Cyprus up against the Vikings

WARSAW - Cyprus coach Angelos Anastasiades’ dream for a favourable draw for the Euro2012 qualifiers came crashing down on him on Sunday after Cyprus were pitted in one of the toughest groups along with Portugal, Denmark, Norway and Iceland.
The draw could see Cyprus finish bottom of the group with only Iceland looking easier prey for Anastasiades’ side.
The group also means that Cyprus will need to make long trips as they will have to travel north to Scandinavia three times (Iceland, Norway and Denmark) but will also need to travel to the other side of the continent once again to take on Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Greek boss Anastasiades refused to be downbeat after the draw.
“Everything will depend on us and how we perform. We had set targets before the draw and we intend to keep those targets. We will do everything to ensure that we succeed in our goals.”
Anastasiades also sees Denmark and Portgual as the big powerhouses in the group and believes that a battle could ensure between Cyprus and Norway.
”They are both really good, experienced sides from two different footballing backgrounds. I believe both ourselves and Norway will be aiming to break into the top two behind the two favourites Denmark and Portugal. Iceland, on paper at least, is the weakest of the group but generally no side in this group is going to have it easy.”
Cyprus’ record against all their opponents is not good with the island having never beaten any of their opponents in qualifying.
In 2001, Cyprus lost 6-0 and 3-1 to Portugal in qualifying and has also lost five times to Norway in all the times they have played them.
Neither the men’s national team of Cyprus nor any of the island’s clubs have ever beaten opposition from Portugal.
APOEL created history back in 1963 when they became the first team from Cyprus – and even Greece – to advance to the second round of the European Cup when they eliminated Norwegian champions Goevik Lynn. Cyprus won the first leg 6-0 in Nicosia and even won the second leg 1-0 in Norway.
In the next round, APOEL were eliminated by Portuguese side Sporting losing in the first leg 16-1 – a record defeat that stills stands to this day.
Denmark, whose local champions FC Copenhagen were dumped out of this season’s Champions League qualifiers by APOEL, will be eager for revenge.
Cyprus had also held the Danes to a famous 1-1 draw in the 1994 World Cup qualifiers – a year after the Scandinavians had lifted the European Cup.
Marios Agathocleous had scored the goal in Limassol while the return leg in Copenhagen finished with a 4-0 thrashing in favour of Denmark.
Cyprus will take on Iceland early next month in a friendly in Nicosia in a game which is now bound to create more interest in both countries.

Euro 2012 qualifying draw:
A: Germany, Turkey, Austria, Belgium, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan
B: Russia, Slovakia, Ireland, FYROM, Armenia, Andorra
C: Italy, Serbia, N. Ireland, Slovenia, Estonia, Faroe Islands
D: France, Romania, Bosnia, Belarus, Albania, Luxembourg
E: Holland, Sweden, Finland, Hungary, Moldova, San Marino
F: Croatia, Greece, Israel, Latvia, Georgia, Montenegro
G: England, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Wales, Montenegro
H: Portugal, Denmark, Norway, CYPRUS, Iceland
I: Spain, Czech Rep., Scotland, Lithuania, Liechtenstein