Cyprus national under-21 football team
Encyclopedia
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 affect on the under-21 national team.
on November 12, 2011 and against Germany
on November 15, 2011 .
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National under-21 football team
A National under-21 football team represents the second-highest stage in European international football competition. Only Europe uses an under-21 age limit - all of FIFA's other Confederations - and FIFA itself - run competitions for under-20 age groups. European countries compete for the UEFA...
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
Spain national under-21 football team
The Spain national under-21 football team, is the national under-21 football team of Spain and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation. The team, nicknamed La Rojita , competes in the biannual European Under-21 Football Championship.Following the realignment of UEFA's youth...
in a qualifying match for the 1980 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
1980 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
The UEFA U-21 Championship 1980, which spanned two years had 25 entrants. Cyprus and the Netherlands competed in the competition for the first time. 1978 entrants Austria did not enter. Due to 'irregularities', Turkey's first two matches were awarded to their opponents...
. They then drew 0-0 with the trophy holders Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia national under-21 football team
The Yugoslavia national under-21 football team existed in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. After the state's dissolution in 1992, the following teams were formed:*Bosnia and Herzegovina national under-21 football team...
, 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
1982 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
The UEFA U-21 Championship 1982, which spanned two years , had 26 entrants. West Germany competed in the competition for the first time. England U-21s won the competition....
, Cyprus made history when they defeated France
France national under-21 football team
The France national under-21 football team , known in France as Les Espoirs , is the national under-21 football team of France and is controlled by the French Football Federation. The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years...
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
1992 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
The UEFA U-21 Championship 1992, which spanned two years , had 32 entrants.Malta and Israel competed for the first time. This was also the first appearance of the unified Germany team.Italy U-21s won the competition....
, the team beat Greece 1-0 and drew 1-1 with Sweden
Sweden national football team
The Swedish national football team represents Sweden in association football and is controlled by the Swedish Football Association, the governing body for Football in Sweden. Sweden's home ground is Råsunda Stadium in Stockholms län and their head coach is Erik Hamrén. Sweden made their first...
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
2000 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
The UEFA U-21 Championship 2000, which spanned two years , had 47 entrants. Northern Ireland competed for the first time. For the first time a finals tournament with two groups of four teams was held, with one of those teams, Slovakia, having been chosen as the hosts.Italy U-21s won the...
, 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
2004 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
UEFA U-21 Championship 2004 was the 14th staging of UEFA's European Under-21 Football Championship. The final tournament was hosted by Germany between 27 May and 8 June 2004.Italy U-21s won the competition for the fifth time...
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
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
joined the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, 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
Cypriot First Division
The Cypriot Championship First Division is the top tier football league competition in Cyprus. As of 2007 it is sponsored by Marfin Popular Bank and is hence officially known as Marfin Laiki League .-Format:...
and is therefore also having an adverse affect on the under-21 national team.
Cyprus National Team Competition Record
| Competition | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UEFA U-21 Championship | 104 | 20 | 12 | 72 | 88 | 211 |
European Championship record Under-21
- 19781978 UEFA European Under-21 Football ChampionshipThe UEFA U-21 Championship 1978, which spanned two years had 24 entrants. Yugoslavia U-21s won the competition.The 24 national teams were divided into eight groups. The group winners played off against each other on a two-legged home-and-away basis until the winner was decided...
- Did not enter - 19801980 UEFA European Under-21 Football ChampionshipThe UEFA U-21 Championship 1980, which spanned two years had 25 entrants. Cyprus and the Netherlands competed in the competition for the first time. 1978 entrants Austria did not enter. Due to 'irregularities', Turkey's first two matches were awarded to their opponents...
to 20072007 UEFA European Under-21 Football ChampionshipThe UEFA U-21 Championship 2007 were held from 10 June 2007 to 23 June 2007. It is the 16th staging of UEFA's European Under-21 Football Championship....
- Did not qualify
Current squad
Squad called up for the friendly matches against Bosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and Herzegovina national under-21 football team
Bosnia and Herzegovina U21 national football team is a youth team of Bosnia and Herzegovina that represents the country in the European Under-21 Football Championship and friendly matches....
on November 12, 2011 and against Germany
Germany national under-21 football team
The Germany national under-21 football team represents the under-21s of Germany in the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship and is controlled by the German Football Association , the governing body of football in Germany....
on November 15, 2011 .
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Recent Callups
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See also
- Cyprus national football teamCyprus national football teamThe Cyprus national football team represents Cyprus in association football and is controlled by the Cyprus Football Association, the governing body for football in Cyprus. Cyprus' home ground is the GSP Stadium in Nicosia and the current coach is Nikos Nioplias...
- Cyprus national under-17 football team
- European Under-21 Football Championship