Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1495439
NEWS 7 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 22 MARCH 2023 KARL AZZOPARDI MALTA are due to play North Macedonia on Thursday for the opening game of the EURO 2024 qualifiers, before hosting Italy at the National Stadium three days later. The EURO 2024 qualifiers look to be historic for Malta, as it is set to face football pow- erhouses Italy and England, while also coming up against Ukraine. Last week, Malta head coach Michele Marcolini announced the 24-man squad which is set to represent the country against North Macedonia and Italy. Notable additions to the squad are Gżira's Luke Tab- one who was called up for the first time and Yannick Yankam who had not formed part of the national team in the recent months. Tabone has been a reliable figure for the Gzira team, with the defender replacing Birkir- kara defender Enrico Pepe who failed to recover his full fitness and was omitted from the squad along with Valletta's Triston Caruana. Yankam returns to the squad having been left out of the na- tional team in their most re- cent qualifiers against Greece and Ireland last November. Marcolini also included all four players who are currently based outside the country, with James Brown, of St Johnstone, Farense defender Zach Mus- cat, Royal Union St Gilloise's midfielder Teddy Teuma, and striker Jodi Jones who is on the books of Notts County. Teddy Teuma's selection comes after the midfielder netted for his Brussels-based club in the round of 16 stage of the Europa League against Bundesliga team Union Ber- lin. Teuma will also face Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the quarter finals, making him the first Maltese national to play at that stage of the competition. He also scored from the spot against Mechelen last Sun- day in the Belgian Pro League, helping Union Saint-Gilloise retaining their charge for first- place and a Champions League spot. Marcolini will be looking to the midfield maverick with the hope of controlling the mid- dle of the pitch. He is having an excellent season in terms of goal returns, netting eight in the league, and three in Europa League. Italy While Malta play North Mac- edonia in the first match of the international break, the matchup against the Azzuri is the most anticipated match. The dominant force prior to and during the delayed Eu- ro 2020 campaign, Italy once again came up short in their bid to appear at the World Cup Finals - losing to North Mace- donia in the playoff semi-final to watch on from home for the second time running - and Ar- gentina barely broke a sweat in a 3-0 Finalissima win over Mancini's crop last year. Already witnessing a couple of players depart the camp injured, Italy have lost attack- er Federico Chiesa, left-back Federico Dimarco and goal- keeper Ivan Provedel, the lat- ter two of whom have been replaced by Emerson Palmieri and Marco Carnesecchi. Carnesecchi is one of four uncapped players to have been called up by Manci- ni for March's fixtures, with Wladimiro Falcone, Alessan- dro Buongiorno and Argenti- na-born striker Mateo Retegui also seeking to make their maiden appearances for the Azzurri. With no Ciro Immobile or Giacomo Raspadori in the ranks due to injury, Retegui could very well be thrown into the deep end for his first start this week, as Mancini faces a toss-up between a 4-3-3 or 3-5-2 setup. North Macedonia will host Malta at the Tose Proeski Are- na on Thursday at 8:45pm. Malta hosts Italy at the Ta' Qali National Stadium on Sunday at 8:45pm. Malta squad Goalkeepers: Henry Bonel- lo (Ħamrun Spartans), Cain Formosa (Valletta), Matthew Grech (Sirens). Defenders: Ferdinando Apap (Hibernians), Luke Tabone (Gżira United), Steve Borg (Ħamrun Spartans), Karl Mi- callef (Gudja United), James Brown (St. Johnston), Zach Muscat (Farense). Midfielders: Juan Corbal- an (Ħamrun Spartans), Ryan Camenzuli (Ħamrun Spar- tans), Matthew Guillaumi- er (Ħamrun Spartans), Cain Attard (Birkirkara), Nikolai Muscat (Gżira United), Bjorn Kristensen (Hibernians), Bran- don Paiber (Valletta), Yannick Yankam (Birkirkara), Teddy Teuma (R.U. Saint Gilloise), Joseph Mbong (Ħamrun Spar- tans FC). Forwards: Shaun Dimech (Valletta), Jodi Felice Jones (Notts Country), Kyrian Nwoko (Santa Lucia), Paul Mbong (Birkirkara), Alexander Satariano (Balzan). Malta's historic EURO 2024 journey starts tomorrow