Gatt backs Malta to rise to difficult Denmark challenge

Six months after their last outing, the Malta women’s team return on the field of play this evening (Tuesday) as they host joint leaders Denmark in their eighth UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 Group B qualifier at the Centenary Stadium at 18.30. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the match is being played behind closed doors.  The home game against Denmark was originally scheduled for April, a few weeks after Malta had obtained their first ever Euro qualifying win against Georgia which was followed by another bright display in a 3-2 defeat to Bosnia & Herzegovina. “The team is looking forward to returning to the field of play,” Malta women’s coach Mark Gatt told mfa.com.mt. “We would have preferred to face Denmark in April, as it was originally planned but this was not possible due to the onset of COVID-19. “During the enforced break from football, we tried to keep the team as active as possible with our remote training programmes. As soon as it was possible to return to training on the football pitch, we resumed our preparations for this difficult game.” With a number of players in the final Malta squad based overseas, Gatt is hoping that their experience can help motivate the team further as the girls strive to put on a competitive challenge against a very strong Denmark side that finished second in the last edition of the European championships. “Throughout this mini training camp leading to the Denmark game, we welcomed back players who play abroad and everyone is looking forward to playing a big a side like Denmark,” Gatt explained. “It will be a very tough game for us but I believe in the team’s ability produce a solid performance and demonstrate all their resilience and tenacity against such a top side.” MASSIVE STAGEYoung forward Haley Bugeja is one of the foreign-based players selected by Gatt. At just 16 years of age, Bugeja has already scored two goals in six games, including the winner against Georgia back in March. She has been part of the national team set-up at youth level, but representing her country on a bigger stage is a source of pride for the Sassuolo player. “Playing for the national team is a source of pride for any player,” Bugeja pointed out. “I have been part of the national-team environment for quite some time now, at youth level, but when you step onto the biggest stage the feeling is great.” Bugeja experienced the same feeling when drawing the plaudits after her brilliant Serie A debut for Sassuolo earlier this month. “It was an unforgettable night for me, full of emotions,” the former Mġarr United player said. “It took me quite some time to process everything but at the same time it was important for me to switch my focus immediately onto the national team. “The foreign-based players in the national team have been a source of inspiration for me take this step and I am glad that so far everything is going in the right direction in this new experience in Italy.”