Cyprus national under-21 football team

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.

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

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 402215−4
1982[2] 410347−3
1984[3] 6006414−10
1986[4] 6024313-10
1988[5] 6105418−14
1990[6] 401303−3
1992[7] 6114315−12
1994[8] 8008421−17
1996[9] 103161025−15
1998[10] 83141615+1
2000[11] 8134718−11
2002[12] 8305917−8
2004[13] 8503125+7
2006[14] 8017217-15
2007[15] 200203−3
2009[16] 8206915−6
2011[17] 8206813−5
2013[18] 104061620−4
2015[19] 8206721−14
2017 5014212−10
2019 Qualification in progress 8206718-11
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 —
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: UEFA
1 September 2017 (2017-09-01) Cyprus  2–1  Malta AEK Arena, Larnaca
18:00
  • Anastasiou  41'
  • Iosifidis  90+3'
 Report
Referee: Stefan Apostolov (Bulgaria)
5 September 2017 (2017-09-05) Sweden  4–1  Cyprus Falkenbergs IP, Falkenberg
18:45
Report
Referee: Omar Pashayev (Azerbaijan)
5 October 2017 (2017-10-05) Cyprus  2–1  Turkey AEK Arena, Larnaca
16:00
  • Karo  53'
  • Soteriou  58'
 Report
Referee: Daniel Siebert (Germany)
10 October 2017 (2017-10-10) Cyprus  0–2  Belgium AEK Arena, Larnaca
16:00 Report
Referee: Kirill Levnikov (Russia)
9 November 2017 (2017-11-09) Belgium  3–2  Cyprus Den Dreef, Leuven
20:00
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
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[20]
Position Name
Coach Nikos Andronikou
Assistant Coach Venizelos Tziambazis
Goalkeeper Coach Christoforos Loizou
Fitness Coach 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 2 0 APOEL
12 1GK Demetris Demetriou (1999-01-15) January 15, 1999 1 0 Anorthosis Famagusta
2 2DF Harry Kyprianou (1997-03-16) March 16, 1997 3 0 Southend United
13 2DF Panayiotis Artymatas (1998-11-12) November 12, 1998 9 0 Anorthosis Famagusta
14 2DF Leonidas Kyriakou (1998-02-24) February 24, 1998 7 0 THOI Lakatamia
15 2DF Paris Psaltis (1996-11-12) November 12, 1996 10 0 Ermis Aradippou
18 2DF Zacharias Adoni (1999-07-13) July 13, 1999 3 0 Doxa Katokopias
19 2DF Constantinos Sotiriou (1996-06-21) June 21, 1996 10 1 Olympiakos Nicosia
20 2DF Kostas Pilea (1998-12-11) December 11, 1998 5 0 Anorthosis Famagusta
3 3MF Sean Ioannou (1998-01-18) January 18, 1998 1 0 Anagennisi Deryneia
4 3MF Giorgos Papageorgiou (1997-06-07) June 7, 1997 5 1 Ethnikos Achna
5 3MF Matija Špoljarić (1997-04-02) April 2, 1997 7 0 Alki Oroklini
6 3MF Giannis Panayides (1999-10-06) October 6, 1999 2 0 AEK Larnaca
7 3MF Kyriacos Panagi (1996-04-22) April 22, 1996 15 0 Aris Limassol
10 3MF Andreas Frangos (captain) (1997-01-19) January 19, 1997 14 2 Enosis Neon Paralimni FC
16 3MF Jack Roles (1999-02-26) February 26, 1999 1 0 Tottenham U23
17 3MF Christos Hadjipaschalis (1999-08-01) August 1, 1999 3 0 Anorthosis Famagusta
8 4FW Michalis Charalambous (1999-01-29) January 29, 1999 1 0 Varzim
9 4FW Nikolas Mattheou (1998-05-07) May 7, 1998 5 0 A.E. Karaiskakis F.C.
11 4FW Ioannis Pittas (1996-07-10) July 10, 1996 18 2 Apollon Limassol

Recent Callups
Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Giorgos Tasouris (1996-01-16) January 16, 1996 7 0 Ethnikos Assia v.  Israel, 23 March 2017
GK Andreas ChristodoulouA (1997-03-26) March 26, 1997 10 0 Omonia Nicosia v.  Sweden, 27 March 2018
DF Rafael Anastasiou (1997-06-09) June 9, 1997 8 1 Anagennisi Deryneia v.  Hungary, 14 November 2017
DF Thanasis Liasides (1997-01-14) January 14, 1997 4 0 THOI Lakatamia v.  Czech Republic, 1 June 2017
DF Christos Wheeler (1997-01-29) January 29, 1997 15 0 AEL Limassol v.  Sweden, 27 March 2018
DF Andys Nikolaou (1996-03-10) March 10, 1996 1 0 PAEEK v.  Sweden, 5 September 2017
DF Ioannis KousoulosA (1996-06-14) June 14, 1996 15 0 Nea Salamina v.  Hungary, 14 November 2017
DF Andreas KaroA (1996-09-09) September 9, 1996 16 2 Nea Salamina v.  Sweden, 27 March 2018
MF Georgios Christodoulou (1997-08-17) August 17, 1997 5 1 Pafos FC v.  Belgium, 10 October 2017
MF Antonis Koumis (1999-02-11) February 11, 1999 12 0 ENP Paralimni v.  Hungary, 14 November 2017
FW Theodoros Iosifidis (1997-01-17) January 17, 1997 10 1 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.
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