Mazzotta names final 24-man Malta Under-21 squad for European qualifiers

Malta Under-21 national team coach Davide Mazzotta has reduced his provisional squad from 30 to 24 players ahead of the final three matches of the 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying campaign.

Malta will conclude their Group F commitments during the September-October international window, with home fixtures against Northern Ireland and Germany followed by an away match against Latvia.

Mazzotta’s side will first host Northern Ireland at the Centenary Stadium on Saturday, 26 September, with kick-off scheduled for 7pm.

The Maltese youngsters will then face Germany at the same venue on Wednesday, 30 September. The kick-off time for this encounter has been brought forward from 7pm to 6pm.

Malta will conclude their qualifying campaign against Latvia at the Daugava Stadium in Riga on Tuesday, 6 October, with kick-off also scheduled for 6pm.

All three matches will be broadcast live on TVMSport+.

The final squad includes three goalkeepers, seven defenders, seven midfielders and seven forwards.

Among those retained are England-based players Kai Bartolo of Amersham Town and Alfie Bridgman of Moneyfields, while the remainder of the squad represents clubs in the Maltese domestic leagues.

The six players omitted from the initial provisional squad are goalkeeper Jake Scicluna, defenders Shelom Magri and Thomas Melillo, midfielders Dejan Farrugia and Thomas Melillo, and forwards Joshua Pitts and Sean Gatt.

Mazzotta will be looking for positive performances from his players as they conclude their qualifying commitments against three demanding opponents.

Tickets for the two remaining home matches are available through the Malta Football Association’s official website .

Malta Under-21 final squad

Goalkeepers: Liam Frendo (Valletta), Fabian Lauri (Sliema Wanderers), Karl Sargent (Gżira United).

Defenders: Deacon Abela (Gżira United), Nathan Cross (Mosta), Mattias Ellul (Valletta), Matteo Gambin (Fgura United), Benjamin Hili (Swieqi United), Sven Xerri (Ħamrun Spartans), Jake Vassallo (Birkirkara).

Midfielders: Andrew Borg (Gżira United), Bjorn Buhagiar (Mġarr United), Lucas Caruana (Marsaxlokk), Jake Grech (Balzan), Daniel Letherby (Ħamrun Spartans), Jake Micallef (Żabbar St Patrick), Lucas Okeke (Swieqi United).

Forwards: Shaisen Attard (Ħamrun Spartans), Kai Bartolo (Amersham Town, England), Brooklyn Borg (Gżira United), Alfie Bridgman (Moneyfields, England), Isaiah Chukunyere (Hibernians), Kaiden Fenech (Żabbar St Patrick), Trezeguet Zammit (Naxxar Lions).

Remaining Group F fixtures