by The draws for the UEFA Women’s European Championships in the U17 and U19 categories signalled a new first for Malta as a country participating in both categories in the upcoming 2024/25 campaign. The simultaneous participation in both reflects the work put in over the past years to develop a large enough pool of players to bridge the gap for the first time.
A First Participation In Both U17 & U19 Categories
Although Malta women’s national team selections have participated in the UEFA Women’s European Championship U17 and U19 tournaments in the past, the limited pool of players and the restrictions that a player cannot participate in both tournaments within the same cycle, has forced Malta to choose between the two competitions in a single season.
This is all set to change in the upcoming 2024/25 campaign. Malta will participate in the U19 tournament with a selection of players born between 2006 and 2008. At the same time, it will also be playing a part in the U17 tournament with a separate cohort of players born in 2008 and 2009.
The U17 team will be led by Clint Tabone who is taking over from Vince Galea, with the latter having taken up the post as the head coach of Birkirkara’s Women’s senior team. Clint Tabone has also taken Galea’s position of the technical administrator for the women’s academy within the Malta Football Association.
Meanwhile, the Women’s Department within the Malta Football Association has confirmed that it is in discussion over the coaching positions related to the U19 Women’s National Team. However, it is optimistic that appointments will be made soon. The head coaching position will require a coach with a UEFA A license, while the assistant coach must have a minimum UEFA B license. The inclusion of a female coach within the setup is also a pre-requisite stipulated by football governing bodies.
The simultaneous participation in both U17 and U19 tournament presents a step forward for the nation. It signifies that the work done in the past years to identify and develop players has raised a steady stream of players across a number of years that is big enough to allow Malta to bridge the gap for the first time.
In fact, this will enable Malta to participate not just in the U17 and U19 categories, but also in the UEFA Women’s Development Tournaments held for the U15s and U16s in the 2024/25 season. This raises the number of high-level competitive international matches that players within these age brackets will already be exposed to at a young age, which continues to serve their development.
UEFA Women’s U17 EURO Championship Tournament Draws
Malta’s disappointing showing last March means that the nation will return to the U17 tournament still vying for promotion from League B. Promotion is secured by the teams winning the groups in League B, as well as the best runners-up.
Malta has been drawn in a group with Ukraine, Romania and Moldova. Ukraine go into the matches as the strongest seed, having been relegated from League A in round 2 of the 2023/24 tournament. Romania follow from Pot 2. Malta was drawn from pot 3, while Moldova completed the group from pot 4. The first round of matches will be played between the 1st of July and the 3rd of December.
Spain are the defending champions in the competition, while the hosts for the finals will be the Faroe Islands.
UEFA Women’s U19 EURO Championship Tournament Draws
Malta will return to the U19 edition after having had a one-year hiatus and will thus automatically go into the competition in League B. Slovenia go into the group as the strongest team relegated from League A. The two nations are joined by Croatia (pot 2) and Luxembourg (pot 3). The group winners and the best runners-up will be promoted to League A.
The last time Malta competed in the U19 championships was in April of last year, under the leadership of Frank Schembri. Malta beat Armenia by 4-1, courtesy of goals by Alexandra Gatt, a brace by Sara Saliba and a goal from Lexine Farrugia. However, the side succumbed to a 4-2 defeat at the hands of the Faroe Islands. Sara Saliba and Michaela Ionadi converted the goals on the day, both assisted by Yulya Carella. Despite this, the Faroe Islands capitalised on having the extra player, with Malena Olsen, Lisa Haraldsen, Solja Ernsdottir and Anna Braendstrup all finding the net to secure a late victory.
The first round of matches will be played in the international windows between the 8th of July and the 3rd of December. The hosts for the rounds will be decided for every group, while the finals will be held in Poland.
Lead Image: Joe Borg
Stay up to date by following The Sporting Fan on social media: Instagram ~ Facebook ~ X
