Cyprus recall APOEL star

Greek influence
Coach Momcilo Vukotic has called up 21 home-based players, with three from Greece's Alpha Ethniki - Panathinaikos FC striker Michalis Konstantinou and FC PAOK Thessaloniki forwards Yiannakis Okkas and Yiasoumis Yiasoumi - expected to join them.

Goalkeeper chance
The most significant inclusion is that of APOEL Nicosia FC goalkeeper Michalis Morfis, who is recalled after a two-year absence. The 24-year-old has excelled with the First Division leaders this term, conceding just eleven goals in 20 games. APOEL striker Stavros Georgiou is also involved, while there could be a debut for AEL Limassol FC's Georgos Konstanti.

Double header
Cyprus will play Group 1 rivals Israel in Limassol on 29 March before travelling to Slovenia for the match on 2 April. Captain Nicos Panagiotou told uefa.com: "The game against Israel is very important to us. We want to win to enhance our chances of reaching our target which is second place in the group." Vukotic's team are currently third in the section, having lost against France but beaten Malta in their opening two fixtures.

Cyprus squad
Panagiotou, Shimitras, Morfis, Konstanti, Konnafis, Nicolaou, Daskalakis, Okkarides, Spyrou, Germanos, Ioakim, N Georgiou, Theodotou, Eleftheriou, Michael, Tomic, Charalambides, Kaiafas, Neophytou, Rauffmann, S Georgiou, Konstantinou, Okkas, Yiasoumi.