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Malta’s U17 women secure two wins from three to underline clear progress on the pitch, including a response against Lithuania, but miss out on promotion on goal difference in a group shaped by walkovers. Clint Tabone pointed to a “disciplined and well organised” side built on unity, while key questions around the tournament’s handling and the drivers behind the improved results remain only partially answered.
Progress In Results, But Promotion Missed
Malta’s U17 women closed their UEFA qualifying group with two wins from three — overcoming Lithuania (2–1) and Belarus (1–0) before a 3–2 defeat to Estonia. The return against Lithuania marks a tangible step forward from previous meetings.
However, six points overall keeps Malta competitive at this level, which is a bitter blow given that Belarus get promoted based on goal difference, courtesy of walk-overs yielded by Estonia & Lithuania due to political issues. The walkovers ultimately directly shaped the outcome of the group.
Questions regarding whether the tournament could have been better handled by UEFA were completely deflected by Clint Tabone, “Every competition brings its own challenges, and this experience is part of our development. We take these situations as learning opportunities and focus on what we can control, continuing to grow stronger as a team moving forward.”
There was also no reference or context given to whether the Malta Football Association challenged or protested the setup of the group.
What Led To The Improvement In Results?
If one is to set aside the quest for promotion, and focus on the long-term view, then this group posed a big set of questions which the Maltese team seems to have answered quite positively on the pitch.
The first of these questions is what governed victories for the team, after a couple of years of disappointing results, especially given that Malta lost by 3 – 1 Lithuania just last November.
Clint Tabone stuck to the rhetoric of collective growth when questioned for detail about mental and tactical aspects governing these results, “Without a doubt, we were disciplined and well organised. The unity we managed to build was a key factor behind these results. From a tactical point of view, we prepared well for our opponents and adapted our approach for each match. The players performed with great passion and a strong sense of responsibility throughout.”
Strikingly, one of the biggest complaints about the Maltese game in the past few years has been its reported lack of intensity in the face of disappointing results. Yet, in a group where Malta was the only team to play all three matches, it emerged with two wins out of three, with the defeat also being a narrow one by 3 – 2.
Naturally, it begged the questions about how the team navigated the physical aspects to suddenly show such an improvement. It appears that the recovery deployed during this tournament resolved concerns, “From our side, we were aware of the physical demands, particularly with us being the only team to play all three matches within the group schedule. We focused a lot on managing recovery between games, and I would like to credit all the staff for their work in this area. It was a big challenge and that’s why we are very proud of the players, because it was not easy.”
Once again, Clint Tabone cast a bittersweet look at the impact of the governance of the tournament but no inclination to challenge it, “Of course, it is disappointing to finish second on equal points, with the group decided on goal difference, but we fully respect the regulations and remain focused on continuing our progress.”
The key to unlock these positive results to change the narrative since joining the national setup from a string of defeats into victories, according to Clint Tabone, is the support from the MFA and the changes in the national team setup, “There has been significant improvement in the women’s football setup in recent years. I also believe that the connection with the senior national team environment provides additional motivation for players to keep improving. The support from the MFA and the belief shown in the women’s game are very important. Ultimately, we are all working together towards the same goal and representing our country with pride.”
What Are The Next Steps To Earn Promotion?
The results mark a positive step, though the goal of promotion remains elusive. However, Tabone was upbeat, “We were very close to achieving promotion, and that shows the progress this team is making. In football, small details can make the difference, and this time we just fell short. At the same time, we remain very proud of what the team has achieved.”
The response signalled motivation to achieve promotion and though the details remain elusive, Tabone continued to hail the importance of a united collaboration, “The focus now is to continue building on this foundation, preparing for the next qualifiers, and working closely with clubs to support the ongoing development of our players.”
Lead Image: Malta FA
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One important detail is the squad distribution: 10 players were born in 2009, 5 in 2010, and 5 in 2011, according to the UEFA database. The 2010 cohort was already small in number, and that reflects a wider pattern, since the 2010 age group in the U16 league has only around 20 players, while the 2011 and younger age groups are much larger. Injuries affecting several of the 2010-born players made that shortage even more pronounced during the season. As a result, the younger players had to step up, and they did so well. This context makes the improvement on the pitch all the more noteworthy and the upcoming tournaments all the more interesting.