With optimism and confidence in its abilities, the the Cyprus national team began its preparations in Archangelos ahead of its final two Nations League matches against Armenia (November 12, 7:00 p.m.) and Montenegro (November 15, 4:00 p.m.). Our national team is currently in second place with seven points and aims to finish its campaign on a high note.
- Fetch is the sponsor of Alpha Cyprus’s trip to Armenia
Akis Mantzios expressed his complete confidence in the players, emphasizing that the national team is ready to give it their all. He acknowledged the difficulty of the match against Armenia but emphasized that his team is in good form.
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For his part, Ioannis Pittas described the opportunity to secure second place as significant, stressing that “this is the right time for this national team to make a statement.” At the same time, he expressed his delight at the team’s return to Limassol, hoping for a packed “Alphamega” stadium.
Morgan Brown received his first call-up to the national team; he said he was proud of the opportunity and ready to contribute, with the goal of helping the team achieve its objectives.
Here are the statements in detail:
Akis Mantzios:
On whether the tough games are just beginning for the national team: “Okay, everything has been tough; it’s not just these games that are difficult. The first four games in the series were also challenging. Generally speaking, there’s no such thing as an easy game. Now, to get past the hype, as you mentioned, these are indeed two crucial matches. We’re entering the second phase of the Nations League tournament. Having played a strong first half—I’d say across all four matches—we’re currently in second place with seven points, and we have a comfortable lead over the third-place team. We’re still in the running for all our goals—the truth is, we still have a chance at every possible position. Beyond that, I think that on our part, there is unlimited faith in our team and our players. I believe we’ll be ready to succeed and give it our all in these two games.”
On the new call-ups: “Certainly, every player we call up is someone who has shown they have the potential to help our national team. They’re good players; they’re young players. Each of them, right now—if we’re talking about these two young players, Iasonas and Zanos—is having an outstanding season. Morgan is a player we’re familiar with—we’ve known him from previous years—and he’s a fighter. Each has his own strengths, and I think they rightfully deserve to be part of our squad right now.”
On whether the match against Armenia depends on the national team’s strategy: “If we look at it in terms of points, it’s a match that depends on us. Beyond that, however, we recognize how difficult it will be. Armenia is a very good team, and especially at home, they have the greatest momentum because they have the support of their fans. However, I believe it will be a game with a fair amount of tactical play from both teams. We’re in good shape; most of the players on our roster are in good competitive form. I believe we’ll be exactly where we need to be for Thursday’s game.”
On the last match against Montenegro in Limassol: “The fans are behind the national team; we saw that in a game we played last year. But the first game is what matters; we’re focusing solely on the first one. And as I said, depending on what happens in the first match, we’ll adjust our approach accordingly for the second game against Montenegro.”
Ioannis Pittas:
On the two matches and the race for first place: “Mathematically, we’re definitely in the race for first place, but I think that in the end, the match against Armenia will be a tough one for us. If we manage to win, we need to secure second place. This is something I believe we haven’t achieved as a national team in years, and I think it will be a major accomplishment for us and for our country, to kick off and continue this upward trend.”
On the team’s morale: “As I’ve said many times, I believe we have a wonderful group, a wonderful staff, and a very good coach. In general, I consider us all to be a family—I’ve said that before. We have very good players right now, and I believe this is the right time for this national team to make its mark.”
On whether the match against Armenia depends on the national team: “As we saw in the first game, if we exclude the period after the red card, we were in complete control. Armenia is certainly a very good team, but I believe we’re a very good team too; we have very good players, and we’re in the perfect position to make the game our own.”
On the prospect of a Cypriot player being signed through the national team: “The national team is a gateway for all young players to secure a transfer. I don’t think we’ve seen many transfers from the Cypriot league. The national team is the next step, the next level. They play with top-class players who compete at the highest levels, and I think that a positive performance for our national team will immediately start drawing attention to the entire squad.”
On returning to Limassol: “Limassol is my home, and I’m certainly happy that the national team is returning to Limassol. I hope we win on Thursday against Armenia, and I’m expecting a packed “Alphamega” stadium, where we’ll all push together for a positive result.”
On whether he wants to return to Limassol in general: “I feel that right now I’m very happy where I am. In the future, we’ll see. But right now, I plan to stay abroad.”
Morgan Brown:
On his first call-up: “I’m very happy to be here. Everyone has already made me feel very welcome, but I feel very proud and I’m ready to give my best to represent Cyprus.”
On joining the national team at a critical moment: “We have one goal: we want to achieve something by finishing in the top two spots in the group, and I hope I can have a positive impact on the team and that we can achieve our goals.”
On his welcome to the national team: “As for the coach, he was very kind; we’ve had several initial conversations. This is the first time I’ve met him in person, so it’s a great pleasure for me. And as for the rest of the guys, I can say they’re very polite and very welcoming. I know 90% of the team. I’m playing with Konomis and Malekidis now, and I’ve played with Pilea in the past. So, yes, it was very easy to adjust, and I can’t wait to get started now.”
