With the aim of a strong performance and motivated by the prospect of a positive result in front of 40,000 spectators and against the best team in the group, the Cyprus Men’s National Team faces Romania tonight at 21:45 at the National Arena Bucharest.
In the 6th and final matchday of the Nations League, Cyprus meets Romania, free from the pressure of relegation as it has secured its place in League C with Saturday’s victory over Lithuania. The team aims for a good showing to build confidence ahead of the next competition, the World Cup qualifiers.
The team’s preparation concluded yesterday with training at Romania’s national stadium. On a pitch expected to host more than 40,000 spectators, and with the temperature at 3 degrees Celsius, the players trained for about an hour and got a first taste of the conditions they will face.
The training session was completed without surprises, and the squad consists of the following 22 players: Neofytos Michael, Dimitris Dimitriou, Joel Mall, Andreas Karo, Minas Antoniou, Giorgos Malekkidis, Anderson Correia, Konstantinos Laifis, Christos Shelis, Stelios Andreou, Nikolas Panagiotou, Yiannis Satsias, Danilo Spoliaric, Kostakis Artymatas, Charalambos Charalambous, Ruel Sotiriou, Andreas Makris, Andronikos Kakoullis, Loizos Loizou, Ioannis Pittas, Marinos Tzionis, Pieros Sotiriou.
Compared to the last match against Lithuania, Kastanos, Kousoulos, and N. Ioannou are unavailable due to card suspensions. Konstantinos Laifis is available after serving his suspension.
At yesterday’s press conference, the national team coach Sofronis Avgousti stated that Cyprus will face the best team in the group in a fantastic atmosphere and that this is an opportunity for the team to show its capabilities under such conditions.
On his part, international footballer Danilo Spoliaric described the match as a motivation for the players.
Also read: Cyprus National Team prepares for crucial match against Lithuania on Friday
Source: CNA
