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Cyprus national football team

The Cyprus national football team (Greek: Εθνική ομάδα ποδοσφαίρου της Κύπρου) represents Cyprus in association football and is controlled by the Cyprus Football Association, the governing body for football in Cyprus. Cyprus' home ground is the GSP Stadium in Nicosia and the current coach is Ran Ben Shimon. They have never reached the finals of either the European Championship or the World Cup.

Cyprus
Shirt badge/Association crest
Association Cyprus Football Association (CFA)
Κυπριακή Ομοσπονδία Ποδοσφαίρου
Confederation UEFA (Europe)
Head coach Ran Ben Shimon
Captain Constantinos Charalambides
Most caps Ioannis Okkas (106)
Top scorer Michalis Konstantinou (32)
Home stadium GSP Stadium, Nicosia
FIFA code CYP
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 86 Steady (17 May 2018)
Highest 43 (September 2010)
Lowest 142 (June 2014)
Elo ranking
Current 105 Steady (6 May 2018)
Highest 69 (22 March 2000)
Lowest 141 (March 1992)
First international
Unofficial:
 Israel 3–1 Cyprus 
(Tel-Aviv, Israel; 30 July 1949)
Official:
 Cyprus 1–1 Israel 
(Nicosia, Cyprus; 13 November 1960)
Biggest win
 Cyprus 5–0 Andorra 
(Limassol, Cyprus; 15 November 2000)
 Cyprus 5–0 Andorra 
(Nicosia, Cyprus; 16 November 2014)
Biggest defeat
 West Germany 12–0 Cyprus 
(Essen, West Germany; 21 May 1969)

Contents

HistoryEdit

The team's first match took place on 23 July 1949, one year after becoming a member of the world governing body FIFA: a friendly against Maccabi Tel-Aviv in Tel Aviv, ending in a 3–3 draw. Seven days later, the team had its first international game: a 3–1 defeat against Israel in the same city.

In November 1960, following independence from British rule, Cyprus drew its first post-independence official match 1–1 against Israel, as part of the 1962 FIFA World Cup qualifying tournament. Cyprus' first international victory was a 3–1 win against Greece on 27 November 1963 in a friendly. On 17 February 1968, Cyprus recorded their first competitive win, beating Switzerland 2–1 in a European Championship qualifying match in Old GSP Stadium in Nicosia.

In 1974, the national team enjoyed one of their most famous victories when they beat Northern Ireland 1–0 in Nicosia. On 12 February 1983, as part of the Euro 1984 qualifiers, Cyprus held world champions Italy to a 1–1 draw in Tsirio Stadium in Limassol, followed a month later by the same result against Czechoslovakia. Four years later, in the Euro 1988 qualification, Cyprus recorded their first ever point achieved in an away match, against Poland. In 1989 they drew 1–1 with France in the World Cup qualifying match. Despite a number of triumphs on home soil, Cyprus had to wait until 1992 to record their first away win: a 2–0 victory against the Faroe Islands.

Results in qualifying tournaments have also improved considerably in recent times. In the qualifying stages for the 1996 UEFA European Championship, Cyprus drew 1–1 with holders Denmark. Four years later, they missed out on a place in the 2000 European Football Championship despite 3–2 victories against both Spain and Israel and a 4–0 win over San Marino.

On 15 November 2000, Cyprus scored their biggest win in history by beating Andorra in Limassol 5–0 in the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification. On 7 October 2006, as part of the Euro 2008 qualifiers, Cyprus caused a major upset by beating the Republic of Ireland 5–2 in New GSP Stadium in Nicosia, with Michalis Konstantinou and Constantinos Charalambides each scoring two goals and Alexandros Garpozis one goal. Just one month later, on 15 November 2006, they caused another surprise by holding the World Cup semi-finalists Germany to a 1–1 draw at home. On 13 October 2007, they beat Wales 3–1 in Nicosia. On 17 October 2007, Cyprus came close to a historic away victory in Dublin against the Republic of Ireland, but the hosts equalised in the last minute of the game, and the match ended 1–1. On 3 September 2010, as part of the Euro 2012 qualifiers, Cyprus claimed a historic result against Portugal after drawing 4–4 in Guimarães.

