by Bosnia & Herzegovina are set to welcome Malta in Zenica at 16:00 this afternoon. Selver Hodzic remarked the positive mood in the camp following Friday’s victory in the reverse fixture. Malta’s Manuela Tesse did not mince her words on the importance of a positive response to Friday’s defeat.
Recovery From Friday’s Encounter
The nature of the International fixtures means that the two teams have had just over seventy-two hours to get themselves ready for this afternoon’s match. The intensity of the match appeared to be taking its toll on both sets of players as the final minutes approached on Friday, making the short turn-around a challenge.
However, Bosnia & Herzegovina’s Selver Hodzic was in an upbeat manner, “Players are doing great. We have really good coaching staff who do a great job with recovery, as well as the medical team who are phenomenal.”
Despite this, the Bosnia & Herzegovina camp confirmed that the side will still be missing Maja Jelcic who did not make the trip to Malta, “Unfortunately she will not be taking part in this match either and will be missed for sure.” The team will also be without midfielder Marija Aleksic following suspension due to the number of bookings.
On the other hand, Malta’s Manuela Tesse provided good news on the injury front but suggested there could still be physical effects, “There are no new injuries, but there is tiredness from the match and the travelling. We left Malta at 5 o’clock, so we woke up at two in the morning and travelled very long. It was very hard for the team.”
Setting Sights On This Afternoon’s Match
As expected, Friday’s victory has boosted confidence and morale in the Bosnia & Herzegovina camp, ahead of this afternoon’s match. “The mood in the camp is very positive and we are very united. We have the same goal in mind and we are doing what’s in our power to achieve that goal.”
Tactically Selver Hodzic appears to be focused on his team’s plan, “We are concentrating on how we will play and set ourselves on the field.” Meanwhile, Hodzic refused to speculate on Malta’s tactical approach, “I am sure Malta’s coaching staff will make the best decision based on their player availability.”
Having found the winner on Friday, Bosnia & Herzegovina’s captain Milena Nikolic, is relishing the opportunity to play at home, “It is always nice to play in front of our fans and at home. That gives us more strength in the game.”
Despite physical tiredness, Malta’s coach, Manuela Tesse, indicated that the team is focused on the task at hand, “The players are doing well, but they are disappointed by Friday’s defeat and of course want to make up for it.” At the same time, Manuela Tesse is not expecting Bosnia & Herzegovina to rest on their laurels, “I will expect them to be very aggressive at home because if they win they have every chance to come second in the group.”
The Italian was clear on the importance of a victory for Malta to maintain a good chance of remaining in League B, but backed her team to have the mentality for the challenge ahead, “It’s often in these pressure moments that our team players can rally together and demonstrate their resilience.”
Friday’s encounter continued the trend of late drama in the encounters between the two and a tight scoreline to boot. The gloves have already come off and an even mightier battle is expected this afternoon as the latter half of the fixtures sets in. The two teams kick-off at 16:00 CET at the FF BH Football Training Centre in Zenica. The match will also be broadcast live on TVM Sports+.
The other match in the group will be played at 20:00 CET, where Northern Ireland will welcome the group leaders Portugal at Mourneview Park, Lurgan.
Lead Image: Lara Schembri
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