EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS - 2014/16 SEASON MATCH PRESS KITS Stadio - Thursday 3 September 2015 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Italy Group H - Matchday -6 Malta Last updated 12/07/2021 17:49CET

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Previous meetings 2 Match background 4 Squad list 5 Head coach 7 Match officials 8 Competition facts 9 Match-by-match lineups 10 Team facts 12 Legend 14

1 Italy - Malta Thursday 3 September 2015 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit , Florence

Previous meetings Head to Head 2016 UEFA European Championship Stage Date Match Result Venue Goalscorers reached 13/10/2014 QR (GS) Malta - Italy 0-1 Ta' Qali Pellè 24

FIFA World Cup Stage Date Match Result Venue Goalscorers reached 26/03/2013 QR (GS) Malta - Italy 0-2 Ta' Qali Balotelli 8 (P), 45 11/09/2012 QR (GS) Italy - Malta 2-0 Modena Destro 5, Peluso 90+2

FIFA World Cup Stage Date Match Result Venue Goalscorers reached D. Baggio 19, Signori 38, Vierchowod 48, 24/03/1993 QR (GS) Italy - Malta 6-1 Palermo Mancini 58, 89, Maldini 72; Busuttil 68 (P) Gregory 86; Vialli 60, 19/12/1992 QR (GS) Malta - Italy 1-2 Ta'Qali Signori 63

1988 UEFA European Championship Stage Date Match Result Venue Goalscorers reached Bagni 4, Bergomi 9, 24/01/1987 PR (GS) Italy - Malta 5-0 Bergamo Altobelli 24, 35, Vialli 45 06/12/1986 PR (GS) Malta - Italy 0-2 Ta' Qali Ferri 12, Altobelli 19

Final Qualifying Total tournament

Home Away Pld W D L Pld W D L Pld W D L Pld W D L GF GA EURO Italy 1 1 0 0 2 2 0 0 - - - - 3 3 0 0 8 0 Malta 2 0 0 2 1 0 0 1 - - - - 3 0 0 3 0 8 FIFA* Italy 2 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 - - - - 4 4 0 0 12 2 Malta 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 2 - - - - 4 0 0 4 2 12 Friendlies Italy ------Malta ------Total Italy 3 3 0 0 4 4 0 0 - - - - 7 7 0 0 20 2 Malta 4 0 0 4 3 0 0 3 - - - - 7 0 0 7 2 20

2 Italy - Malta Thursday 3 September 2015 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence * FIFA World Cup/FIFA Confederations Cup

3 Italy - Malta Thursday 3 September 2015 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence Match background

Italy will be eager to keep up the pressure on Group H leaders Croatia as they play host to their Mediterranean neighbours Malta in UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying. Previous meetings • Italy won 1-0 in Malta in the sides' first Group H meeting on 13 October – Graziano Pellè (24) scoring the winner on his debut. It was a noble defeat for Malta, given that their captain was dismissed on 28 minutes, though 's 73rd-minute red card eventually evened up the numbers. • Italy have won all seven of their matches against Malta, with an aggregate score of 20-2. • The nations also met in 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying, Italy prevailing 2-0 home and away. • Malta have not scored against Italy in three meetings since a Carmel Busuttil penalty 68 minutes into a 6-1 World Cup qualifying defeat in March 1993. Disciplinary • Matteo Darmian and are both a yellow card away from a one-game ban. • Malta's , Jonathan Caruana and are all a booking away from a suspension. Form guide • Italy won their first three Group H games, but have drawn the last three: 1-1, 2-2 and 1-1 in Croatia in their last fixture. • Italy are unbeaten in 46 qualifying games (W33 D13) since a 3-1 defeat in France on 6 December 2006. • Malta's only Group H goal so far was a penalty in a 1-1 draw with Bulgaria in Sofia. They have lost their other five fixtures in the section without scoring. • Malta are without a win in ten competitive fixtures (D1 L9) since a 1-0 World Cup qualifying victory in Armenia on 7 June 2013. Trivia and links • Malta's Italian coach Pietro Ghedin is in his second spell in charge on the island. The one-time SS Lazio defender led Malta from 1993 to 1995, and was then assistant coach of Italy (1996–2004, working under , and ) and coach of the Italian national women's team (2005–12) before returning to Malta in 2012. • Italy coach played for the Azzurri during Ghedin's time on the staff. • Malta's 21 encounters with Italian sides in UEFA age-group competitions have all been won by Italy. • Eight UEFA club competition meetings between Maltese and Italian clubs have produced eight Italian wins – and an aggregate score of 33-2. • Italy goalkeeper became the first player to make 50 UEFA European Championship appearances when he started the 1-1 draw against Croatia in June.