During the Euro 2016 qualifying, Cyprus national football team managed by Pambos Christodoulou claimed one of their most historic victories by defeating 2014 World Cup participant Bosnia with 2–1 in Zenica. In the last group match, the team faced Bosnia needing a victory to finish in 3rd and rely on Belgium to beat Israel in Brussels. As fate would have it, the Bosnians won the reverse 3–2 and qualified to play-offs at the expense of the home team, who at one point took a 2–1 lead during first half and for number of minutes held onto 3rd spot and a birth in the play-offs for a first time in history, as Belgium, a soon to be World number 1 side, were comfortably beating Israel at home.[1]

KitEdit

On 7 October 2006, a new kit was made by Diadora. It outlines a map of Cyprus in amber from the shoulder to the sleeve, with a green line running down the middle to indicate the division of the island. This kit was used for the UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying, and was replaced by a kit made by Adidas for the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification, the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying, and the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign. For 2018 Macron will replace Adidas as part of the UEFA's Kit Assistance Scheme programme.

Kit provider Period
  Lotto 0000–2000
  Errea 2000–2002
  Umbro 2002–2006
  Diadora 2006–2008
  Adidas 2008–2018
  Macron 2018–0000

Home stadiumEdit

Cyprus currently plays home matches at the GSP Stadium in Nicosia. Home matches had previously been staged at different stadiums all around the country. Until 1974 Cyprus used either the old GSP Stadium in central Nicosia, or the GSE stadium in Famagusta. After the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, some matches were played at Tsirion Stadium in Limassol and the Makario Stadium in Nicosia. In 1999, the building of the New GSP Stadium in Nicosia provided a new home for the national team but in 2008 a change of sponsorship forced home fixtures for 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification to be played at the Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium. However, Cyprus returned to the GSP Stadium for the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying round matches.

Total results and recordsEdit

As of 9 June 2017.

Competition Played Won Drawn Lost GF GA
FIFA World Cup qualification 110 14 13 83 83 290
European Championship qualification 104 16 14 74 83 268
Friendly Matches 120 35 31 54 130 174
TOTAL 334 65 58 211 296 732

FIFA World Cup recordEdit

 
2012 Cyprus national football team in Bulgaria.
FIFA World Cup record FIFA World Cup Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
  1930 Did not enter Declined participation
  1934
  1938
  1950
  1954
  1958
  1962 Did not qualify 2 0 1 1 2 7
  1966 4 0 0 4 0 19
  1970 6 0 0 6 2 35
  1974 6 1 0 5 1 14
  1978 6 0 0 6 3 24
  1982 8 0 0 8 4 29
  1986 6 0 0 6 3 18
  1990 8 0 1 7 6 20
  1994 10 2 1 7 8 18
  1998 8 3 1 4 10 15
    2002 10 2 2 6 13 31
  2006 10 1 1 8 8 20
  2010 10 2 3 5 14 16
  2014 10 1 2 7 4 15
  2018 10 3 1 6 9 18
  2022 To be determined To be determined
Total 0/21 114 15 13 86 87 299

European Championship recordEdit

UEFA European Championship record
Year Round Position GP W D* L GS GA
  1960 Did Not Enter
  1964
  1968 Did Not Qualify
  1972
  1976
  1980
  1984
  1988
  1992
  1996
    2000
  2004
    2008
    2012
  2016
  2020 To Be Determined
Total 0/15

UEFA Euro 2016 qualifyingEdit

Main article: UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying Group B
Pos Team
[ ]
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification            
1   Belgium 10 7 2 1 24 5 +19 23 Qualify for final tournament — 0–0 3–1 3–1 5–0 6–0
2   Wales 10 6 3 1 11 4 +7 21 1–0 — 0–0 0–0 2–1 2–0
3   Bosnia and Herzegovina 10 5 2 3 17 12 +5 17 Advance to play-offs 1–1 2–0 — 3–1 1–2 3–0
4   Israel 10 4 1 5 16 14 +2 13 0–1 0–3 3–0 — 1–2 4–0
5   Cyprus 10 4 0 6 16 17 −1 12 0–1 0–1 2–3 1–2 — 5–0
6   Andorra 10 0 0 10 4 36 −32 0 1–4 1–2 0–3 1–4 1–3 —
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers

MatchesEdit

The fixtures were released by UEFA the same day as the draw, which was held on 23 February 2014 in Nice.[2] Times are CET/CEST, as listed by UEFA: UTC+1 for matches on 27–28 March 2015 and all matches in November, and UTC+2 for matches on 29 and 31 March 2015 and all matches in June, September and October (local times are in parentheses).

