Injury plagues Cyprus ahead of Euro 2012 qualifier

By foxsports
Published

Injury has depleted Cyprus' squad but coach Angelos Anastasiades remained confident on Wednesday of beating Iceland in a March 26 European Championship qualifier.

Anastasiades said his team can beat Iceland.

''We are facing a team that relies on its running game and on discipline,'' Anastasiades said. ''We have tough injuries, but I believe all of us who are here know what we have to do.''

Cyprus sits in fourth place in Group H behind Norway, Portugal and Denmark, one point ahead of last-place Iceland. The island nation earned a surprising 4-4 away draw against Portugal in its first Euro 2012 qualifier last September.

Midfielder Christos Marangos and defender Paraskevas Christou are out due to injury, while captain Ioannis Okkas and top scorer Michael Constantinou are also doubtful for Saturday's game.

Veteran midfielder Marios Satsias will also miss the game because of a yellow card suspension, but will be available for a March 29 friendly against Bulgaria.

APOEL Nicosia midfielder Nectarios Alexandrou has been called up to fill in for Marangos.

Okkas said it will be difficult for himself and Constantinou to fully recover from injury by Saturday, but that he's still hopeful of playing in a game he described as crucial for Cyprus' slim qualification chances.

''We have to win at all costs to keep our hopes alive,'' said Okkas, the most capped Cypriot player.

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Squad:

Goalkeepers: Antonis Giorgallides (Omonia Nicosia), Tasos Kissas (APOEL Nicosia), Michalis Morfis (PAEEK Kyrenia).

Defenders: Marios Elia (APOEL Nicosia), Savvas Poursaitides (APOEL Nicosia), Elias Charalambous (Omonia Nicosia), Georgios Merkis, (Apollon Limassol), Alexandros Garpozis (AEL Limassol), Valentinos Sielis (Anorthosis Famagusta).

Midfielders: Chrysostomos Michail (APOEL Nicosia), Nectarios Alexandrou (APOEL Nicosia), Constantinos Charalambides (APOEL Nicosia), Konstantinos Makridis (Omonia Nicosia), Andreas Avraam (Omonia Nicosia), George Efrem (Omonia Nicosia), Sinisa Dobrasinovic (Alki), Jason Demetriou (AEK Larnaca), George Panagi, (Omonia Nicosia).

Forwards: Michael Constantinou (Omonia Nicosia), Efstathios Aloneftis (Omonia Nicosia), Demetris Christofi (Omonia Nicosia), Ioannis Okkas (Anorthosis), Nestoras Mitides (AEK Larnaca), Koullis Pavlou (APOP Kinyras).