He also played during qualifying rounds of the 1982 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 1984. In the latter, their last match was against Spain, who needed to beat them by 11 or more goals to finish above the Netherlands, who had beaten Malta 5–0 four days earlier. Spain had only scored 12 goals in their previous seven matches, but famously defeated Malta 12–1 on 21 December 1983 in Seville to qualify for the final tournament, where they finished as runners-up. This was Buttigieg's final international appearance.