Northern Ireland v Cyprus (12/06/2020)

THE SQUAD: CYPRUS

WORDS: LIAM BLACKBURN

NEOFYTOS MICHAEL GOALKEEPER APOEL

IOAKEIM TOUMPAS GOALKEEPER AEK LARNACA AGE 23 CAPS 0 GOALS 0

ANDREAS CHRISTODOULOU GOALKEEPER ETHNIKOS ACHNAS

AGE 28 CAPS 14 GOALS 0 Goalkeeper who is finally

AGE 25 CAPS 0 GOALS 0 A product of Olympiakos Nicosia’s academy, Christodoulou lists fellow Cypriot clubs Omonoia and AEK Larnaca among his former teams. Having represented Cyprus at under-17, under-19 and under-21 level, the goalkeeper was first called up to the senior squad for his country’s Nations League games against Norway and Bulgaria in November 2018. NIKOLAS IOANNOU DEFENDER COMO AGE 26 CAPS 37 GOALS 2 A former captain of Manchester United’s reserves, he played alongside Marcus Rashford and Scott McTominay in England. Joined APOEL, where he won five league titles, and played in the Champions League as a teenager. Moved to Nottingham Forest in 2020 but spent last year on loan with Italian club Como.

FANOS KATELARIS DEFENDER APOLLON LIMASSOL AGE 25 CAPS 15 GOALS 1 Katelaris, who can also operate as a central midfielder, won the top flight title in Cyprus with Apollon Limassol this past season. He previously briefly spent time in Hungary. Represented his country at under-17, under-19 and under-21 level and made his senior debut in 2017, marking that appearance with a goal. youth, Laifis now plays his club football in Belgium having joined Standard Liege permanently from Olympiakos following a successful loan spell. Played against Northern Ireland at under-21 level and debuted for the senior team in 2014. KONSTANTINOS LAIFIS DEFENDER STANDARD LIEGE AGE 29 CAPS 45 GOALS 3 A talented tennis player who spent time at Nottingham Forest’s academy in his senior side when called up for the November World Cup qualifiers against Slovenia and Russia. Toumpas is yet to make his debut for Cyprus but is furthering his case for inclusion after finally making the breakthrough at AEK Larnaca. Young goalkeeper who had his first experience of the Cyprus AGE 27 CAPS 3 GOALS 0 Now in his second season with Apollon Limassol, Panayiotou began his career with Omonoia but didn’t start playing regularly until he joined Pafos in 2018. An international at under-19 and under-21 level, he made his first senior appearance from the bench back in 2017 in a friendly with Kazakhstan. ANTREAS PANAYIOTOU DEFENDER APOLLON LIMASSOL

looking to nail down a regular spot at club side APOEL after a series of loan moves away from the club in Cyprus and Greece. Made his international debut in a 6-1 loss to Belgium in 2019. Has been the country’s number one over the past two years.

ANDREAS AVRAAM DEFENDER

ANORTHOSIS FAMAGUSTA AGE 35 CAPS 49 GOALS 5 The experienced Avraam turned 35 this week. He has spent the bulk of his club career in his native land, playing for the likes of Apollon Limassol, Omonoia and AEL Limassol. Scored his first international goal in 2008 and was on target in a 4-4 draw with Portugal in 2010. ANORTHOSIS FAMAGUSTA AGE 32 CAPS 20 GOALS 0 A product of APOEL’s academy, Antoniades won six league titles and three Cypriot Cups with his boyhood club. After playing for Panionios in the Greek Super League, he has gone on to feature for AEK Larnaca, Apollon Limassol and Anorthosis Famagusta. Can operate at left back or as a central defender. AGE 22 CAPS 6 GOALS 0 His club manager is Neil Lennon, and the former Northern Ireland international introduced Panagiotou from the bench at half-time of last month’s Cypriot Cup final, when Omonoia won the trophy after a penalty shootout. Made his senior international debut last year after featuring for Cyprus at under-19 and under-21 level. MARIOS ANTONIADES DEFENDER NIKOLAS PANAGIOTOU DEFENDER OMONOIA

MINAS ANTONIOU DEFENDER AEL LIMASSOL AGE 28 CAPS 13 GOALS 0

Antoniou is now back with AEL Limassol, the club where he began his career. Had spells with Aris Limassol and APOEL between the two stints. Played for Cyprus at under-17, under-19 and under-21 level, and made his senior bow in 2018, coming off the bench in a friendly with Montenegro.

PAVLOS KORREA DEFENDER

ANORTHOSIS FAMAGUSTA AGE 23 CAPS 4 GOALS 0

Has made the breakthrough with Anorthosis Famagusta this past season after coming through the club’s academy. His father is Panamanian, and he was even called up by the Central American nation for the Gold Cup last year, but he represents Cyprus having previously played for the country at youth level, too.

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NIR V CYP