Bosnia and Herzegovina   1–2   Cyprus
Ibišević   6' Report Christofi   45', 73'
Attendance: 12,100

Cyprus   1–2   Israel
Makrides   67' Report Damari   38'
Ben Haim   45'
Attendance: 19,164

Wales   2–1   Cyprus
Cotterill   13'
Robson-Kanu   23'		 Report Laban   36'
Attendance: 21,273

Cyprus   5–0   Andorra
Merkis   9'
Efrem   31', 42', 60'
Christofi   87' (pen.)		 Report
Attendance: 6,078

Belgium   5–0   Cyprus
Fellaini   21', 66'
Benteke   35'
Hazard   67'
Batshuayi   80'		 Report
Attendance: 45,213

Andorra   1–3   Cyprus
Júnior   2' (o.g.) Report Mitidis   13', 45', 53'
Attendance: 1,054
Referee: Tobias Welz (Germany)

Cyprus   0–1   Wales
Report Bale   82'
Attendance: 14,992

Cyprus   0–1   Belgium
Report Hazard   86'
Attendance: 11,866

Israel   1–2   Cyprus
Bitton   76' Report Dossa Júnior   58'
Demetriou   80'
Attendance: 25,300

Cyprus   2–3   Bosnia and Herzegovina
Charalambides   32'
Mitidis   41'		 Report Medunjanin   13', 44'
Đurić   67'
Attendance: 17,687

2018 FIFA World Cup qualificationEdit

Main article: 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group H
Pos Team
[ ]
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification            
1   Belgium 10 9 1 0 43 6 +37 28 Qualification to 2018 FIFA World Cup — 1–1 4–0 8–1 4–0 9–0
2   Greece 10 5 4 1 17 6 +11 19 Advance to second round 1–2 — 1–1 0–0 2–0 4–0
3   Bosnia and Herzegovina 10 5 2 3 24 13 +11 17 3–4 0–0 — 5–0 2–0 5–0
4   Estonia 10 3 2 5 13 19 −6 11 0–2 0–2 1–2 — 1–0 4–0
5   Cyprus 10 3 1 6 9 18 −9 10 0–3 1–2 3–2 0–0 — 3–1
6   Gibraltar 10 0 0 10 3 47 −44 0 0–6 1–4 0–4 0–6 1–2 —
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers

MatchesEdit

The match schedule was released by UEFA on 26 July 2015, the day after the draw was held in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Times are CET/CEST,[note 1] as listed by UEFA (local times are in parentheses).[3]

Cyprus   0–3   Belgium
Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)		 Lukaku   13', 61'
Carrasco   81'
Attendance: 12,029

Greece   2–0   Cyprus
Mitroglou   11'
Mantalos   42'		 Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)
Attendance: 16,512

Bosnia and Herzegovina   2–0   Cyprus
Džeko   70', 81' Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)
Attendance: 8,900
Cyprus   3–1   Gibraltar
Laifis   29'
Sotiriou   65'
Sielis   87'		 Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)		 L. Casciaro   51'
Attendance: 3,166

Cyprus   0–0   Estonia
Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)
Attendance: 3,864
Gibraltar   1–2   Cyprus
Hernandez   30' Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)		 R. Chipolina   10' (o.g.)
Pieros Sotiriou   87'
Attendance: 480

Cyprus   3–2   Bosnia and Herzegovina
Christofi   65'
Laban   67'
Sotiriou   76'		 Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)		 Šunjić   33'
Višća   44'
Attendance: 7000

Estonia   1–0   Cyprus
Käit   90+2' Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)

Cyprus   1–2   Greece
Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)
Attendance: 7,222

Belgium   4–0   Cyprus
Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)
Attendance: 37,765
Referee: Luca Banti (Italy)

Current squadEdit

The following 23 players were called up for the friendly game against Jordan on 20 May 2018.[4]
Caps and goals as of 23 March 2018, after the match against Montenegro.

