Sports Blog 03/09/2015: UEFA Euro 2016 Qualifying Preview – Cyprus vs Wales, Thursday 3rd September 2015

The Euro 2016 qualifiers continue this evening, with an unbeaten Wales travelling to Cyprus at 7.45pm on Sky Sports 1.

The whole Euro qualifying campaign has been somewhat of a revolution for Wales. With 4 wins and 2 draws in what could have been a tricky group, Wales sit atop the pile with 14 points and 4 games to go. Whilst wins against Andorra, Cyprus and Israel are par for the course, getting 4 points from 2 games against Belgium, many a fan’s dark horse for the World Cup and a definite contender for the Euro 2016 title, is fantastic.

That most recent win in Cardiff, with a first half goal from Gareth Bale the only thing separating the two sides, puts Wales 2 wins away from qualifying for their first major tournament in 57 years. And whilst it may not have been the most convincing win, preventing a side that contains the likes of Kevin de Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Christian Benteke and Romelu Lukaku from scoring is a phenomenal feat in and of itself. It also has, much to the ire of English football fans, seen Wales ranked above England for the first time in the team’s history, a marker of how far they have come in the last few years.



The absence of James Chester could leave a hole at the back, but the return of Hal Robson-Kanu from injury, who scored against Cyprus in their first match, will be a boost. Add onto this an in-form Gareth Bale, who opened and closed scoring in Real Madrid’s 5-0 win over Real Betis at the weekend and sits at a Super Mega Player Goal Minutes spread of 43-50, and Aaron Ramsey, at 13/2 to score first, and Wales are left in a pretty strong position going into Thursday night’s match.

Not that Cyprus are the kind of side that will completely roll over. They sit on 9 points, the same as Israel in 3rd, 2 below Belgium in 2nd and 1 above Bosnia and Herzegovina in 5th. It’s an incredibly tight group, and one that the Cypriots have performed remarkably well in. A shock opening win over Bosnia and Herzegovina was followed by 2-1 defeats to Israel and Wales. However 5-0 and 3-1 victories over group whipping-boys Andorra have left Cyprus with a realistic chance of, if not automatic qualification, then at least a play-off spot.

Frustratingly for Cyprus, there is a chance that only one of their 3 players on 3 goals will be available. AEK Larnaca’s Nestoras Mitidis is definitely fit and has a Super Mega PGM of 11-15; however, Demetris Christofi will have to undergo a late fitness test, whilst George Efrem is a guaranteed absentee through injury. Pressure will be on the 33-year old, and summer APOEL signee, Constantinos Makrides to improve on his 1 goal haul, with the attacking midfielder sitting at a Super Mega PGM spread of 4-7.

Having convincingly beaten Cyprus 2-1 in their first match, and having defeated Belgium in the interim, Wales will likely be confident of a victory at the GSP Stadium. Our traders certainly think so, offering a Wales/Cyprus (h) Goal Supremacy spread of 0.65-0.85 with a Total Goals spread of 2.15-2.35.