Malta makes huge step in securing second successive qualification

After two consecutive positive results against Andorra and Georgia respectively, our Women’s Football National team may well have taken a huge step towards clinching a second successive qualification to the Euro Championships proper.

Malta has scored seven goals in its’ two outings against opponents considered to be at our own level, and has so far managed to defy all odds and criticism in order to give themselves a more than a realistic shot at securing qualification.

The team is now occupying top spot of group 2 with six points, and a point against the Faroe Islands in their final group match would be enough to secure another prestigious qualification.  On paper that doesn’t sound an impossible task, but following the Faroe Islands’ demolishing of Andorra in an 8-0 rout, things surely won’t be made easy for the Maltese girls.

Their opponents on Thursday had won a qualifying mini-tournament in 2013 to reach the qualifying round proper, collecting two points in two draws against Bosnia Herzegovina and Northern Ireland.  Malta met the Faroe Islands just once back in 2011, losing 0-2.

The ball is very much in Malta’s court however.  Even if our National team fails to beat the Faroe’s and finishes second in the group, it would still cap a remarkable run in just a few months of preparation.  Like in the Men’s team and in other sporting disciplines, Malta has rarely ever come close to qualifying for a major tournament. 

Following previous dismal results where our team suffered heavy defeat on several occasions, Coach Mark Gatt has slowly managed to instil a sort of positive mentality within his team which enables the players to express themselves freely as being shown in the football played in the  current group stage.

However the final group game ends, the team can feel very proud of the massive step forward they have taken during this qualifying round, and have every reason to feel optimistic that they will be able to sustain this improved level for more years to come.