Cyprus national under-21 football team

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Cyprus U21
Nickname(s)Εθνική Ελπίδων
("National team of Hopes")
AssociationCyprus Football Association
Head coachIoannis Okkas
CaptainAndreas Frangos
Most capsMarios Christodoulou (27)
Top scorerChristos Poyiatzis & Giorgos Nicolaou (5)
Home stadiumAEK Arena - Georgios Karapatakis
First colours
Second colours
First international
Cyprus Cyprus 0 - 0 Spain Spain
(Nicosia, Cyprus; 1978)
Biggest win
Cyprus Cyprus 6 - 0 San Marino San Marino
(Nicosia, Cyprus; 2011)
Biggest defeat
Portugal Portugal 7 - 0 Cyprus Cyprus
(Abrantes, Portugal; 2001)
Cyprus Cyprus 0 - 7 Netherlands Netherlands
(Larnaca, Cyprus; 2020)
UEFA U-21 Championship
AppearancesNone

The Cyprus national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team for Cyprus and like the senior team, is controlled by the Cyprus Football Association.

The team drew their first official match 0–0 in 1978 at home to Spain in a qualifying match for the 1980 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship. They then drew 0–0 with the trophy holders Yugoslavia, also at home. They lost both away games though. And finished last in the group of three teams, with two points from four games, and so did not qualify for the Finals.

In the qualifying stages for the 1982 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, Cyprus made history when they defeated France 2–1 in Cyprus as it was the countries first ever official victory at National or Under-21 football level. The scorer of the Cypriot goals was Islington born Kikis Kyriacou of Olympiakos Nicosia whose promising career was brought to a premature end following a horrific leg injury.

In the qualifying stages for the 1992 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, the team beat Greece 1-0 and drew 1–1 with Sweden who went on to reach the Final. Cyprus finished last in their qualifying group with three points, the same number as Greece.

The Under 21 team made gradual improvements and in September 1999, in a qualifying match for the 2000 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, drew 1–1 in Spain, the eventual winners of the competition. The team finished fourth out of five teams in their qualifying group, ahead of Austria.

The qualifying stages for the 2004 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship provided the greatest achievement for the Cyprus under-21 national team to date, when they finished second in Qualification Group One, with 15 points, winning five of their eight matches. France won the group with 22 points, seven points ahead of Cyprus.

In 2004, Cyprus joined the European Union, and Cypriot teams took advantage of the Bosman rule bringing in foreign players. This has meant that young Cypriot players are now not as common in the Cypriot First Division and is therefore also having an adverse effect on the under-21 national team.

European Championship record Under-21[]

UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship record UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Qualification record
Year Round Pld W D L GF GA GD Pld W D L GF GA GD
1978 Did not enter -
1980[1] Did not qualify 4 0 2 2 1 5 −4
1982[2] 4 1 0 3 4 7 −3
1984[3] 6 0 0 6 4 14 −10
1986[4] 6 0 2 4 3 13 -10
1988[5] 6 1 0 5 4 18 −14
1990[6] 4 0 1 3 0 3 −3
1992[7] 6 1 1 4 3 15 −12
France 1994[8] 8 0 0 8 4 21 −17
Spain 1996[9] 10 3 1 6 10 25 −15
Romania 1998[10] 8 3 1 4 16 15 +1
Slovakia 2000[11] 8 1 3 4 7 18 −11
Switzerland 2002[12] 8 3 0 5 9 17 −8
Germany 2004[13] 8 5 0 3 12 5 +7
Portugal 2006[14] 8 0 1 7 2 17 -15
Netherlands 2007[15] 2 0 0 2 0 3 −3
Sweden 2009[16] 8 2 0 6 9 15 −6
Denmark 2011[17] 8 2 0 6 8 13 −5
Israel 2013[18] 10 4 0 6 16 20 −4
Czech Republic 2015[19] 8 2 0 6 7 21 −14
Poland 2017 5 0 1 4 2 12 −10
Italy San Marino 2019 Qualification in progress 8 2 0 6 7 18 -11
Total 0/21 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 139 32 19 99 132 286 −154

UEFA U-21 Euro 2019 qualification[]

