ntinue to respect the confidentialit

As England take on Malta at Wembley on Saturday, we take a closer look at Gareth Southgates first opponents. Southgates side are heavy favourites for a second win in World Cup qualifying Group F, but what can we expect from the Mediterranean minnows?World ranking: 176 Highest ranking 66 (September 1995)Lowest ranking: 176 (present)Whats their current standing?Starved of recent success, Pietro Ghedins side did give Scotland a scare for 45 minutes in September, equalising in Attard before falling to a 5-1 defeat.Malta have won a grand total of two competitive games since 1993, have never qualified for a major tournament and managed only three goals in their 10 Euro 2016 qualifying encounters. Scotland saw off Malta 5-1 last month The chances of a draw are also slim. They held Bulgaria in Euro 2018 qualifying, but their previous points came in a 1-0 win over Armenia in 2013.Maltas population - 425,000 - is among the smallest of those competing in World Cup qualifiers in Europe, below Luxembourg, Cyprus, Estonia and Macedonia, but larger than the likes of San Marino, Liechtenstein, Faroe Islands, Andorra and Iceland.Theyre 20/1 with Sky Bet to get a famous draw at Wembley, and 50/1 for the win. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ￡6.99. No contract. Have England played Malta before?Richard Wright, look away now. One of the goalkeepers two caps came in Englands pre-Euro 2000 friendly in Attard, a 2-1 win which saw Malta equalise through Wrights own goal, the ball coming off the post from a penalty and crossing the line via the back of his head.Martin Keown had given England the lead, before Emile Heskeys winner 15 minutes from time. Martin Keown scored in Englands 2-1 win in Malta in 2000 Kevin Phillips and Dennis Wise started for Kevin Keegans side, while Michael Owen was an unused substitute as England prepared for the tournament in Belgium and the Netherlands nine days later.Previous to that, England hit Malta for five in May 1971 in Euro 72 qualifying, the goals coming from Martin Chivers (2), Colin Lee, Allan Clarke and Chris Lawler in front of 40,000 at Wembley, after a narrow 1-0 win in Malta three months earlier, thanks to Martin Peters first-half strike.Any players to look out for?Michael Mifsud, who has 40 goals in 113 caps, is football royalty in Malta.Best remembered on these shores for his two-year stint at Coventry, where he scored both goals in the Sky Blues 2-0 win at Manchester United in the third round of the EFL Cup in 2007/08, Mifsud rarely gets a start for the national team nowadays. Malta captain Michael Mifsud should make a cameo appearance More likely to start for Ghedins side is Alfred Effiong, the 31-year-old Nigerian-born striker whose superb header brought Malta level against Scotland, while forward Andre Schembri, currently plying his trade at Boavista, could cause problems. However, Luke Gambin, the 23-year-old winger currently playing up the road at Barnet, will miss the short trip to Wembley after a needless sending off late in the defeat by Scotland.What has the manager said?Ghedin, speaking ahead of the clash at Wembley, said of interim manager Gareth Southgate: I know of him, he was an intelligent player and he did well as Under 21 coach. I think he is a good manager.We know it will be a tough game against England. They run a lot, they are very cunning, for me they are one of the best teams in Europe. Manager Pietro Ghedin was full of praise for the injured Adam Lallana We will try to give our best every time and I hope we leave the pitch with our head held high knowing we have given everything.However, Ghedin believes England will be without one of their best players in Adam Lallana, who has been ruled out with a groin injury.I love him because he is a cunning player, he gets in the right positions, has good timing, he said. There is a knack to do what he does, to score, play the right passes, little one-twos.You can watch Englands tour of Bangladesh, plus Premier League football and the Japan Grand Prix on Sky Sports. Upgrade now and enjoy three months at half price! Also See: Rooney hits back at Big Sam Shearers right, were a joke England latest England fixtures Lyle Alzado Jersey . Hamels threw seven sharp innings to earn his 100th career victory, Domonic Brown had a career-best five RBIs and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Cincinnati Reds 12-1 on Saturday night to end a four-game losing streak. Johnathan Abram Jersey . - The New Orleans Saints have re-signed receiver Joseph Morgan for one year and have agreed to a four-year deal with free agent fullback Erik Lorig. http://www.cheapraidersjerseysauthentic....