The Malta Under-21 national team is gearing up for a demanding double-header in its UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying campaign, with head coach Davide Mazzotta placing long-term player development at the heart of the squad’s mission.
Malta resumes its qualifying journey on Friday, 27 March 2026, with an away clash against Greece at the Municipal Stadium of Livadia, kicking off at 17:00 (CET). The match will be broadcast live on TVMSport+.
The team will then travel to Georgia for another away fixture on Tuesday, 31 March, set to kick off at 16:00 (CET) at the Ramaz Shengelia Stadium in Kutaisi, with live coverage on TVMSport.
Speaking ahead of the Greece encounter, Mazzotta expressed satisfaction with the team’s preparation, describing it as positive and indicative of steady progress.
“This is a process and there is still a long way to go,” he said. “As in previous international windows, we focused first on managing the players’ recovery and mental condition. Once that was achieved, we resumed work together with great energy. The players deserve credit for their attitude.”
Beyond immediate results, the coach underlined that the team’s primary objective is to foster unity and collective growth.
“You only improve if you are united and ready to defend one another,” Mazzotta explained. “Individuals are important, but they are not decisive on their own. Respect and togetherness must be our foundation. Bringing together different mindsets is never easy, but our players’ humility and willingness make the process much smoother.”
For this international window, Mazzotta initially selected a 31-man provisional squad before narrowing it down to a final group of 24 players.
Reflecting on the team’s development throughout the qualifying campaign, the coach highlighted a clear technical and tactical direction being implemented by his staff. While acknowledging that results may not be immediate, he expressed confidence in the long-term benefits of the approach.
“We have introduced a new technical-tactical pathway. It is complex and won’t deliver instant results, but we believe that over time it will pay off,” he said. “Our goal is that, within the next year, several of these players will step up to the senior national team with confidence and a strong understanding of the game.”
Mazzotta concluded by stressing the importance of the Under-21 level in a player’s journey, describing it as “a crucial and fascinating stage” in shaping future senior internationals.
As Malta prepares to face two challenging opponents away from home, the focus remains firmly on growth, cohesion and building a foundation for the future.
Sports Editor
Veteran Journalist
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