Vukotic to experiment
Monday, January 27, 2003
Article summary
Cyprus coach Momcilo Vukotic "will look at new players" during a four-nation event on the island next month.
Article body
Two-day event
The Cyprus International Tournament, which has been hosted by the Cyprus Football Association since 1993, will take place on 12 and 13 February. The hosts have been drawn to play Russia at the Tsirion Athletic Centre in Limassol, while Romania and Slovakia will meet in the other semi-final at the New GSZ (Zenon) arena in Larnaca. Both games are scheduled for 12 February, with the final and third-place match being staged in Limassol and Larnaca a day later.
New faces
Vukotic, who has presided over a win and a defeat in UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifying, said of his selection: "As far as the national team is concerned our main structure will remain the same. But the upcoming friendlies will allow us to look at new players - I estimate that I will use about 20."
Senior debut
One player recalled is Panayiotis Engomitis after the FC PAOK Thessaloniki player missed the Group 1 qualifying matches through injury. The captain of the Cypriot Under-21 side, Konstantinos Charalambides, is also included and should make his senior debut. Ioakim Ioakim, Rainer Rauffmann and Marinos Satsias all miss out through injury.
Final defeat
Cyprus defeated Switzerland 4-2 on penalties following a 1-1 draw last year before losing 4-3 to the Czech Republic in an exciting final at the GSP stadium.
Cyprus squad
Panagiotou, Shimitras, Daskalakis, Konnafis, Okkarides, Theodotou, Nicolaou, Spyrou, Charalambides, Michael, Georgiou, Engomitis, Kaiafas, Tomic, Agathocleous, Eleftheriou, Okkas, Yiasoumis, Konstantinou.
