England Faces Criticism for Lackluster Performance in 2-0 Victory Against Malta

Nov 18 2023

In a less-than-impressive performance, England secured a top seeding at Euro 2024 with a hard-fought 2-0 home win against Group C minnows Malta.

The lackluster display by Gareth Southgate’s team left the Wembley crowd underwhelmed. Until the 75th minute, England struggled to break through against the 171st-ranked Malta, with their only advantage coming from an early own goal by Enrico Pepe.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by England football team (@england)

Captain Harry Kane eventually extended the lead with his 62nd international goal, assisted by Bukayo Saka. Despite some tense moments and a disallowed goal by Declan Rice, the overall performance failed to excite, and many fringe players missed an opportunity to impress Southgate.

Nevertheless, the victory confirmed England’s top spot in Group C, securing their qualification for the Euro 2024 finals in Germany, irrespective of the outcome in the North Macedonia match on Monday.

#MaltaDaily

“We Are Not at the Level We Want and Need to Be,” Says Gareth Southgate

Nov 18 2023

In the aftermath of England’s less-than-convincing 2-0 win against Malta, manager Gareth Southgate didn’t mince words about his team’s lackluster start. Admitting that the players failed to kick off the game on a positive note, Southgate acknowledged the challenges of regaining momentum once a match begins sluggishly.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Malta Daily (@maltadaily.mt)

Despite the win, Southgate expressed a candid assessment of England’s current standing, acknowledging that they are not yet performing at the desired level. He commended the players for securing the victory, albeit not in the stylish manner that supporters had hoped for.

Singling out individual performances, Southgate praised the contributions of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Phil Foden, highlighting their personal excellence on the field. Additionally, he expressed satisfaction with the introduction of Guehi and Cole Palmer, emphasising their positive development in the realm of international football.

#MaltaDaily

Maltese Fans Shine Despite 2-0 Loss to England in Euro 2024 Qualifier

Nov 18 2023

Numerous Maltese supporters traveled to London for yesterday’s Malta vs England match, a crucial fixture in the Euro 2024 Group C qualification group.

While Malta faced a 2-0 defeat against one of the strongest international sides globally, the Maltese players displayed admirable resilience, allowing only three shots on target throughout the full 90 minutes of play.

Beyond the pitch, the Maltese fanbase exhibited remarkable passion, with hundreds of supporters going to great lengths to rally behind Malta at the iconic Wembley Stadium, led by the Malta South End Core.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Malta Daily (@maltadaily.mt)

Taking over pubs and streets in London, the Maltese fans chanted and supported their team, earning praise from the South End Core for their outstanding spirit. The supporters’ enthusiasm and sportsmanship both on and off the pitch made Malta proud, showcasing the heart of the Maltese community in London.

#MaltaDaily

Malta Amongst The Most Generous Countries in the World, Survey Says

Nov 17 2023

The recently-published World Giving Index 2023 issued by the Charities Aid Foundation revealed a number of global trends in generosity and amongst other key pieces of data, Malta ranked fifth-most likely to donate money.

Our tiny Mediterranean island was grouped in the top quintile with regards to charity index ranking, with the ranking based on three measures: Helping Strangers, Donating Money, and Volunteering Time.

The data revealed that 65% of participants in Malta said they had donated to a charity last year, putting Malta in fifth place out 142 countries under the ‘Donated Money’ measure. Myanmar occupied the first place spot with a whopping 83%, Indonesia came in second at 82%, the UK in third with 71% and Ukraine right after with 70%.

Malta ranked 20th overall, with placement depending on individuals generally donating money, volunteering or helping strangers, with 56% of participants saying they had helped a stranger but just 25% revealed they had volunteered time to an organisation.

The data of the survey was gathered by popular polling organisation Gallup, surveying around 147,000 people around the world in 2022. The study also highlighted that religious people performed better in the index when compared to non-religious individuals whilst immigrants were more likely to contribute than nationals, with the latter most potent in Europe.

#MaltaDaily