by Malta will be facing Cyprus at the National Stadium at 19:00 this evening in the penultimate match of the UEFA Women’s Nations League. Manuela Tesse and Renos Demetriades are expecting an open match as the two nations seek a victory to match their ambitions of promotion, with just one game left after tonight.
Form Into The Break
The referee’s whistle at 19:00 will initiate the battle between Malta and Cyprus as the two nations seek the three points for their own respective ambitions. Malta lead Group C2, separated by two points from Cyprus.
A win for Malta will confirm them as the group winners, securing a return to League B with one match to spare. Manuela Tesse remarked that the positive seasons that her players finished with their clubs builds on the confidence of the previous matches in the group.
“I think as a coach, in my mind, it does help, but of course it is the mind of the players that matters. However, yes, Emma (Lipman) & Rachel (Cuschieri) got promoted with Genoa, Fiona (Buttigieg), Kailey (Willis) got promoted. Others like Haley (Bugeja) secured Champions League football, Shona (Zammit) won the Best Player and the league with Swieqi. All of this can help together with our previous performances. However, this is women’s football, psychology is tricky.”
Meanwhile, Cyprus’ Renos Demetriades discussed a desire for his team to rediscover the bright spark that lit up their UEFA Women’s Nations League campaign last February, following which the team struggled against Andorra, slipping to second place.
“We are not looking to change things, we are looking to qualify and continue on the first two performances against, in my opinion, the best two teams in the group (Malta & Georgia). In my view, Malta is the best tactical team in the group and so for us winning against Malta was a very big thing which gave us a lot of hope that we could qualify for the first time.”
He continued, “Things didn’t go very well in the second window against Andorra. We had really good chance to be very close to qualifying, but that is in the past. We have come here prepared to have a good game like we did in the first match against Malta, and of course we hope to have the same winner.”
An Open Match
Cyprus head into this one on the back of a defeat to Andorra, but they claimed the points the last time they met Malta in the opening match of the UEFA Women’s Nations League.
Questioned on the tactical approach, Manuela Tesse rejected the idea of following Andorra’s approach to earn the victory against Cyprus, “I watched the matches between Andorra & Cyprus. Andorra deployed the same defensive strategy that they played here, with eleven behind the ball and it’s a struggle for a team to score. I don’t think this can help us. We must play our football.”
Meanwhile, Renos Demetriades is also expecting an open match, “There is only one thing in our mind. We are two points behind Malta so for us the only thing we want is to win to go to the top of the group. I am pretty sure Malta is looking for a win as well, because a win would secure promotion for them. So, I think based on what the two teams have shown, they are two teams who are going to fight for qualifying and that will be a nice match. We both know that there are no easy teams in this group. So everyone must fight and it’s still open to win the group.”
The Cypriot flashed a cheeky, but honest smile as he said, “Of course I hope Cyprus will end the group first and Malta second.”
The Venue
Malta will be returning to the National Stadium for the first time in twenty years, but Manuela Tesse believes that the team already feels at home. “Our players are excited to debut in it but it already feels like home. We have to remember that the majority of these players are used to playing in big stadiums now. When we play abroad it is common to play in such pitches, so I believe players are used to it now.”
Malta’s coach is hoping that this will not be a one time thing, but a new beginning to match the level of the team, “Now we want to make this our future home. I am the coach of Malta, but my aim is also to develop women’s football in Malta as part of the Women’s Department. Women’s football has changed a lot since 2005. All my players have played in these types of pitches, in Portugal, Northern Ireland and even our U19 players have played in top pitches. It is important we do not underestimate ourselves, we must believe in our capability but we must also make the decisions to back it.”
Meanwhile, Cyprus’ Renos Demetriades isn’t fazed by the fact that the team will be facing Malta away from home, “I wouldn’t say that playing away changes something for us. I have been with the team for about a year. I believe that this is a team that has a lot of potential. Looking back at the last few years I believe that this was a team that deserved better than what it got.”
The Cypriot coach is eyeing a strong finish, “For us, what we have achieved so far with two wins is already a success. This has built a lot of belief in the team and we will stick to it until the end of the sixth game. Then we will see where we stand, but our aim is to win the next two matches, starting with tonight.”
The two teams will take to the pitch at the National Stadium at 19:00. Tickets are still available for online purchase. If one already owns a ticket for the Malta Men’s National Team match to be played against Lithuania at the National Stadium on the 7th of June, they will be able to buy the match ticket for the Women’s encounter this Friday for a reduced price of €5 at the gate.
Lead Image: Cyprus FA
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