While Malta does not have a stake in this year’s World Cup – and, unfortunately, has never had – the passion for the game will take centre stage on the islands this June.
This year’s 2018 FIFA World Cup, being held in Russia from 14th June to 15th July, has been highly anticipated on these small islands for months now, despite Malta being one of the 179 countries which did not qualify (though this was, unfortunately, no big surprise for the islanders.) Not that this has stopped the locals from cheering on their chosen team with wild, feverish abandon!
La bella Italia vs blighty
This year has already made World Cup history: Italy did not qualify, much to the horror of many a Maltese devotee. The Italian team has always been a sort of surrogate national squad for half of the Maltese population, with Italian flags flown atop limestone rooftops and waved frantically from carcading vehicles. The passion Maltese fans of Italy display could only be matched by local fans of St George’s isle, who amount to roughly the same amount. In pubs and bars, the gravelled sounds of ‘Engerland, Engerland, Engerland’ bounc off the walls – a rallying call for the team to do their supporters proud.
It’s game on for… picking a team!
This year, with another 178 teams joining Malta on the side lines, and only 32 of FIFA’s members qualifying, it’s going to be tough to choose a team to support. But there is no doubt that the enterprising Maltese will find a country to cheer – even after England gets unceremoniously kicked out (which is a historical probability). Will the chosen team be Iceland, who emerged from underdog status just a few short years’ ago? Germany is another option. A team well-versed in the art of this sport, Germany has many a Maltese football fan. Or will Maltese fans support Brazil for the pure football spectacle the squad promises?
In the run-up
Luke Anastasi
In anticipation of the biggest celebration of football, local supporters have been prepping their World Cup Panini sticker albums for weeks now, in a ritual imported from Italy. Avid football-lovers congregate outside the local supplier of Panini in Merchants Street, even during weekends, to swap and stick their player stickers. For many others, the World Cup is an excuse to take some time off work. With some matches happening at 3pm local time, and others at 4pm or 7pm, local fans have been planning their days off, checking the schedule and pinning their hopes on their dream teams!
Head to the field…
…Or the screening venues, if you haven’t managed to get tickets to Russia. While this year’s World Cup is being played in over 12 venues, there are dozens of restaurants, bars and open-air areas around the island where crowds will gather to watch their favourite team play. In St Julian’s, the large car-park area in Spinola Bay will become a centre point for many a World Cup fan. Bugibba and Qawra further up north are also well-known for attracting scores of football fans – the majority of bars in the area will be screening matches from afternoon till night. Finally, a World Cup Village will also be set up at designated parts of the island including Ta’ Qali, in the centre of Malta, Sliema, Marsa, next to the Grand Harbour and Qawra in the north.