4 Italy - Malta Thursday 3 September 2015 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence Squad list

Italy Current season Overall Qual. FT Team No. Player DoB Age Club D Pld Gls Pld Gls Pld Gls Goalkeepers - Gianluigi Buffon 28/01/1978 37 Juventus - 5 0 0 0 147 - - 12/01/1987 28 - 2 0 0 0 14 - - Daniele Padelli 25/10/1985 29 Torino - 0 0 0 0 - - Defenders - 14/08/1984 31 Juventus - 4 2 0 0 76 6 - 08/05/1981 34 Juventus - 1 0 0 0 51 - - Matteo Darmian 02/12/1989 25 Man. United * 6 0 0 0 13 - - Manuel Pasqual 13/03/1982 33 Fiorentina - 3 0 0 0 10 - - Leonardo Bonucci 01/05/1987 28 Juventus - 5 1 0 0 47 3 - 20/10/1992 22 - 4 0 0 0 18 - New York - 19/05/1979 36 - 2 0 0 0 115 13 City FC - 24/07/1983 32 Roma - 2 0 0 0 100 16 - 28/02/1987 28 Lazio - 5 2 0 0 29 2 - Andrea Bertolacci 11/01/1991 24 Milan - 1 0 0 0 3 - - Roberto Soriano 08/02/1991 24 Sampdoria - 2 0 0 0 4 - - 05/11/1992 22 Paris - 2 0 0 0 12 1 - 25/01/1985 30 Lazio - 1 0 0 0 11 - - 11/03/1991 24 Roma - 3 0 0 0 8 1 - Franco Vázquez 22/02/1989 26 Palermo - 0 0 0 0 2 - Forwards - Graziano Pellè 15/07/1985 30 Southampton - 3 1 0 0 4 2 - Éder 15/11/1986 28 Sampdoria - 1 1 0 0 2 1 - 25/06/1991 24 Juventus - 4 1 0 0 5 1 - 04/06/1991 24 Napoli - 0 0 0 0 6 1 - Manolo Gabbiadini 26/11/1991 23 Napoli - 1 0 0 0 4 - Coach - Antonio Conte 31/07/1969 46 - 6 0 0 0 10 -

5 Italy - Malta Thursday 3 September 2015 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence

Malta Current season Overall Qual. FT Team No. Player DoB Age Club D Pld Gls Pld Gls Pld Gls Goalkeepers - Justin Haber 09/06/1981 34 Birkirkara - 1 0 0 0 54 - - Andrew Hogg 02/03/1985 30 Kalloni - 5 0 0 0 40 - - Henry Bonello 13/10/1988 26 Valletta - 0 0 0 0 1 - Defenders - Alex Muscat 14/12/1984 30 Sliema - 1 0 0 0 29 - - Ryan Camilleri 22/05/1988 27 Valletta - 6 0 0 0 22 - - Andrei Agius 12/08/1986 29 Hibernians * 6 0 0 0 51 1 Aris - 15/05/1988 27 - 2 0 0 0 13 - Limassol - Clifford Baldacchino 09/02/1988 27 Sliema - 1 0 0 0 2 - Midfielders - 24/08/1981 34 Valletta - 5 0 0 0 84 1 - Gareth Sciberras 29/03/1983 32 Birkirkara - 0 0 0 0 39 - - Paul Fenech 20/12/1986 28 Birkirkara * 6 0 0 0 28 1 - Clayton Failla 08/01/1986 29 Hibernians - 5 1 0 0 41 2 - Joseph Zerafa 31/05/1988 27 Birkirkara - 0 0 0 0 3 - - Rowen Muscat 05/06/1991 24 Birkirkara - 6 0 0 0 18 - - Bjorn Kristensen 05/04/1993 22 Hibernians - 2 0 0 0 7 - - Zach Muscat 22/08/1993 22 Birkirkara - 6 0 0 0 9 - Forwards - Michael Mifsud 17/04/1981 34 Sliema - 4 0 0 0 109 39 - Jean-Pierre Triganza 20/11/1981 33 Valletta - 0 0 0 0 1 - - Andrew Cohen 13/05/1981 34 Hibernians - 2 0 0 0 64 1 - André Schembri 27/05/1986 29 Omonia - 6 0 0 0 66 3 - Stephen Pisani 07/08/1992 23 Floriana - 1 0 0 0 1 - - Terence Vella 20/04/1990 25 Birkirkara - 2 0 0 0 11 - - Alfred Effiong 29/11/1984 30 Balzan - 2 0 0 0 4 1 Coach - Pietro Ghedin 21/11/1952 62 - 6 0 0 0 51 -

