Cyprus national football team

The Cyprus national football team (Greek: Εθνική ομάδα ποδοσφαίρου της Κύπρου) represents Cyprus in international 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 Johan Walem.

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Cyprus women's national football team.
Cyprus
AssociationCyprus Football Association (CFA)
Κυπριακή Ομοσπονδία Ποδοσφαίρου
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Head coachJohan Walem
CaptainGiorgos Merkis
Most capsIoannis Okkas (106)
Top scorerMichalis Konstantinou (32)
Home stadiumGSP Stadium, Nicosia
FIFA codeCYP
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 95 (11 June 2020)[1]
Highest43 (September 2010)
Lowest142 (June 2014)
Elo ranking
Current 107 5 (2 April 2020)[2]
Highest69 (22 March 2000)
Lowest141 (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)
 Cyprus 5–0 San Marino 
(Nicosia, Cyprus; 21 March 2019)
Biggest defeat
 West Germany 12–0 Cyprus 
(Essen, West Germany; 21 May 1969)

History

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 UEFA Euro 2000 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 Charalambidis 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 bronze-medalists 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 berth 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.[3]

Cyprus would finish behind Estonia and ahead of Gibraltar to place 5th of 6 teams in Group H in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.[4] Their qualification run would include an impressive 3-2 home victory over Bosnia.[5]

Kit

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–present

Home stadium

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 records

As of 19 November 2019.

Competition Played Won Drawn Lost GF GA
FIFA World Cup qualification11415138687299
European Championship qualification11419158098288
Friendly matches125353258132185
UEFA Nations League612359
TOTAL3597062227322781

FIFA World Cup record
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
2026
Total 0/21 114 15 13 86 87 299

UEFA European Championship record
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
2024 To be determined
Total 0/16

UEFA Nations League record
UEFA Nations League record
Year Division Round Pos Pld W D L GF GA
2018–19 C Group stage 3rd 6 1 2 3 5 9
2020–21 C To be determined
Total Group stage
League C		 1/1 6 1 2 3 5 9

UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying
Main article: UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying Group I
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Belgium 10 10 0 0 40 3 +37 30 Qualify for final tournament — 3–1 3–0 6–1 3–0 9–0
2  Russia 10 8 0 2 33 8 +25 24 1–4 — 4–0 1–0 1–0 9–0
3  Scotland 10 5 0 5 16 19 −3 15 0–4 1–2 — 2–1 3–1 6–0
4  Cyprus 10 3 1 6 15 20 −5 10[lower-alpha 1] 0–2 0–5 1–2 — 1–1 5–0
5  Kazakhstan 10 3 1 6 13 17 −4 10[lower-alpha 1] 0–2 0–4 3–0 1–2 — 4–0
6  San Marino 10 0 0 10 1 51 −50 0 0–4 0–5 0–2 0–4 1–3 —
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Notes:
  1. Head-to-head points: Cyprus 4, Kazakhstan 1.

Matches

The fixtures were released by UEFA the same day as the draw, which was held on 2 December 2018 in Dublin.[6][7] Times are CET/CEST,[note 1] as listed by UEFA (local times, if different, are in parentheses).

Cyprus 5–0 San Marino
 Report
Referee: Juri Frischer (Estonia)
Cyprus 0–2 Belgium
Report
Scotland 2–1 Cyprus
 Report
Referee: Ola Hobber Nilsen (Norway)
Russia 1–0 Cyprus
 Report
Referee: Marco Di Bello (Italy)
Cyprus 1–1 Kazakhstan
 Report
San Marino 0–4 Cyprus
Report
Referee: Iwan Arwel Griffith (Wales)
Kazakhstan 1–2 Cyprus
 Report
Cyprus 0–5 Russia
Report
Cyprus 1–2 Scotland
 Report
Belgium 6–1 Cyprus
 Report
Referee: Jørgen Burchardt (Denmark)