0#0 Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Antonis Georgallides (1982-01-30) 30 January 1982 (age 36) 66 0   AEK Larnaca
1GK Urko Pardo (1983-01-28) 28 January 1983 (age 35) 2 0   Alki Oroklini
1GK Andreas Christodoulou (1997-03-26) 26 March 1997 (age 21) 0 0   Omonia
2DF Jason Demetriou (1987-11-18) 18 November 1987 (age 30) 43 1   Southend United
2DF Giorgos Merkis (1984-07-30) 30 July 1984 (age 33) 39 1   APOEL
2DF Marios Antoniades (1990-05-14) 14 May 1990 (age 28) 14 0   AEK Larnaca
2DF Giorgos Vasiliou (1984-06-12) 12 June 1984 (age 33) 9 0   Apollon Limassol
2DF Charis Kyriakou (1989-10-15) 15 October 1989 (age 28) 8 0   AEL Limassol
2DF Fanos Katelaris (1996-08-26) 26 August 1996 (age 21) 7 1   Omonia
2DF Ioannis Kousoulos (1996-06-14) 14 June 1996 (age 21) 1 0   Nea Salamina
2DF Stelios Demetriou (1990-10-04) 4 October 1990 (age 27) 0 0   St Mirren
2DF Andreas Karo (1996-09-09) 9 September 1996 (age 21) 0 0   Nea Salamina
3MF Vincent Laban (1984-09-09) 9 September 1984 (age 33) 27 3   AEK Larnaca
3MF Kostakis Artymatas (1993-04-15) 15 April 1993 (age 25) 22 0   Kerkyra
3MF Giorgos Economides (1990-04-10) 10 April 1990 (age 28) 11 0   Anorthosis Famagusta
3MF Renato Margaça (1985-07-17) 17 July 1985 (age 32) 10 0   Omonia
3MF Gerasimos Fylaktou (1991-07-24) 24 July 1991 (age 26) 2 0   Pafos
3MF Dimitris Froxylias (1993-06-28) 28 June 1993 (age 24) 1 0   Dumbarton
3MF Anthony Georgiou (1997-02-24) 24 February 1997 (age 21) 1 0   Tottenham Hotspur
3MF Vasilios Papafotis (1995-08-10) 10 August 1995 (age 22) 1 0   Doxa Katokopias
4FW Demetris Christofi (1988-09-28) 28 September 1988 (age 29) 48 8   Omonia
4FW Onisiforos Roushias (1992-07-15) 15 July 1992 (age 25) 4 0   AEK Larnaca
4FW Marios Elia (1996-05-19) 19 May 1996 (age 22) 0 0   AEL Limassol

Recent call-upsEdit

The following players have also been called up to the Cyprus squad within the last 12 months and are still available for selection.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Neofytos Michael (1993-12-16) 16 December 1993 (age 24) 0 0   Aris Limassol v.   Armenia, 13 November 2017
GK Constantinos Panagi (1994-10-08) 8 October 1994 (age 23) 11 0   Omonia v.   Belgium, 10 October 2017 INJ
DF Dossa Júnior (1986-08-27) 27 August 1986 (age 31) 23 1   AEL Limassol v.   Montenegro, 23 March 2018
DF Constantinos Laifis (1993-05-19) 19 May 1993 (age 25) 20 2   Standard Liège v.   Montenegro, 23 March 2018
DF Nicholas Ioannou (1995-11-10) 10 November 1995 (age 22) 2 0   APOEL v.   Montenegro, 23 March 2018
DF Marios Stylianou (1993-10-23) 23 October 1993 (age 24) 6 0   Apollon Limassol v.   Armenia, 13 November 2017
DF Nektarios Alexandrou (1983-12-19) 19 December 1983 (age 34) 39 0   APOEL v.   Belgium, 10 October 2017
DF Marios Demetriou (1992-12-25) 25 December 1992 (age 25) 0 0   Omonia v.   Estonia, 3 September 2017
DF Kypros Christoforou (1994-02-22) 22 February 1994 (age 24) 1 0   Aris Limassol v.   Serbia, 25 May 2017
MF Chambos Kyriakou (1995-02-09) 9 February 1995 (age 23) 15 0   Estoril Praia v.   Montenegro, 23 March 2018
MF Georgios Efrem (1989-07-05) 5 July 1989 (age 28) 37 3   APOEL v.   Armenia, 13 November 2017
MF Andreas Avraam (1987-06-06) 6 June 1987 (age 30) 36 5   AEL Limassol v.   Armenia, 13 November 2017
MF Grigoris Kastanos (1998-01-30) 30 January 1998 (age 20) 14 0   Zulte Waregem v.   Armenia, 13 November 2017
MF Marios Nicolaou (1983-10-04) 4 October 1983 (age 34) 55 1   AEL Limassol v.   Belgium, 10 October 2017
MF Nikos Englezou (1993-11-07) 7 November 1993 (age 24) 4 0   Aris Limassol v.   Portugal, 2 June 2017
FW Pieros Sotiriou (1993-01-13) 13 January 1993 (age 25) 28 5   Copenhagen v.   Montenegro, 23 March 2018
FW Minas Antoniou (1994-02-22) 22 February 1994 (age 24) 1 0   APOEL v.   Montenegro, 23 March 2018
FW Nestoras Mitidis (1991-06-01) 1 June 1991 (age 26) 31 5   Kerkyra v.   Armenia, 13 November 2017
FW Andreas Makris (1995-11-27) 27 November 1995 (age 22) 16 0   APOEL v.   Belgium, 10 October 2017
  • INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury.
  • PRE Preliminary squad.
  • RET Retired from international football.
  • SUS Suspended

Head to head recordsEdit

As of 23 March 2018.