6 Italy - Malta Thursday 3 September 2015 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence Head coach Antonio Conte Date of birth: 31 July 1969 Nationality: Italian Playing career: US Lecce, Juventus Coaching career: AC (assistant), USD Arezzo, AS Bari, Atalanta BC, AC Siena, Juventus, Italy • A combative and versatile , Conte also weighed in with his share of goals – usually spectacular. • Made debut with hometown club Lecce aged 16 in 1985/86 but was not a regular until 1988/89 when his side returned to the top flight after two seasons away. Joined Juventus in November 1991. • Spent the next 13 seasons at Juve, later describing the famous black-and-white shirt as his "second skin". Won five league titles, the UEFA Champions League in 1995/96 and the UEFA Cup in 1992/93 in addition to triumphs in the UEFA Super Cup, Italian Cup and a European/South American Cup, wearing the captain's armband from 1996. Capped 20 times by Italy, he was part of the squads that finished runners-up at the 1994 FIFA World Cup and UEFA EURO 2000. • Started coaching career as assistant at Siena in 2005, taking over side Arezzo the following season. After leading Bari and Siena to the top flight in 2009 and 2011 respectively, he signed a two-year contract with Juventus. • Wasted no time in revamping the squad and enjoyed a debut season to remember as the Bianconeri claimed the Scudetto without losing a single game, suffering their sole defeat of the season against SSC Napoli in the final. Guided Juventus to a second successive title in 2013 and made it three in a row the following year, before stepping down in July 2014. Appointed Italy coach on a two-year deal a month later.

Pietro Ghedin Date of birth: 21 November 1952 Nationality: Italian Playing career: ACF Fiorentina, SS Lazio, AC Venezia, , Pescara Calcio, AC Pistoiese, AC Siena Coaching career: Italy Under-18, Malta U21, Malta (twice), Italy (assistant), Italy women • Defender Ghedin played in Serie A with Fiorentina and Lazio, joining the latter immediately after the capital side had won their first-ever Scudetto in 1974 and remaining at the Stadio Olimpico until 1981. He played out his career in the lower divisions. • Ghedin became an Italian Football Federation (FIGC) coach in 1987, leading the country's U18s and becoming senior national team scout ahead of the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy. • He served as the Azzurri goalkeeping coach for the Olympic Games of 1992 and 1996. Additionally, while still under contract with the FIGC, he also coached the Malta national side at both U21 and senior level between 1992 and 1995. • Appointed assistant to Italy coach Cesare Maldini during the 1998 World Cup, Ghedin remained in that role under Dino Zoff at UEFA EURO 2000 and Giovanni Trapattoni at the 2002 World Cup. • Ghedin became Italy's senior women's coach in 2005, guiding them to the UEFA Women's EURO 2009 quarter- finals, before leaving in 2012 to return to the Malta helm.

7 Italy - Malta Thursday 3 September 2015 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence Match officials

Referee Ivan Kružliak (SVK) Assistant referees Tomaš Somolani (SVK) , Tomaš Mokoš (SVK) Additional assistant referees Vladimir Vnuk (SVK) , Mário Vlk (SVK) Fourth official Ondrej Brendza (SVK) UEFA Delegate Jack Grundie (NIR) UEFA Referee observer Konrad Plautz (AUT)

Referee UEFA EURO Name Date of birth UEFA matches matches Ivan Kružliak 24/03/1984 2 39

Ivan Kruzliak Referee since: 2003 First division: 2008 FIFA badge: 2011

Tournaments: 2012 UEFA European Under-17 Championship

Finals 2012 UEFA European Under-17 Championship

UEFA European Championship matches featuring the two countries involved in this match No such matches refereed Other matches involving teams from either of the two countries involved in this match Stage Date Competition Home Away Result Venue reached 10/09/2012 U21 QR Italy Republic of Ireland 2-4 Casarano 26/02/2015 UEL R32 FC Internazionale Milano Celtic FC 1-0 Milan

8 Italy - Malta Thursday 3 September 2015 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence Competition facts

9 Italy - Malta Thursday 3 September 2015 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence Match-by-match lineups Italy

