Valuable learning experience, says women’s coach Gatt

Malta women’s coach Mark Gatt described his team’s participation in the Preliminary Round of the FIFA Women’s World Cup as a valuable learning experience but rued a string of missed opportunities in the games against Greece and Albania. The Maltese team missed out on qualification to the group phase but managed some commendable results. After going down 1-0 to Greece, ranked 71st by FIFA, in their opening Group 2 game, the Maltese girls drew 0-0 with hosts Albania and wrapped up their commitments with a 3-1 victory over debutants Kosovo. ‘’Looking back on our results and performances in these qualifiers, there is good reason to be satisfied with the constant progress shown by our team,” Gatt told www.mfa.com.mt. ‘’It was a huge learning experience for all of us, one that helped us to gain more confidence as we look to maintain this progress and aim for better performances and results in the future. “Credit also goes to our technical staff and medical personnel who fulfil their duties in a very professional manner.” Analysing Malta’s performances in every match they played in Albania, Gatt bemoaned his team’s failure to convert a string of clearcut opportunities which cost them at least two more points. “Although Greece are a good side, we made it difficult for them,” Gatt commented. “They only beat us by the narrowest of margins and we could have scored in that match. “In the next outing, against Albania, the eventual group winners, we fought for every inch and I saw improvement from our first match. “Unfortunately, some refereeing decisions probably denied us a win against Albania. “The girls played with more confidence in the last match against Kosovo. It was not easy, especially from a physical point-of-view, after six days of training and two matches in a short period of time.”