The Cyprus men’s national football team began preparations today, Monday, with a training session at 18:00 at the “Ammochostos – Epistrofi” Stadium, ahead of Friday’s match against Lithuania, scheduled for 19:00 at the AEK Arena.
According to the Cyprus Football Association (CFA), compared to the initial squad selection, Alexandros Gogic and Andreas Chrysostomou are unavailable due to injuries sustained during their club matches over the weekend.
Danilo Spoljaric from Apollon Limassol has been called up in their place.
After these adjustments, the Cyprus squad is as follows:
- AEL Limassol: Andreas Makris
- Anorthosis Famagusta: Kostakis Artymatas
- APOEL Nicosia: Konstantinos Laifis, Giannis Satsias
- Apollon Limassol: Giorgos Malekkidis, Dimitris Dimitriou, Danilo Spoljaric
- Karmiotissa Polemidion: Minas Antoniou
- Omonia Nicosia: Andronikos Kakoullis, Ioannis Kousoulos, Loizos Loizou, Nikolas Panayiotou, Charalambos Charalambous
- Pafos FC: Neofytos Michael
- Panetolikos: Christos Shelis
- AIK: Ioannis Pittas
- Bristol Rovers: Ruel Sotiriou
- FK Čukarički: Marinos Tzionis
- Hellas Verona FC: Grigoris Kastanos
- Maccabi Petah Tikva FC: Andreas Karo
- R. Charleroi SC: Stelios Andreou
- Sanfrecce Hiroshima: Pieros Sotiriou
- Servette FC: Joël Mall
- UC Sampdoria: Nicholas Ioannou
Due to yellow card accumulation, Konstantinos Laifis will be ineligible to play against Lithuania.
Cyprus currently holds three points, while Lithuania has yet to secure any points. The team that finishes last in the group will enter play-offs against a team from the fourth tier, a scenario Cyprus seeks to avoid. To achieve this, Cyprus needs at least a draw, with the ultimate goal being a win.
Source: CNA/ZS/MK