Main article: 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification Group 6
Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Belgium 10 8 2 0 23 5 +18 26 Final tournament — 1–1 0–0 3–0 3–2 2–1
2  Sweden 10 6 2 2 19 8 +11 20 0–3 — 0–1 1–0 4–1 3–0
3  Turkey 10 5 2 3 14 10 +4 17 1–2 0–3 — 0–0 4–0 4–2
4  Hungary 10 3 2 5 12 14 −2 11 0–3 2–2 1–2 — 4–0 2–1
5  Cyprus 10 2 1 7 8 23 −15 7 0–2 0–1 2–1 0–2 — 2–1
6  Malta 10 1 1 8 8 24 −16 4 0–4 0–4 0–1 2–1 1–1 —
Source: UEFA
1 September 2017 (2017-09-01) Cyprus  2–1  Malta AEK Arena, Larnaca
18:00
  • 41'
  • Iosifidis 90+3'
 Report
Referee: Stefan Apostolov (Bulgaria)
5 September 2017 (2017-09-05) Sweden  4–1  Cyprus Falkenbergs IP, Falkenberg
18:45
  • Strandberg 3', 5', 38'
  • Rakip 90+1'
 Report
Referee: Omar Pashayev (Azerbaijan)
5 October 2017 (2017-10-05) Cyprus  2–1  Turkey AEK Arena, Larnaca
16:00
  • Karo 53'
  • 58'
 Report
Referee: Daniel Siebert (Germany)
10 October 2017 (2017-10-10) Cyprus  0–2  Belgium AEK Arena, Larnaca
16:00 Report
  • Lukebakio 51'
  • Bastien 90+3'
 Referee: Kirill Levnikov (Russia)
9 November 2017 (2017-11-09) Belgium  3–2  Cyprus Den Dreef, Leuven
20:00
  • Mbenza 15'
  • Dimata 45+2'
  • Leya Iseka 90+2'
 Report
Referee: Enea Jorgji (Albania)
14 November 2017 (2017-11-14) Cyprus  0–2  Hungary AEK Arena, Larnaca
15:00 Report
Referee: Horatiu Fesnic (Romania)
22 March 2018 (2018-03-22) Hungary  4–0  Cyprus Hidegkuti Nándor Stadion, Budapest
20:00
Report Referee: Rob Harvey (Republic of Ireland)
27 March 2018 (2018-03-27) Cyprus  0–1  Sweden AEK Arena, Larnaca
14:00 Report
  • Brorsson 90+7'
 Referee: Fabio Verissimo (Portugal)
7 September 2018 (2018-09-07) Turkey  4–0  Cyprus Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Istanbul
18:00 (19:00 TRT)
Report Referee: Danilo Grujić (Serbia)
16 October 2018 (2018-10-16) Malta  1–1  Cyprus Centenary Stadium, Ta' Qali
17:00
Report
Referee: Admir Šehović (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Friendly matches[]

20 May 2018 Russia  3–0 Cyprus  Eduard Streltsov Stadium, Moscow, Russia
14:00 UTC+2 Oblyakov 72'
Melkadze 82'
Makarov 84'		 Report Referee: Vitali Meshkov (Russia)

Coaching staff[]

Position[20] Name
Coach Cyprus Nikos Andronikou
Assistant Coach Cyprus Venizelos Tziambazis
Goalkeeper Coach Cyprus Christoforos Loizou
Fitness Coach Cyprus Constantinos Rostantis

Current squad[]

The following players have been called up to participate in the friendly game against Russia U21 on 20 May 2018.

Caps and goals are correct as of 20 May 2018, after match against Russia U21. [21]