-ferrell-jersey. Floundering in the English Premier League, United has delivered better performances in Europe this season and stunned Bayern by taking the lead against the run of play through Nemanja Vidics header in the 58th minute. Bayern had dominated possession but struggled to create a clear-cut chance before Schweinsteiger arrowed a half-volley high into the net in the 67th to give the German side a slight advantage ahead of the second leg in Munich next week. Marcus Allen Jersey . The roster changes have been constant and continuous since late last year, but even with their 46-man roster set for the start of the season, the banged-up Bombers will be kicking off Week 1 with a handful of fresh faces and back-ups in the starting lineup. Otis Sistrunk Jersey . Nwaneri, who was born in Dallas and attended Naaman Forest High School in nearby Garland, Texas, tweeted, "Its official! Im coming home, Im coming home.NEW YORK, N.Y. - Ray Rice and wife Janay testified Thursday on the final day of a hearing in the former Baltimore Ravens running backs appeal of his indefinite NFL suspension.The arbitration hearing before a former federal judge will determine whether the NFL overstepped its authority in modifying Rices two-game suspension, making it indefinite after video of the running back hitting his wife — then his fiancee — was released by TMZ.Rice and Janay Rice left the hearing separately about three hours apart after each testified at former U.S. District Judge Barbara S. Jones office.I can trust its a fair process, said Rices attorney, Peter Ginsberg.Two people familiar with the case said theres no timetable for Jones to make her decision, though one person said she has asked the sides to submit closing briefs next week. Both spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the arbiter has told the sides not to discuss details of the private hearing.NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell testified for more than two hours to start the appeal hearing Wednesday, according to one of the sources. Ray and Janay Rice attended the full hearing Wednesday.The hearing began nearly two months after the former Pro Bowl running back was suspended indefinitely by the NFL and released by the Ravens.League security chief Jeffery Miller and Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome also testified in the hearing. Ravens President Dick Cass, who was previously expected to testify, was not asked to take part in the hearing, one of the sources said.The NFL players union said in a statement that the hearing was fair and thorough, and thanked NFL owners and officials for agreeing to use a neutral arbiter.The collectively bargained rights of all players must be vehemently preserved and we take that obligation seriously, the statement said. This appeal, presided over by a neutral arbitrator, which inclluded a presentation of all the relevant facts, witness testimony to the truth and cross examination, is the due process that every athlete deserves.ddddddddddddNFL spokesman Brian McCarthy declined comment. We continue to respect the confidentiality order set weeks ago, he said.Rice was suspended indefinitely Sept. 8 for violating the NFLs personal conduct policy.Rice is seeking immediate reinstatement, though its unlikely a team would sign him this season. Rice has also filed a separate wrongful termination grievance against the Ravens.Goodell originally suspended the running back for two games. The incident occurred inside an elevator at an Atlantic City casino in February, when Rice and Janay Rice were engaged. The couple married a month later.The league considered the video made public after the initial suspension to be new evidence, giving Goodell the authority to amend Rices punishment. But Rices attorneys are arguing he should not be disciplined twice, citing the collective bargaining agreement.Rices side also is arguing that he described details of the incident to Goodell when they met in June. Goodell has called Rices description ambiguous while the players representatives have maintained he gave exact details.Rices attorneys also say the indefinite suspension isnt consistent with other punishments issued by Goodell in the past.Jones was jointly picked by the commissioner and the players union to hear the appeal. Though it isnt a criminal case, Jones asked witnesses to testify under oath. Transcripts of the testimony will not be released publicly, one source said.Rice, a three-time Pro Bowl pick, played in two preseason games for the Ravens this year. 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