Our prediction for this World Cup 2026 match:
Malta
Match Time & Date:
14/11/2021
10:00 AM
Prediction: 0-2
Slovakia
Malta will be aiming to bounce back from a heavy 7-1 loss to Croatia when they take on Slovakia at Ta’Qali National Stadium. Malta have collected only five points from possible 27, and it is no wonder the bookies see them as underdogs in Sunday’s clash. Head coach Devis Mangia could opt to make changes to the starting XI, with all Pisani, Satariano, and Guillaumier pushing for a start.
The Slovaks, on the other hand, aim to retain third position in Group H. Slovakia came from behind to share the spoils with Slovenia in their last group game, and they are surely capable of beating the minnows at Ta’Qali National Stadium. Both Strelec and Duda are pushing for a start after the duo got their names on the scoresheet in the draw with Slovenia. Veteran midfielder Marek Hamsik should keep his place in the starting XI.
Highlighted Player (André Schembri):
Andre Schembri is a Malta international who was born in Floriana on May 27, 1986. Schembri started his youth career at his hometown club Floriana, but he played for fellow Maltese side Hibernians at the start of his senior career. The experienced attacker scored ten goals in 44 appearances for the club before joining Marsaxlokk in 2005. After spending four seasons at the club he moved to Austria Karnten in 2009 and it has to be noted that he played on loan for the likes of Eintracht Braunschweig and Calr Zeiss Jena during his spell with Marsaxlokk.
Andre Schembri did not spend too much time in Austria as he moved to Hungary in the winter of 2010, signing a deal with Ferencvaros. The Maltese striker played for the likes of Panionios, Omonia, FSV Frankfurt, Omonia and Boavista before joining Apollon Limassol in June 2017. Andre Schembri signed a two-year deal with the Cypriot side and he quickly started paying off.
You should bear in mind that the Malta international scored four goals in the 2017/2018 Europa League qualifiers and, no doubt, he helped the Cypriot side book their place in the group stages of the European competition.
Highlighted Team (Slovakia):
Slovakia only appeared on the international stage in 1993 as Czechoslovakia fell apart, and the new national team have yet to record a result worth mention. Repre have only qualified for two major tournaments so far, the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2016, but the current generation definitely seem capable of improving the team’s profile in years to come.
Slovakia currently have quite a few players plying their trade in some of Europe’s top sides, with Marek Hamsik, Martin Skrtel and Juraj Kucka clearly the leaders of the national team at the moment, but they do struggle in some areas and are not exactly world beaters just yet. Under Vladimir Weiss and Jan Kozak, Slovakia have become a tough not to crack, relying on rock-solid back line and swift counter-attacks, and they even gave Spain a tough time during the Euro 2016 qualifiers.
Miroslav Karhan and Robert Vittek are the most capped player and top goalscorer respectively, with Robert Vittek another player worth the mention.
