The Miracle at Malta: First win since 1993

By: Bob | October 11th, 2006

International football has not been to kind to Malta since it officially started playing in 1959. The smallest country in the European Union, Malta is ranked 144th in the world, which is amazing if you consider the fact that they have only won four games in their history – in 1975, 1982, 1993 and today.

The tiny island that could beat Hungary 2-1 in Euro 2008 qualifying in a match played at Ta’Qali. Andre Schembri is the biggest thing to hit Malta since Napoleon. He scored the game winner in the 53rd minute and at this very moment they are probably erecting a statue of him in Ta’Qali and naming future generations of children after him.

Malta’s historic moment comes at the expense of Hungary. What has happened to this country? Once a power in world football, today Hungary is struggling to keep up with the likes of mighty Malta. They might be in real trouble if Gibraltar is ever allowed to take part in the fun.

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Category: Europe

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Irony

They may have only won 4 competitive games but have won plenty of other games. Perhaps it helps to remember that Malta has a population of 400k and has to compete against countries that are, in the case of Austria 40 times bigger.

And yet Austria were lucky to get a draw in a recent friendly
combat chuck

Sometimes I wonder why teams like Malta, Andorra, and Liechtenstein even bother. Well, I guess if you can win one game every ten years, it's probably worth it.