Malta’s Under-21 national team face a formidable challenge on Wednesday evening when they host Germany at the Centenary Stadium in their latest 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifier.

The encounter, which kicks off at 6pm, will be Malta’s second fixture of the current international window following Saturday’s 4-0 defeat against Northern Ireland. Davide Mazzotta’s side will then face Latvia on October 6.

Speaking ahead of the encounter, Mazzotta urged his players to put the Northern Ireland defeat behind them while building on the positive aspects of their performance, particularly during the first half.

“The first thing we must do is to put behind us the result of the match against Northern Ireland. However, we need to appreciate various aspects of our performance which were positive, especially in the first half,” Mazzotta said.

The Malta coach emphasised the importance of unity against a German side featuring players accustomed to competing at the highest level of European football.

“I expect unity from my team. If we are to have a positive reaction, we need to be united and play for each other,” he explained.

Mazzotta believes encounters against such formidable opposition are essential for the development of Maltese football.

“Our growth and that of the entire Maltese football movement passes through great challenges such as this. It is a great stimulus for us to play against adversaries playing in the UEFA Champions League,” he said.

“Even though super challenging, such matches are a dream for all. I cannot wait to go down on the touchline.”

The Italian coach acknowledged that Malta would need considerable courage and tactical discipline against Germany, who are coached by Antonio Di Salvo.

“Playing against a team such as Germany, led by Antonio Di Salvo, a great coach, we need a lot of courage and a balanced approach to the game,” he said.

“It will be a match of great intensity, and we will not have any room for physical or mental rest and we know that we risk being punished for any imprecision.”

Despite the considerable difference in quality and experience between the two sides, Mazzotta insisted that his players must approach the encounter with a positive mentality rather than allowing themselves to be intimidated by their opponents.

“The mistake that is often made against such great teams is that of feeling that one is a sacrificial lamb,” he explained.

“We know that this game will be like David against Goliath, but we cannot already feel beaten. Giving up at the beginning would be the worst mistake.”

Mazzotta also highlighted the importance of the Under-21 national team in preparing young Maltese players for senior international football.

He expressed satisfaction at seeing several players from the Under-21 setup given opportunities during Malta’s recent senior international friendly against Liechtenstein.

“During the last senior team match, it was a pleasure for me to see various U21 players getting minutes under their belt with the senior team,” he said.

The coach reiterated that developing players capable of progressing to the senior national team remained one of his staff’s principal objectives.

Wednesday’s encounter against Germany will kick off at 6pm at the Centenary Stadium and will be broadcast live on TVMSport+.