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying matches against Scotland and Belgium on 16 and 19 November 2019 respectively.
Caps and goals as of 19 November 2019, after the match against Belgium.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
12 1GK Anastasios Kissas (1988-01-18) 18 January 1988 12 0 Nea Salamina
1 1GK Urko Pardo (1983-01-28) 28 January 1983 9 0 Alki Oroklini
22 1GK Neofytos Michael (1993-12-16) 16 December 1993 1 0 Asteras Tripolis
4 2DF Giorgos Merkis RET (1984-07-30) 30 July 1984 55 1 APOEL
6 2DF Jason Demetriou (1987-11-18) 18 November 1987 51 1 Southend United
8 2DF Chambos Kyriakou (1995-02-09) 9 February 1995 26 0 Apollon Limassol
13 2DF Ioannis Kousoulos (1996-06-14) 14 June 1996 18 4 Omonia
3 2DF Nicholas Ioannou (1995-11-10) 10 November 1995 18 2 APOEL
19 2DF Kypros Christoforou (1993-04-24) 24 April 1993 2 0 Nea Salamina
2 2DF Andreas Karo (1996-09-09) 9 September 1996 1 0 Salernitana
14 2DF Christos Wheeler (1997-06-29) 29 June 1997 1 0 AEL Limassol
7 3MF Georgios Efrem (1989-07-05) 5 July 1989 48 5 APOEL
11 3MF Andreas Avraam (1987-06-06) 6 June 1987 41 5 AEL Limassol
18 3MF Kostakis Artymatas (1993-04-15) 15 April 1993 38 1 APOEL
20 3MF Grigoris Kastanos (1998-01-30) 30 January 1998 22 1 Pescara
15 3MF Fotios Papoulis (1985-01-22) 22 January 1985 12 2 Apollon Limassol
23 3MF Giorgos Economides (1990-04-10) 10 April 1990 12 0 Anorthosis Famagusta
16 3MF Matija Špoljarić (1997-04-02) 2 April 1997 9 0 Alki Oroklini
17 3MF Ioannis Kosti (2000-03-17) 17 March 2000 8 0 Nea Salamina
21 3MF Michalis Ioannou (2000-06-30) 30 June 2000 3 0 Anorthosis Famagusta
5 3MF Demetris Theodorou (1997-09-10) 10 September 1997 1 0 Enosis Neon Paralimni
10 4FW Pieros Sotiriou (1993-01-13) 13 January 1993 40 10 Astana
9 4FW Panagiotis Zachariou (1996-02-26) 26 February 1996 4 1 Olympiakos Nicosia

Recent call-ups

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 Constantinos Panagi (1994-10-08) 8 October 1994 22 0 Omonia v.  Russia, 13 October 2019
DF Konstantinos Laifis (1993-05-19) 19 May 1993 34 3 Standard Liège v.  Russia, 13 October 2019
DF Constantinos Mintikkis (1989-07-14) 14 July 1989 2 0 Doxa Katokopias v.  Russia, 13 October 2019
DF Giorgos Vasiliou (1984-06-12) 12 June 1984 11 0 Apollon Limassol v.  San Marino, 9 September 2019
DF Andreas Panayiotou (1995-05-31) 31 May 1995 1 0 Pafos v.  San Marino, 9 September 2019
MF Renato Margaça (1985-07-17) 17 July 1985 21 0 Nea Salamina v.  Russia, 13 October 2019
MF Anthony Georgiou (1997-02-24) 24 February 1997 8 0 Ipswich Town v.  Russia, 13 October 2019
MF Ioannis Pittas (1996-07-10) 10 July 1996 4 0 Enosis Neon Paralimni v.  Russia, 13 October 2019
MF Jack Roles (1999-02-26) 26 February 1999 0 0 Cambridge United v.  San Marino, 9 September 2019
FW Demetris Christofi (1988-09-28) 28 September 1988 52 8 Omonia v.  Russia, 13 October 2019
  • INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury.
  • PRE Preliminary squad.
  • RET Retired from international football.
  • SUS Suspended

Head to head records

As of 19 November 2019.

Past managers

As of 1 December 2015.[8][9]

Player records

As of 10 October 2017.

Most capped players
# Name Period Caps Goals
1 Ioannis Okkas 1997–2011 106 27
2 Constantinos Charalambides 2003–2016 96 12
3 Michalis Konstantinou 1998–2012 86 32
4 Pambos Pittas 1987–1999 82 7
5 Constantinos Makrides 2004–2017 77 5

Top goalscorers
# Player Period Caps Goals
1 Michalis Konstantinou 1998–2012 86 32
2 Ioannis Okkas 1997–2011 106 27
3 Constantinos Charalambides 2003–2016 96 12
4 Efstathios Aloneftis 2005–2017 62 10
Marios Agathokleous 1994–2003 38 10

References
Notes
  1. CET (UTC+1) for matches in March and November 2019, and CEST (UTC+2) for all other matches.
Citation
  1. "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 11 June 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  2. Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 2 April 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  3. uefa.com (13 October 2015). "Bosnia and Herzegovina in play-offs, Cyprus out". Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  4. FIFA.com. "2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ - Qualifiers - Europe". FIFA.com.
  5. "Cyprus vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina - Football Match Summary - August 31, 2017 - ESPN". ESPN.com.
  6. "UEFA EURO 2020 qualifying schedule: all the fixtures". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 2 December 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  7. "European Qualifiers 2018–20: Group stage fixture list" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 2 December 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  8. "Cyprus Football Association – Εθνική Ανδρών: Προπονητές". Archived from the original on 2012-10-23. Retrieved 2014-05-29.
  9. "Cyprus National Team Coaches". www.rsssf.com.
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