties,” Coach Mazzotta said.

When asked about tomorrow’s encounter more specifically, Coach Mazzotta identified Greece as a serious contender in Group F, being one of the favourites to qualify. While it promises to be a difficult match, the Malta U21 National Team is delighted to be facing such an opponent.

“Playing against these kinds of teams allows us to truly measure our own strength. The stronger the opponent, the more we learn and test ourselves,” he emphasised.

Tickets for the Malta U21 National Team’s highly anticipated clash against Greece are available here, so be sure to secure your spot to cheer the team on!

The match will also be broadcast live on TVMSport+.