European Qualifiers Matchday 1 (09/09/2014) Norway 0-2 Italy Goals: 0-1 Zaza 16, 0-2 Bonucci 62 Italy: Buffon, Darmian (61 Pasqual), Astori, Zaza (83 Destro), Florenzi (87 Poli), Immobile, Ranocchia, De Rossi, Bonucci, De Sciglio, Giaccherini Matchday 2 (10/10/2014) Italy 2-1 Azerbaijan Goals: 1-0 Chiellini 44, 1-1 Chiellini 76 (og) , 2-1 Chiellini 82 Italy: Buffon, De Sciglio, Chiellini, Zaza, Marchisio, Immobile, Ranocchia, Florenzi (77 Giovinco), Bonucci, Darmian (81 Candreva), Pirlo (73 Aquilani) Matchday 3 (13/10/2014) Malta 0-1 Italy Goals: 0-1 Pellè 24 Italy: Buffon, Chiellini, Verratti, Candreva, Marchisio, Immobile (65 Giovinco), Florenzi (59 Aquilani), Pellè (75 Ogbonna), Bonucci, Darmian, Pasqual Matchday 4 (16/11/2014) Italy 1-1 Croatia Goals: 1-0 Candreva 11, 1-1 Perišić 15 Italy: Buffon, De Sciglio, Chiellini, Candreva, Zaza (63 Pellè), Marchisio, Immobile (52 El Shaarawy), Ranocchia, De Rossi, Darmian, Pasqual (28 Soriano) Matchday 5 (28/03/2015) Bulgaria 2-2 Italy Goals: 0-1 Minev 4 (og) , 1-1 Popov 11, 2-1 Micanski 17, 2-2 Éder 84 Italy: Sirigu, Chiellini, Darmian, L. Antonelli (77 Gabbiadini), Candreva, Zaza (58 Éder), Immobile, Verratti, Barzagli, Bonucci, Bertolacci (72 Soriano) Matchday 6 (12/06/2015) Croatia 1-1 Italy Goals: 1-0 Mandžukić 11, 1-1 Candreva 36 (P) Italy: Buffon (46 Sirigu), Darmian, Astori, Candreva, Marchisio, El Shaarawy (80 Ranocchia), De Silvestri (27 De Sciglio), Parolo, Bonucci, Pellè, Pirlo Matchday 7 (03/09/2015) Italy-Malta Matchday 8 (06/09/2015) Italy-Bulgaria Matchday 9 (10/10/2015) Azerbaijan-Italy Matchday 10 (13/10/2015) Italy-Norway Malta

European Qualifiers Matchday 1 (09/09/2014) Croatia 2-0 Malta Goals: 1-0 Modrić 46, 2-0 Kramarić 81 Malta: Hogg, Borg, Agius, Fenech, Failla, Fenech (87 Scicluna), Mifsud (33 Bezzina), Schembri, R. Muscat (76 Kristensen), R. Camilleri, Z. Muscat Matchday 2 (10/10/2014)

10 Italy - Malta Thursday 3 September 2015 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence Malta 0-3 Norway Goals: 0-1 Daehli 22, 0-2 King 26, 0-3 King 49 Malta: Hogg, Z. Muscat, Fenech, Agius, Fenech (72 Kristensen), Failla, Briffa (72 Grioli), Mifsud, R. Muscat, Schembri (85 Vella), R. Camilleri Matchday 3 (13/10/2014) Malta 0-1 Italy Goals: 0-1 Pellè 24 Malta: Hogg, Z. Muscat, Fenech, Agius, Failla (93 Bezzina), Briffa, Mifsud, R. Muscat, Schembri (85 Cohen), Mintoff (72 Baldacchino), R. Camilleri Matchday 4 (16/11/2014) Bulgaria 1-1 Malta Goals: 1-0 Galabinov 6, 1-1 Failla 49 (P) Malta: Hogg, Caruana, Fenech, Agius, Failla (81 Bezzina), Briffa, Farrugia (93 Vella), R. Muscat, Schembri (78 Fenech), R. Camilleri, Z. Muscat Matchday 5 (28/03/2015) Azerbaijan 2-0 Malta Goals: 1-0 C. Hüseynov 4, 2-0 Nazarov 90+2 Malta: Hogg, Caruana, Bezzina (46 S. Pisani), Borg, Agius, Briffa, R. Muscat, Schembri (81 Fenech), Fenech, R. Camilleri (36 Z. Muscat), Effiong Matchday 6 (12/06/2015) Malta 0-1 Bulgaria Goals: 0-1 Popov 56 Malta: Haber, A. Muscat (63 Herrera), Agius, Fenech, Failla, Briffa (76 Schembri), Mifsud (84 Cohen), R. Muscat, R. Camilleri, Effiong, Z. Muscat Matchday 7 (03/09/2015) Italy-Malta Matchday 8 (06/09/2015) Malta-Azerbaijan Matchday 9 (10/10/2015) Norway-Malta Matchday 10 (13/10/2015) Malta-Croatia

