What do I think about Malta and their World Cup qualifying campaign? I have given up investing any more emotional effort into caring about the team. I will still follow. I will still hope. But this is dismal. Played 8. Lost 8.
Cyprus have 10 points. The MFA can spin it any way they want: "the bigger teams", "we can not compete with their size", "we have our limitations (how I hate that negative attitude, defeatist word)". Who believes any of this anymore? Cyprus have 10 points. Malta have 0. Andorra have 4 points. Faroe Islands have 8. Eight points. Malta have 0. Iceland could still be included in this list. They have 13 points. Results, MFA. Not performances. Let me say it in Maltese: 'wirijiet tajbin" mean nothing. They don't bring points.As a former coach of the Malta team once said, "you have to score more goals then your opponents to win."
I coach, and even though at a younger age I will reward my players for effort, there comes a time when all that matters are results. What are you competing for if the winning or losing is not important? And if the results don't come than a change is needed.
On to a more positive, heartwarming story for a football fan, the biggest surprise team of Russia 2018 qualifying won their fifth consecutive match today. Northern Ireland beat the Czech Republic 2-0 and are now only second in their group because they are unlucky to be the same one as Germany. They are pretty much assured of a play-off spot but could be up against the likes of Italy, Portugal or Holland.
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