MX23RW : Thursday, November 21 17:47:56| >> :600:111228:111228:
[monks data]
Cyprus national football team
Nations League | League C
Sep 9, 2024 at 5pm UK
AEK Arena - George Karapatakis
Kosovo national football team

Cyprus
0 - 4
Kosovo


Tzionis (37'), Pittas (62')
FT(HT: 0-2)
Muriqi (9' pen., 21'), Rrahmani (48'), Dellova (55')
Aliti (45+1')

Preview: Cyprus vs. Kosovo - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Monday's Nations League clash between Cyprus and Kosovo, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Cyprus welcome Kosovo to Larnaca in League C Group 2 of the UEFA Nations League on Monday on the back of an impressive win on matchday one.

Another win for the hosts will see them beat their points tally from the last UNL after just two games, while Kosovo need to respond after a humbling defeat in Pristina against Romania.


Match preview

Cyprus manager Temuri Ketsbaia in June 2023© Imago

With plenty of pressure placed on manager Temuri Ketsbaia heading into this window of fixtures, the Cyprus boss silenced his critics with a fine win away in Lithuania on Friday evening.

Many had called for the former striker's head after a woeful Euro 2024 qualifying campaign saw Cyprus lose all eight matches with a goal difference of minus-25, but after facing Spain, Norway, Scotland and Georgia in that section, this Nations League group will provide a clearer picture of where the side is at.

That win in Kaunas was the nation's first on the road since 2019, having lost 14 of their 17 away matches since then, so it could be a real catalyst for better things going forward.

The Cypriots only took five points from their six UNL games in 2022, avoiding the relegation playoff despite finishing bottom of their group, but they are already 60% of the way to matching that tally after just one game this time around.

It is likely to get tougher though with Kosovo up next and Romania to come in October as Cyprus have been handed a very difficult section considering it is a third-tier group.

Form on home soil has been largely positive for Cyprus in this competition, as they have lost only one of their previous five here, but that one defeat came against upcoming opponents Kosovo in 2022.

The two meetings in that year's competition saw Kosovo come out on top on both occasions by a combined score of 7-1, largely thanks to a thumping win in Pristina.

Kosovo's Bernard Berisha, Lindon Emerllahu and Fidan Aliti on June 5, 2024© Imago

Kosovo have already had their promotion hopes dashed by a bruising 3-0 defeat at home to Romania on matchday one, though, as that group opener had the feel of a decisive match despite coming so early in the section.

It was a poor first competitive fixture for Franco Foda, who arrived earlier this year and an instant response is required if Kosovo want any chance of avoiding a fourth straight appearance in League C.

Friday's defeat was their fourth in five matches, all of which have seen them fail to score, which is peculiar for a side who has more than enough individual quality in attacking areas.

The visitors will come into this clash as favourites, but as a draw against Andorra and two defeats to Belarus in Euro 2024 qualifying showed, Kosovo can be extremely complacent against weaker sides, and that must be avoided here if they want to keep Romania in their sights.

Cyprus Nations League form:


Cyprus form (all competitions):


Kosovo Nations League form:


Kosovo form (all competitions):



Team News

Cyprus goalkeeper Joel Mall in September 2023© Imago

Cyprus are likely to remain unchanged after an excellent away win on matchday one, where they were strong in both attack and defence.

Ioannis Pittas carried his fine club form from AIK in Sweden over to the international stage by scoring the only goal in Kaunas on Friday and is set to start as the main focal point here.

Goalkeeper Joel Mall was one of the standout performers when Servette beat Chelsea in the Conference League two weeks ago, and he played an important role at keeping Lithuania at bay too, and will retain his place between the sticks.

Mergim Vojvoda's late red card in Kosovo's defeat on Friday will see the right-back serve a suspension here, with Florent Hadergjonaj set to deputise for the Torino man.

After a poor performance in attack, Foda could turn to Albion Rrahmani to partner Vedat Muriqi in attack, after the 24-year-old made a big-money move to Sparta Prague late in the summer window.

On the injury front, Mirlind Kryeziu and Bernard Berisha have both had to pull out due to injury, while Elbasan Rashani has been lacking match fitness and was allowed to stay at Elche to settle in after his recent transfer.

Cyprus possible starting lineup:
Mall; Karo, Gogic, Kyprianou; Panagiotou Filiotis, Kastanos, Spoljaric, Artymatas, Ioannou; Tzionis, Pittas

Kosovo possible starting lineup:
Muric; Hadergjonaj, Am. Rrahmani, Aliti, Paqarada; Zhegrova, V. Berisha, Rexhbecaj, Rashica; Muriqi, Al. Rrahmani


SM words green background

We say: Cyprus 1-1 Kosovo

Kosovo have had great difficulty in recent years at performing when being the favourites to win, especially in Euro 2024 qualifying, and they could be in for a frustrating evening against a rejuvenated Cyprus side.

The hosts ended a five-year wait for an away win on Friday, and they have been strong at home in previous editions of the Nations League, so cannot be underestimated here.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.




ID:552410:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect11125:

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Game History

How you voted: Cyprus vs Kosovo

Cyprus
40.3%
Draw
22.1%
Kosovo
37.7%
154
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Didier Deschamps coach of France during the UEFA European Championships semi final - 9th July 2024.
Read Next:
Friday's Nations League predictions including France vs. Italy
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

League A1

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal642014
Q Croatia Croatia62228
3 Scotland flag Scotland62137
4 Poland Poland61144

League A2

TeamPWDLPTS
Q France France641113
Q Italy Italy641113
3 Belgium Belgium61144
4 Israel Israel61144

League A3

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany642014
Q Netherlands Netherlands62319
3 Hungary Hungary61326
4 Bosnia Bosnia H'vina60242

League A4

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain651016
Q Denmark Denmark62228
3 Serbia Serbia61326
4 Switzerland Switzerland60242

League B1

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Czech Republic Czech Republic632111
2 Ukraine Ukraine62228
3 Georgia Georgia62137
4 Albania national flag Albania62137

League B2

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England650115
2 Greece Greece650115
3 Ireland Rep. Ireland62046
4 Finland Finland60060

League B3

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Norway Norway641113
2 Austria Austria632111
3 Slovenia Slovenia62228
4 Kazakhstan Kazakhstan60151

League B4

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Wales flag Wales633012
2 Turkey Turkey632111
3 Iceland Iceland62137
4 Montenegro Montenegro61053

League C1

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Sweden Sweden651016
2 Slovakia Slovakia641113
3 Estonia Estonia61144
4 Azerbaijan Azerbaijan60151

League C2

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania550015
2 Kosovo flag Kosovo540112
3 Cyprus Cyprus62046
4 Lithuania Lithuania60060

League C3

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Northern Ireland flag N. Ireland632111
2 Bulgaria Bulgaria62319
3 Belarus Belarus61417
4 Luxembourg flag Luxembourg60333

League C4

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Macedonia N. Macedonia651016
2 Armenia Armenia62137
3 Faroe Islands Faroe Islands61326
4 Latvia Latvia61144

League D1

TeamPWDLPTS
Q San Marino flag San Marino42117
2 Gibraltar flag Gibraltar41306
3 Liechtenstein flag Liechtenstein40222

League D2

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Republic of Moldova Moldova43019
2 Malta flag Malta42117
3 Andorra flag Andorra40131


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!