11 Italy - Malta Thursday 3 September 2015 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence Team facts

UEFA European Championship records: Italy History 2012 – runners-up 2008 – quarter finals 2004 – group stage 2000 – runners-up 1996 – group stage 1992 – did not qualify 1988 – semi-finals 1984 – did not qualify 1980 – fourth place 1976 – did not qualify 1972 – did not qualify 1968 – winners 1964 – did not qualify 1960 – did not enter Final tournament win 2-0: five times, most recently v Republic of Ireland, 18/06/12 Final tournament loss 4-0: Spain v Italy, 01/07/12 Qualifying win 6-0: Italy v Turkey, 02/12/62 Qualifying loss 0-3: Italy v Sweden, 15/10/83 Final tournament appearances 13: 13: 13: Gianluigi Buffon 13: 11: Gianluca Zambrotta 11: Andrea Pirlo Final tournament goals 3: 3: Antonio Cassano 2: 2: 2: Andrea Pirlo 2: Overall appearances 51: Gianluigi Buffon 37: Andrea Pirlo 35: 33: Paolo Maldini 32: Alessandro Del Piero Overall goals 14: Filippo Inzaghi 10: 9: 9: Alessandro Del Piero 9: Antonio Cassano

UEFA European Championship records: Malta History 2012 – did not qualify

12 Italy - Malta Thursday 3 September 2015 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence 2008 – did not qualify 2004 – did not qualify 2000 – did not qualify 1996 – did not qualify 1992 – did not qualify 1988 – did not qualify 1984 – did not qualify 1980 – did not qualify 1972 – did not qualify 1968 – did not qualify 1964 – did not qualify 1960 – did not participate Qualifying win 2-0: Malta v Greece, 23/02/75 Qualifying defeat 12-1: Spain v Malta, 21/12/83 Overall appearances 34: Michael Mifsud 32: Carmel Busuttil 29: David Carabott 26: Kristian Laferla 26: André Schembri 25: 25: John Buttigieg Overall goals 9: Michael Mifsud 5: Carmel Busuttil 4: David Carabott

13 Italy - Malta Thursday 3 September 2015 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence Legend

:: Previous meetings

Goals for/against: Goal totals include the outcome of disciplinary decisions (e.g. match forfeits when a 3-0 result is determined). Goals totals do not include goals scored during a penalty shoot-out after a tie ended in a draw

:: Squad list

Qual.: Total European Qualifiers appearances/goals for UEFA EURO 2020 only. FT: Total UEFA EURO 2020 appearances/goals in final tournament only. Overall: Total international appearances/goals. DoB: Date of birth Age: Based on the date press kit was last updated D: Disciplinary (*: misses next match if booked, S: suspended)

:: Team facts

EURO finals: The UEFA European Championship was a four-team event in 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972 and 1976 (when the preliminary round and quarter-finals were considered part of qualifying).

From 1980 it was expanded to an eight-team finals and remained in that format in 1984, 1988 and 1992 until 1996, when the 16-team format was adopted. UEFA EURO 2016 was the first tournament to be played as a 24-team finals.

Records of inactive countries A number of UEFA associations have been affected by dissolution or splits of member associations. For statistical purposes, the records of these inactive countries have been allocated elsewhere: therefore, all Soviet Union matches are awarded to Russia; all West Germany – but not East Germany – matches are awarded to Germany; all Yugoslavia and Serbia & Montenegro matches are awarded to Serbia; all Czechoslovakia matches are allocated to both the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Abandoned/forfeited matches For statisical purposes, when a match has been started and then abandoned but later forfeited, the result on the pitch at the time of abandonment is counted. Matches that never started and were either cancelled or forfeited are not included in the overall statistics. Competitions Other abbreviations (aet): After extra time pens: Penalties No.: Number og: Own goal ag: Match decided on away goals P: Penalty agg: Aggregate Pld: Matches played AP: Appearances Pos.: Position Comp.: Competition Pts: Points D: Drawn R: Sent off (straight red card) DoB: Date of birth Res.: Result ET: Extra Time sg: Match decided by silver goal GA: Goals against t: Match decided by toss of a coin GF: Goals for W: Won gg: Match decided by golden goal Y: Booked L: Lost Y/R: Sent off (two yellow cards) Nat.: Nationality N/A: Not applicable Disclaimer: Although UEFA has taken all reasonable care that the information contained within this document is accurate at the time of publication, no representation or guarantee (including liability towards third parties), expressed or implied, is made as to its accuracy, reliability or completeness. Therefore, UEFA assumes no liability for the use or interpretation of information contained herein. More information can be found in the competition regulations available on UEFA.com.

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