by Georgia will be hosting Malta at the M. Meskhi II Stadium in Tbilisi this evening at 17:00 CET. The two coaches Iris Antman & Manuela Tesse are well-versed in the challenge that their opponents bring. Antman has called on the twelfth player to back the side to beat Malta for the first time, while Manuela Tesse has put complete faith in her players to bring back the points despite adversity.
Old Foes With New Targets
Malta & Georgia will be meeting for the first of two meets in this window this evening at the M. Meskhi II Stadium in Tbilisi. However, it will be meeting the fifth meet in the history of the two sides, with Malta currently having successfully earned wins in all previous encounters between the two.
Georgia’s Iris Antman is expecting a tough battle against Malta, “Of course we know it will be difficult because this is a very good team. Most players play in foreign leagues, including Italy’s Serie A, but this is a group that anyone can win. I think my players understand this, but we must take points at home so we can push to go to the next level.”
Meanwhile, Manuela Tesse was probed on the impact of the continued return of players from injury, including the likes of Janice Xuereb & Ann-Marie Said, both of whom were undroppable in the inaugural competition. This, together with the increased depth as young players push toward a place, together with new recruits.
Assessing the impact on tactics and mentality, Malta’s Manuela Tesse said, “We adapt our system based on the players’ characteristics. However, we must bear in mind that the intensity of international football is entirely different from that of the Maltese league. Therefore, I don’t believe it’s just about tactics, but rather about how we approach and manage the game.”
Goalscoring Output
The two teams have found the net in their opening encounters, but Malta have struggled to replicate the goalscoring prowess they had in the inaugural competition.
Malta’s Manuela Tesse rejected that she has any issues with her attack when probed the possibility of improved scoring tallies, despite having only one natural central striker at her disposal, in Kailey Willis.
She said, “If we look back at the previous Nations League, we essentially had the same squad. Kailey Willis only started in the match against Latvia, yet in that Nations League, Haley Bugeja finished as the second-highest scorer amongst all teams across Leagues A, B, and C. Therefore, I don’t believe having just one striker is a problem. The forwards we have are certainly capable of scoring.”
Overcoming Adversity
Georgia know they will be facing an opponent that they are yet to beat historically. However, with the two teams having amassed similar results against Cyprus and Andorra, both are keen on the points. The hosts have used home advantage as they overturned a goal from Andorra into a win with two quick and late goals.
Georgia’s Iris Antman rallied the fan support, who are encouraged to attend with free entrance, as they prepare for the encounter. She said, “We have the fans’ support, they are the twelfth player for us and I hope that they will come to help us get this win home.”
Meanwhile, Manuela Tesse has seen the strengths of the oppposition but is keen on her side playing their own game irrespective of the hostile crowd, “The match will undoubtedly be challenging. As we saw in their previous games, the Georgian team plays with real determination and never gives up. We need to be cautious and remain focused for the entire match, playing our style of football. Only by doing so can we return to Malta with points in hand.”
The two teams take to the pitch at 17:00 CET, with the match broadcast live on TVM Sports+ and Channel One Sport. The other match in the group will be between Cyprus and Andorra, with the two meeting at Larnaca at 18:00 CET.
Lead Images: Georgia FA / Maraya Gauci
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