Past managersEdit

As of 1 December 2015.[5][6]

Player recordsEdit

As of 10 October 2017.

Most capped playersEdit

# Name Period Caps Goals
1 Ioannis Okkas 1997–2011 106 27
2 Constantinos Charalambides 2003–2016 92 12
3 Michalis Konstantinou 1998–2012 86 32
4 Pambos Pittas 1987–1999 82 7
5 Constantinos Makrides 2004–2017 77 5

Top goalscorersEdit

# Player Period Caps Goals
1 Michalis Konstantinou 1998–2012 86 32
2 Ioannis Okkas 1997–2011 106 27
3 Constantinos Charalambides 2003–2016 92 12
4 Efstathios Aloneftis 2005–2017 62 10
Marios Agathokleous 1994–2003 38 10

Notable resultsEdit

Date Tournament Place Opponent Score
November 27, 1963 Friendly Nicosia, Cyprus   Greece 3 – 1
February 17, 1968 UEFA EURO 1968 qualifying Nicosia, Cyprus    Switzerland 2 – 1
February 14, 1973 1974 FIFA World Cup qualification Nicosia, Cyprus   Northern Ireland 1 – 0
May 13, 1979 UEFA EURO 1980 qualifying Limassol, Cyprus   Romania 1 – 1
February 12, 1983 UEFA EURO 1984 qualifying Limassol, Cyprus   Italy 1 – 1
March 27, 1983 UEFA EURO 1984 qualifying Nicosia, Cyprus   Czechoslovakia 1 – 1
April 12, 1987 UEFA EURO 1988 qualifying Gdańsk, Poland   Poland 0 – 0
October 22, 1988 1990 FIFA World Cup qualification Nicosia, Cyprus   France 1 – 1
March 24, 1993 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification Limassol, Cyprus   Czechoslovakia 1 – 1
March 29, 1995 UEFA EURO 1996 qualifying Limassol, Cyprus   Denmark 1 – 1
November 15, 1995 UEFA EURO 1996 qualifying Limassol, Cyprus   Belgium 1 – 1
November 10, 1996 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification Limassol, Cyprus   Israel 2 – 0
March 29, 1997 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification Paralimni, Cyprus   Russia 1 – 1
September 5, 1998 UEFA EURO 2000 qualifying Larnaca, Cyprus   Spain 3 – 2
September 5, 1999 UEFA EURO 2000 qualifying Limassol, Cyprus   Israel 3 – 2
February 6, 2000 Friendly Nicosia, Cyprus   Romania 3 – 2
November 15, 2000 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification Limassol, Cyprus   Andorra 5 – 0
February 28, 2001 Friendly Larnaca, Cyprus   Ukraine 4 – 3
November 14, 2001 Friendly Athens, Greece   Greece 2 – 1
October 11, 2003 UEFA EURO 2004 qualifying Limassol, Cyprus   Slovenia 2 – 2
August 18, 2004 Friendly Limassol, Cyprus   Albania 2 – 1
October 7, 2006 UEFA EURO 2008 qualifying Nicosia, Cyprus   Republic of Ireland 5 – 2
November 15, 2006 UEFA EURO 2008 qualifying Nicosia, Cyprus   Germany 1 – 1
October 13, 2007 UEFA EURO 2008 qualifying Nicosia, Cyprus   Wales 3 – 1
October 17, 2007 UEFA EURO 2008 qualifying Dublin, Ireland   Republic of Ireland 1 – 1
February 6, 2008 Friendly Nicosia, Cyprus   Ukraine 1 – 1
October 11, 2008 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification Tbilisi, Georgia   Georgia 1 – 1
February 11, 2009 Friendly Nicosia, Cyprus   Slovakia 3 – 2
March 28, 2009 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification Larnaca, Cyprus   Georgia 2 – 1
September 9, 2009 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification Podgorica, Montenegro   Montenegro 1 – 1
October 11, 2009 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification Larnaca, Cyprus   Bulgaria 4 – 1
September 3, 2010 UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying Guimarães, Portugal   Portugal 4 – 4
February 29, 2012 Friendly Larnaca, Cyprus   Serbia 0 – 0
March 23, 2013 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification Nicosia, Cyprus    Switzerland 0 – 0
September 9, 2014 UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina   Bosnia and Herzegovina 2 – 1
November 16, 2014 UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying Nicosia, Cyprus   Andorra 5 – 0
October 10, 2015 UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying Jerusalem, Israel   Israel 2 – 1
August 31, 2017 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification Nicosia, Cyprus   Bosnia and Herzegovina 3 – 2

ReferencesEdit

External linksEdit

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