by After learning harsh lessons from their first campaign in League B, Manuela Tesse’s squad blends experience and emerging youth as Malta prepare to face Turkey and Switzerland in the opening UEFA Qualifiers.
Test On Malta’s Resolve Since League B Debut
Malta’s Women’s National Team begin their second attempt at securing League B survival this March, entering the UEFA European Qualifiers with a squad that reflects both continuity and change.
Training intensity has noticeably increased at the National Football Centre, with the Maltese unit aware that this campaign carries greater weight than the last. Malta begin away to Turkey on 3rd March (15:00) before hosting Switzerland on 7th March (19:00). Tickets are available online.
No broadcasting details have been shared by the Malta Football Association at the time of writing.
The first League B campaign featured a Maltese side focused on maintaining defensive discipline and seeking to be sharp in rare opportunities.
Malta started strongly with a draw against Northern Ireland away from home, before holding to a respectable 2 – 0 defeat to Portugal at home. However, the double header against Bosnia & Herzegovina dealt defeat in late goals which crushed hopes, with relegation ultimately confirmed by Northern Ireland.
Squad Evolution As Malta Prepares For Second Attempt
The provisional selection features several familiar faces, but still shows distinct changes from the group that were regulars in the first League B campaign as a mix of injuries and retirements also take hold and force change. Among the most notable changes from the first League B campaign are goalkeeper Janice Xuereb, defenders Charlene Zammit, Ann-Marie Said, as well as Alishia Cassar.
Manuela Tesse has named the provisional squad which sees a return for Raisa Costantino who earns a first call-up since Malta’s friendly against Italy among the goalkeeping cohort, alongside Mgarr United duo Giulia D’Antuono and Patricia Ebejer.
In the centre of the defence, captain Emma Lipman is expected to lead the charge alongside Stephania Farrugia, Oceane Grange, together with Leanne Cefai and Georgiana Mifsud.
Questioned about the omission of Swieqi United duo Tammy Falzon and Valentina Rapa, among a largely ageing defence, Manuela Tesse explained that Falzon remains part of the setup but university commitments prevented her inclusion, highlighting the challenge young players face balancing studies and football. “She is considered to be part of the national team but these prohibit her from attending training and so I couldn’t call her up.”
As for Rapa, she continued, “Valentina Rapa needs to improve. I think this season wasn’t as strong and I also understand once again that this is another player who is young and has to also juggle studies. She played in League B against Northern Ireland and also against Portugal.”
“They must work, but slowly I believe that both Valentina & Tammy can take a place,” Tesse finished.
Youth Pathway Into Senior Team
“As a national team I think it’s important that first we get these players to train with the team and build the experience slowly,” she continued. Though acknowledging an older defence, the Sardinian dismissed worries about the future, most notably mentioning the future prospects such as Amber Galea and Amy Catania among two of the strongest candidates in defence.
Indeed, the selection does feature a few players who have been plucked from the U19 squad, most notably Emma Flannery who earns the first senior call-up, together with Lexine Farrugia and Sara Saliba who have both already debuted for the country at senior level.
Manuela Tesse was concise when asked for her thought process on what merits a player to make that jump from the U19 to the senior level, “The pitch decides not myself. It’s the performance on the pitch. Sara had a strong league performance this year, she scored a lot of goals and I follow with the coaches how the players are doing. At a young age, a player needs to play. We must then balance between them playing in their age-group (U19) when they are 18 or 19, but see if they can handle the senior level.”
She continued, “For example, Lexine Farrugia captained the U19 team in the last window. In that moment her aim was to play and show that she can stand out against players her age. At sixteen or seventeen I think it’s important to focus on development, more than making the appearance in the senior team.”
Attacking Optimism
With the benefit of that experience, together with the growth and changes in the two years that passed since, Manuela Tesse’s eyes lit up when asked regarding what to expect from the small island’s team, “I think we have a lot of experience in the back, but we have an extremely strong attack. I think our strikers are so young and have so much potential, they do not even realise how good they are. This will be an opportunity.”
The Sardinian underscored, “I see a lot of potential not just in Lexine and Sara who are earning their first caps, but also in players like Haley (Bugeja) and Maria (Farrugia) who have more caps but have even more potential. Yulya Carella has also grown a lot in the past three years and I am very proud of that development.”
Despite the challenges, Tesse’s confidence in her forwards was unmistakable.
“I wouldn’t want to change any single striker that we have.”
The full provisional selection is listed below. Manuela Tesse is expected to trim the selection to the final group in the coming days as they begin their quest for survival.
Provisional Selection:
Goalkeepers
Raisa Costantino (FC Pro Palazolo, Italy), Giulia D’Antuono (Mgarr United), Patricia Ebejer (Mgarr United FC)
Defenders
Fiona Buttigieg (Luton Town Ladies FC, England), Leanne Cefai (Mgarr United), Stephania Farrugia (Birkirkara FC), Alexandra Gatt (York City Ladies, England) Oceane Grange (Freedom FC, Italy), Emma Lipman (Genoa CFC, Italy), Maya Lucia (Apollon Ladies FC Cyprus), Georgiana Mifsud (Hibernians FC), Emma Xuereb (Swieqi United)
Midfielders
Jana Barbara (Vfr Warbeyen, Germany), Brenda Borg (Mgarr United), Rachel Cuschieri (Genoa CFC, Italy), Maia Debono (Mgarr United), Emma Flannery (Albion FC, United States), Nicole Sciberras (Hibernians FC), Shona Zammit (Swieqi United)
Forwards
Leah Ayres (Hibernians FC), Haley Bugeja (FC Internazionale Milano, Italy), Yulya Carella (Mgarr United), Lexine Farrugia (AS Roma Fc, Italy), Maria Farrugia (Bristol City Women FC, England), Jade Flask (Swieqi United), Sara Saliba (Swieqi United), Kailey Willis (Venezia Calcio Femminile, Italy)
Lead Image: Brandon Bonett
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