The UEFA Women’s Nations League & Manuela Tesse’s Chosen Twenty-Two For Malta

The Malta Women’s National Team will be embarking on their first two fixtures in the UEFA Women’s Nations League against Latvia and Moldova. Here’s an overview of the competition and the twenty-two who Manuela Tesse has chosen to deliver the results for Malta.

Introduction to the UEFA Women’s Nations League

The competition is split into three leagues with a tier-like system, where each league features a number of groups. Malta is in League C which is defined for countries ranked 33rd and lower. It forms part of Group C1, which also includes Moldova, Latvia and Andorra.

The competition works in a league format, so the teams within a group will play against each other twice (home and away). The winner of the group will be promoted into League B. From those who do not top the group, the best-ranked runner-up teams will play against the three best-ranked third-placed teams of League B. Those promoted will play in League B for the European Qualifiers phase.

In Group 1, Malta will travel to Latvia for their first fixture which will be played on Friday 22nd at 15:30 at the Jūrmalas Pilsētas Stadium Sloka. Meanwhile, Moldova will welcome Andorra at the District Sport Complex with kick-off set at 17:00.

The second set of fixtures will be played on Tuesday 26th September, where Malta will be hosting Moldova at the Centenary Stadium at 20:00. Andorra will welcome Latvia at the Estadi Nacional, with kick-off set at 19:00.

Tesse’s Twenty-Two

The Italian coach has had a positive run of results in friendly fixtures since taking over the Malta Women’s National Team, during which she has tried out a number of different players. She now sets faith in the below group of players to deliver in her first competitive fixtures in charge of the team.

In the goalkeeping bracket, the coach selected Birkirkara’s goalkeeper Janice Xuereb and Maya Cachia of Como. Xuereb, considered the first-choice goalkeeper, continued to impress at the start of the season, particularly in the club’s UEFA Women’s Champions League ties. Meanwhile, Cachia secured a move to the Serie A team over the summer and the youngster will be looking to continue her development and take her career to the next level.

The defensive group includes veteran Emma Lipman, also of Como, who made a substitute appearance in the club’s opening league victory over Napoli over the weekend. Accompanying her will be four players from Birkirkara in Charlene Zammit, Stephania Farrugia, Valentina Rapa and Ann-Marie Said, who between them formed the back-four against FC Zurich. Swieqi United’s Jessica Dimech and Emma Xuereb are also listed in the defensive department, despite the latter being utilised in a more advanced role by coach Saviour Darmanin. Georgiana Mifsud of Valletta retains her place in the list following the call-up against Haiti and a solid set of performances with her club in the league.

The midfield contains a wider mixture of players who don different club shirts. Shona Zammit (Swieqi United), Brenda Borg (Mgarr United), Nicole Sciberras (Hibernians) retain their places in the selection since July, following a bright start to the league campaign. Veronique Mifsud (Birkirkara) and Gabriella Zahra (Birkirkara) receive call-ups following impressive displays for their club in local and European competitions. Rachel Cuschieri of Sampdoria completes the midfield. Sampdoria had a complicated summer but following talks will be resuming participation in Serie A after avoiding relegation last year. Cuschieri was in the starting line-up in the team’s opening league match against Inter Women over the weekend, with the latter featuring compatriot Haley Bugeja, who was making her debut with the winning side (2-0).

Bugeja herself makes a return to the selection in the forward line. She is joined by Maria Farrugia who has been a fixture in Lewes’ line-ups in their opening four games in the Barclays Women’s Championship. Maya Lucia is also included after having a bright start in her life at ZNK Split in Croatia, marking her debut with a goal and assist against HNK Gorica. Raina Giusti of Birkirkara and Leah Ayres of Hibernians also make the list, with each scoring hattricks in the Assikura Women’s League. Veteran Ylenia Carabott of London Seaward brings the most experience to the forward line.

The team will travel to Latvia for their opening match. Tickets for the match against Moldova which will be held at the Centenary Stadium may be purchased online or at the door.

Lead Image: Malta FA

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