Norway missing Knudsen for Denmark derby

The meeting of Group H leaders Norway and their neighbours, third-placed Denmark, is the key game in the next round of UEFA EURO 2012 qualifiers, as Iceland look to pick up a first point against Cyprus. Second-placed Portugal are not in action in this round of games though do play Chile in a Saturday friendly.

26 March: Cyprus v Iceland, Norway v Denmark

Latest standings

Cyprus
Angelos Anastasiadis has concerns over attackers Michalis Konstantinou, Yiannis Okkas and Efstathios Aloneftis, with midfielder Marinos Satsias suspended and Georgios Panagi a doubt, while midfielder Christos Marangos and defender Paraskevas Christou have already been forced to pull out through injury. "Our challenge is to get the players ready for what will be a fast, physical game," said Anastasiadis. "We have some injury concerns but I am confident that those filling in will do a good job."

Goalkeepers: Antonis Georgallides (AC Omonia), Tasos Kisas (APOEL FC), Michalis Morfis (PAEEK FC).

Defenders: Alexandros Garpozis (AEL Limassol FC), Marios Elia (APOEL FC), Savvas Poursaitides (APOEL FC), Georgos Merkis (Apollon Limassol FC), Elias Charalambous (AC Omonia), Valentinos Sielis (Anorthosis Famagusta FC).

Midfielders: Jason Demetriou (AEK Larnaca FC), Siniša Dobrašinović (Alki Larnaca FC), Constantinos Charalambides (APOEL FC), Marinos Satsias (APOEL FC), Chrysostomos Michail (APOEL FC), Constantinos Makridis (AC Omonia), Andreas Avraam (AC Omonia), Georgios Panagi (AC Omonia), Georgios Efrem (AC Omonia), Nektarios Alexandrou (APOEL FC).

Forwards: Michalis Konstantinou (AC Omonia), Nestoras Mitides (AEK Larnaca FC), Yiannis Okkas (Anorthosis Famagusta FC), Kyriakos Pavlou (APOP/Kinyras Peyias FC), Efstathios Aloneftis (AC Omonia), Dimitris Christofi (AC Omonia).

Denmark
Brøndby IF goalkeeper Stephan Andersen and FC Midtjylland midfielder Jakob Poulsen are back in the Denmark squad after shaking off long-term injuries to shine in the Superliga this spring. Coach Morten Olsen is bidding for at least a point against Norway in Oslo, but said: "They have a way of playing that makes it hard for any opponents, but they also have some weaknesses we can try and exploit."

Goalkeepers: Thomas Sørensen (Stoke City FC), Anders Lindegaard (Manchester United FC), Stephan Andersen (Brøndby IF), Jesper Christiansen (IF Elsborg).

Defenders: Lars Jacobsen (West Ham United FC), Mathias Zanka Jørgensen (FC København) Daniel Agger (Liverpool FC) Simon Kjær (VfL Wolfsburg), Daniel Wass (Brøndby IF), Simon Busk Poulsen (AZ Alkmaar), Bo Svensson (1. FSV Mainz 05).

Midfielders: Christian Eriksen (AFC Ajax), Thomas Enevoldsen (FC Groningen), William Kvist (FC København), Christian Poulsen (Liverpool FC), Michael Silberbauer (FC Utrecht), Kasper Lorentzen (Randers FC), Jakob Poulsen (FC Midtjylland).

Forwards: Dennis Rommedahl (Olympiacos FC), Michael Krohn-Dehli (Brøndby IF), Mads Junker (Roda JC), Lasse Schøne (NEC Nijmegen), Nicklas Pedersen (FC Groningen), Nicklas Bendtner (Arsenal FC).

Iceland
Ten members of the team that helped Iceland reach the finals of this summer's UEFA European Under-21 Championship for the first time feature in the senior team, along with uncapped goalkeeper Ingvar Thór Kale. However, Eidur Gudjohnsen does not make the list, with coach Ólafur Jóhannesson citing a shortage of first-team football in recent weeks. The coach added: "We have a good chance against Cyprus; we are a stronger side physically but they have skilful players who may crack under pressure." Arnór Adalsteinsson was called in to replace injured Bolton Wanderers FC defender Grétar Steinsson.

Goalkeepers: Gunnleifur Gunnleifsson (FH Hafnarfjördur), Stefán Magnússon (Lillestrøm SK), Ingvar Thór Kale (Breidablik), Haraldur Björnsson (Valur Reykjavík)*.

Defenders: Hermann Hreidarsson (Portsmouth FC), Indridi Sigurdsson (Viking FK), Kristján Sigurdsson (Hønefoss BK), Arnór Adalsteinsson (Breidablik), Birkir Sævarsson (SK Brann), Ragnar Sigurdsson (IFK Göteborg), Bjarni Ólafur Eiríksson (Stabæk IF).

Midfielders: Aron Gunnarsson (Coventry City FC), Ólafur Skúlason (SønderjyskE), Rúrik Gíslason (Odense BK), Arnór Smárason (Esbjerg fB), Jóhann Gudmundsson (AZ Alkmaar), Eggert Jónsson (Heart of Midlothian FC), Birkir Bjarnason (Viking FK), Gudmundur Kristjánsson (Breidablik), Gylfi Thór Sigurdsson (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim), Helgi Daníelsson (AIK Solna)*.

Forwards: Heidar Helguson (Queens Park Rangers FC), Kolbeinn Sigthórsson (AZ Alkmaar), Alfred Finnbogason (KSC Lokeren OV).

Norway
Jon Knudsen will miss the Denmark game with a broken finger, with the Stabæk Fotball goalkeeper already having undergone corrective surgery. John Carew, meanwhile, is out with a back injury. "I have done everything to be ready, but there wasn't enough time," said the Stoke City FC striker. Steffen Iversen is back in the squad, coming in for Rosenborg BK forward Morten Moldskred.

Goalkeepers: Rune Jarstein (Viking FK), Espen Bugge Pettersen (Molde FK).

Defenders: Brede Hangeland (Fulham FC), Tom Høgli (Tromsø IL), Jonathan Parr (Aalesunds FK), John Arne Riise (AS Roma), Thomas Rogne (Celtic FC), Espen Ruud (Odense BK), Kjetil Wæhler (Aalborg BK).

Midfielders: Christian Grindheim (SC Heerenveen), Henning Hauger (Stabæk Fotball), Ruben Yttergård Jenssen (Tromsø IL), Morten Gamst Pedersen (Blackburn Rovers FC), Bjørn Helge Riise (Sheffield United FC), Alexander Tettey (Stade Rennais FC), Daniel Braaten (Toulouse FC)*.

Forwards: Mohammed Abdellaoue (Hannover 96), John Carew (Stoke City FC), Erik Huseklepp (AS Bari), Steffen Iversen (Crystal Palace FC), Daniel Braaten (Toulouse FC)*.

Players in italics have withdrawn.
*Denotes replacement player.