Following Malta’s encouraging display against Italy on 11 September when the cultured Italians were made to sweat before forcing us to capitulate courtesy of two dubious goals, our national team is braced to meet another high-ranking side, the Czech Republic, on away soil on Friday 12 October.

National team coach Pietro Ghedin is aware of how hard the task ahead is, but having prepared his team well enough tactically and psychologically particularly in the last match on 11 September, he can feel confident that his boys will be able to put up another bold performance against the central European team replete with vintage players.

The Italian has made some changes to our squad, some of them forced. It will be a largely balanced formation which will certainly make him go for caution but without forsaking enterprising play in a bid to relieve pressure on our defensive ranks.

It is hoped that our team will come out from their third group B match with their heads held high.