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Andreas Paraskevas (1998-09-15) September 15, 1998 (age 23) 2 0 Cyprus APOEL
12 1GK Demetris Demetriou (1999-01-15) January 15, 1999 (age 23) 1 0 Cyprus Anorthosis Famagusta
2 2DF Harry Kyprianou (1997-03-16) March 16, 1997 (age 25) 3 0 England Southend United
13 2DF Panayiotis Artymatas (1998-11-12) November 12, 1998 (age 23) 9 0 Cyprus Anorthosis Famagusta
14 2DF Leonidas Kyriakou (1998-02-24) February 24, 1998 (age 24) 7 0 Cyprus THOI Lakatamia
15 2DF Paris Psaltis (1996-11-12) November 12, 1996 (age 25) 10 0 Cyprus Ermis Aradippou
18 2DF Zacharias Adoni (1999-07-13) July 13, 1999 (age 22) 3 0 Cyprus Doxa Katokopias
19 2DF (1996-06-21) June 21, 1996 (age 25) 10 1 Cyprus Olympiakos Nicosia
20 2DF Kostas Pilea (1998-12-11) December 11, 1998 (age 23) 5 0 Cyprus Anorthosis Famagusta
3 3MF (1998-01-18) January 18, 1998 (age 24) 1 0 Cyprus Anagennisi Deryneia
4 3MF Giorgos Papageorgiou (1997-06-07) June 7, 1997 (age 24) 5 1 Cyprus Ethnikos Achna
5 3MF Matija Špoljarić (1997-04-02) April 2, 1997 (age 24) 7 0 Cyprus Alki Oroklini
6 3MF (1999-10-06) October 6, 1999 (age 22) 2 0 Cyprus AEK Larnaca
7 3MF Kyriacos Panagi (1996-04-22) April 22, 1996 (age 25) 15 0 Cyprus Aris Limassol
10 3MF Andreas Frangos (captain) (1997-01-19) January 19, 1997 (age 25) 14 2 Cyprus Enosis Neon Paralimni FC
16 3MF Jack Roles (1999-02-26) February 26, 1999 (age 23) 1 0 England Crystal Palace U23
17 3MF Christos Hadjipaschalis (1999-08-01) August 1, 1999 (age 22) 3 0 Cyprus Anorthosis Famagusta
8 4FW Michalis Charalambous (1999-01-29) January 29, 1999 (age 23) 1 0 Portugal Varzim
9 4FW Nikolas Mattheou (1998-05-07) May 7, 1998 (age 23) 5 0 Greece A.E. Karaiskakis F.C.
11 4FW Ioannis Pittas (1996-07-10) July 10, 1996 (age 25) 18 2 Cyprus Apollon Limassol

Recent Callups[]

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK (1996-01-16) January 16, 1996 (age 26) 7 0 Cyprus Ethnikos Assia v.  Israel, 23 March 2017
GK Andreas ChristodoulouA (1997-03-26) March 26, 1997 (age 24) 10 0 Cyprus Omonia Nicosia v.  Sweden, 27 March 2018
DF (1997-06-09) June 9, 1997 (age 24) 8 1 Cyprus Anagennisi Deryneia v.  Hungary, 14 November 2017
DF (1997-01-14) January 14, 1997 (age 25) 4 0 Cyprus THOI Lakatamia v.  Czech Republic, 1 June 2017
DF Christos Wheeler (1997-01-29) January 29, 1997 (age 25) 15 0 Cyprus AEL Limassol v.  Sweden, 27 March 2018
DF (1996-03-10) March 10, 1996 (age 26) 1 0 Cyprus PAEEK v.  Sweden, 5 September 2017
DF Ioannis KousoulosA (1996-06-14) June 14, 1996 (age 25) 15 0 Cyprus Nea Salamina v.  Hungary, 14 November 2017
DF Andreas KaroA (1996-09-09) September 9, 1996 (age 25) 16 2 Cyprus Nea Salamina v.  Sweden, 27 March 2018
MF Georgios Christodoulou (1997-08-17) August 17, 1997 (age 24) 5 1 Cyprus Pafos FC v.  Belgium, 10 October 2017
MF (1999-02-11) February 11, 1999 (age 23) 12 0 Cyprus ENP Paralimni v.  Hungary, 14 November 2017
FW Theodoros Iosifidis (1997-01-17) January 17, 1997 (age 25) 10 1 Spain CF Fuenlabrada B v.  Hungary, 14 November 2017
  • A Called up by the Cyprus A National Team
  • INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury.
  • PRE Preliminary squad.
  • RET Retired from international football.
  • SUS Suspended

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Europe U-21 Championship 1980
  2. ^ Europe U-21 Championship 1982
  3. ^ Europe U-21 Championship 1984
  4. ^ Europe U-21 Championship 1986
  5. ^ Europe U-21 Championship 1988
  6. ^ Europe U-21 Championship 1990
  7. ^ Europe U-21 Championship 1992
  8. ^ Europe U-21 Championship 1994
  9. ^ Europe U-21 Championship 1996
  10. ^ Europe U-21 Championship 1998
  11. ^ Europe U-21 Championship 2000
  12. ^ Europe U-21 Championship 2002
  13. ^ Europe U-21 Championship 2004
  14. ^ Europe U-21 Championship 2006
  15. ^ Europe U-21 Championship 2007
  16. ^ Europe U-21 Championship 2009
  17. ^ Europe U-21 Championship 2011
  18. ^ Europe U-21 Championship 2013
  19. ^ Europe U-21 Championship 2015
  20. ^ "Cyprus U21 staff". Cyprus FA. Archived from the original on 2017-06-06. Retrieved 2018-06-17.
  21. ^ "Cyprus U21 squad". Cyprus FA. Retrieved 2018-05-18.[permanent dead link]

External links[]

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