Malta women U19 to meet Bulgaria in Euro qualifiers warm-up

Malta U-19’s women’s national team’s coach Frank Schembri has picked up a squad of 20 players for their home friendly against Bulgaria. Both teams will meet at the Tony Bezzina Stadium on Thursday, September 6 (kick-off: 7.30pm).  This international matchup will serve as a preparation for the U-19’s side before they launch their historic League A commitments in October’s European qualifications.

Schembri’s side will face a stern test in Euro runners-up Norway, Belgium and Portugal in Group A7. Portugal will be hosting this tournament between October 4 and October 11.  The Maltese side is at the back of an exceptional campaign after scoring seven points in Round 2 of the last edition.  A draw against hosts Northern Ireland couple with wins over Azerbaijan and Faroe Islands ensured them a spot in League A for the 2022/2023 qualification campaign.

For this friendly, coach Schembri has chosen some new faces from the previous qualification campaign as several players from that campaign are not eligible anymore to play at U-19’s level.  Two foreign-based players are called up in Maya Cachia, who plays in Italy, and Alexandra Gatt, who plies her trade in English football.  Raiders Lija are the most team represented in this selection with four players – Ylenia Grech, Georgiana Mifsud, Gaia Antonelli and Sarah Vella Barbieri.

Swieqi United have three players in Tammy Falzon, Chanelle Borg and Kim Fava like Hibernians who are represented by Martina Spiteri, Raisa Costantino and Iulia Mifsud.  Birkirkara have two players called up - Izabella Camilleri and Ileana Farrugia, with San Gwann having a couple themselves as well in Nicole Camenzuli and Fatma Al Girbi.  Mtarfa's Jeanelle Falzon and Yulya Carella of Mġarr United complete the selection.

Bulgaria are the back of a strong European qualification campaign having topped their League B group before enduring the difficult of League A with Europe’s elites.  In the previous two-rounded European campaign, Bulgaria commenced their appointments in League B and registered a perfect record after beating Lithuania, Kazakhstan and Greece – scoring 10 goals in the process.

As a result, they clinched promotion to League A where they managed to hold Ukraine to a 0-0 draw in a group that also contained eventual finalists Norway and Austria.

In this season’s edition, Bulgaria will play in League B against Kosovo and Gibraltar

 

SQUAD

GOALKEEPERS

Chanelle Borg (Swieqi United); Raisa Costantino (Hibernians); Maya Cachia (Crotone, Italy)

DEFENDERS

Georgiana Mifsud (Raiders Lija); Alexandra Gatt (Durham Cestria, England); Fatma Al Girbi, Nicole Camenzuli (San Ġwann); Jeanelle Falzon (Mtarfa); Tammy Falzon (Swieqi United); Izabella Camilleri (Birkirkara), Martina Spiteri (Hibernians), Michaela Ionadi (Milton Youth Soccer Club, Canada)

MIDFIELDERS

Ylenia Grech, Gaia Antonelli (Raiders Lija); Ileana Farrugia (Birkirkara); Kim Fava (Swieqi United); Yulya Carella (Mġarr United)

FORWARDS

Sarah Vella Barbieri (Raiders Lija); Iulia Mifsud (Hibernians)