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Gatt names squad for opening Women’s Euro qualifiers

Published: 23-08-2019 10:30
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Malta women’s coach Mark Gatt has selected a squad of 20 players for the opening UEFA Women’s Euro 2021 qualifying matches away to Denmark and Bosnia & Herzegovina. The Maltese girls kick off their Group B qualifying campaign with a difficult match against Denmark on Thursday, August 29 at the Viborg Stadium. Five days later, on September 3, they face Bosnia & Herzegovina at the Asim Ferhatovic Hase Stadium in Sarajevo. The other teams in Group B are Italy, Israel and Georgia. There are five foreign-based players in the squad chosen by Gatt, namely Motherwell goalkeeper Anna Louise Vincenti, Nicole Sciberras, who recently joined the youth squad of Italian club Juventus, PSV Vrouwen midfielder Rachel Cuschieri, and forwards Martina Borg, currently on the books of FC Sassari Torrres, and Maria Farrugia of Sunderland AFC. “Our aim for the opening two qualifiers against Denmark and Bosnia is to produce a solid performance,” Gatt told www.mfa.com.mt. “Looking beyond the results, these matches will surely be a useful experience for our players, one that should help them raise their level. “We are in a very difficult group that includes two very strong teams – Italy, who reached the quarter-finals of this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup, and Women’s Euro 2017 finalists Denmark. “It’s going to be an onerous challenge for us to compete at this level but we are approaching this competition with enthusiasm and a determination to do well and gain as many points as possible.” The members of the Malta women’s squad have been training regularly for the past two months in preparation for their commitments in the UEFA Women’s Euro 2021 qualifying campaign. Earlier this year, the Malta women’s team took part in the Aphrodite Cup in Cyprus, finishing second, and also had a training camp in Romania as part of their build-up for the upcoming Euro competition. After the away double header against Denmark and Bosnia, the Maltese girls will host Italy in their first home outing on October 4. MALTA WOMEN’S SQUAD GOALKEEPERSJanice Xuereb (Birkirkara); Rachelle Lynn Borg (Mġarr United); Anna Louise Vincenti (Motherwell, Scotland). DEFENDERSStephania Farrugia, Ann-Marie Said, Alishia Sultana (all Birkirkara); Nicole Sciberras (Juventus, Italy); Jasmine Vella Turner (Mġarr United); Charlene Zammit (Swieqi United). MIDFIELDERSBrenda Borg, Claudette Xuereb (Mġarr United); Rachel Cuschieri (PSV Vrouwen, Netherlands); Jade Flask, Emma Xuereb, Shona Zammit (all Swieqi United); Dorianne Theuma (Hibernians); Veronique Mifsud (Birkirkara). FORWARDSMartina Borg (FC Sassari Torres, Italy); Maria Farrugia (Sunderland AFC, England); Ylenia Carabott (Birkirkara).