EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS - 2014/16 SEASON MATCH PRESS KITS - Saturday 28 March 2015 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Belgium Group B - Matchday -8 Last updated 12/07/2021 15:40CET

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Previous meetings 2 Match background 3 Squad list 4 Head coach 6 Match officials 7 Competition facts 8 Match-by-match lineups 9 Team facts 11 Legend 13

1 Belgium - Cyprus Saturday 28 March 2015 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels

Previous meetings Head to Head EURO '96 Stage Date Match Result Venue Goalscorers reached Agathocleous 20; De 15/11/1995 PR (GS) Cyprus - Belgium 1-1 Bilde 65 De Bilde 20, 26/04/1995 PR (GS) Belgium - Cyprus 2-0 Brussels Schepens 46

FIFA World Cup Stage Date Match Result Venue Goalscorers reached Scifo 1, 4, 13/02/1993 QR (GS) Cyprus - Belgium 0-3 Czerniatynski 87 22/04/1992 QR (GS) Belgium - Cyprus 1-0 Anderlecht Wilmots 24

FIFA World Cup Stage Date Match Result Venue Goalscorers reached Plessers 13, Vandenbergh 18, 18/02/1981 QR (GS) Belgium - Cyprus 3-2 Brussels Ceulemans 67; Lysandrou 42, Vrahimis 60 Vandenbergh 30, 21/12/1980 QR (GS) Cyprus - Belgium 0-2 Nicosia Ceulemans 68

Final Qualifying Total tournament

Home Away Pld W D L Pld W D L Pld W D L Pld W D L GF GA EURO Belgium 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 - - - - 2 1 1 0 3 1 Cyprus 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 - - - - 2 0 1 1 1 3 FIFA* Belgium 2 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 - - - - 4 4 0 0 9 2 Cyprus 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 2 - - - - 4 0 0 4 2 9 Friendlies Belgium ------1 1 0 0 1 0 Cyprus ------1 0 0 1 0 1 Total Belgium 3 3 0 0 3 2 1 0 - - - - 7 6 1 0 13 3 Cyprus 3 0 1 2 3 0 0 3 - - - - 7 0 1 6 3 13 * FIFA World Cup/FIFA Confederations Cup

2 Belgium - Cyprus Saturday 28 March 2015 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels Match background

Belgium will look to maintain their lengthy unbeaten run in qualifying fixtures as they take on Cyprus in UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying Group B. Previous meetings • Belgium's record in seven games against Cyprus is W6 D1 L0 (W3 D0 L0 at home). • That lone stalemate came in the sides' last competitive meeting, a 1-1 EURO '96 qualifying draw in Nicosia on 15 November 1995. • The teams have not met since the turn of the millennium; their most recent encounter was a 1-0 friendly win for Belgium in Limassol on 3 February 1999. Form guide • Belgium are unbeaten in three Group B games (W1 D2) and 13 qualifying matches in total (W9 D4), having made it to the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals by going through qualifying unbeaten. • Belgium have not conceded more than one goal in 18 competitive outings since a 3-1 loss to Germany in their final UEFA EURO 2012 qualifier. • Cyprus's record in four Group B contests is W2 D0 L2. Their 5-0 success against Andorra last time out ended a five- game sequence without a competitive home win. It was also matched the margin of their biggest victory of all time – another 5-0 success against Andorra, in 2000. Trivia and links • In 14 encounters between these nations in UEFA age-group competitions, the Belgian side has won 12 times and drawn the other two matches. Most recently, Belgium beat Cyprus 2-0 at home and 6-0 away in qualifying for this summer's UEFA European Under-21 Championship. • Cyprus Stathis Aloneftis turns 32 the day after the Belgium game. • In their 5-0 win against Andorra, George Efrem became the first player to score a hat-trick for Cyprus.

3 Belgium - Cyprus Saturday 28 March 2015 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels Squad list

Belgium Current season Overall Qual. FT Team No. Player DoB Age Club D Pld Gls Pld Gls Pld Gls Goalkeepers - Jean-François Gillet 31/05/1979 35 Catania - 0 0 0 0 9 - - 06/08/1988 26 Liverpool - 0 0 0 0 14 - - 11/05/1992 22 Chelsea - 3 0 0 0 27 - Defenders - Olivier Deschacht 16/02/1981 34 Anderlecht - 0 0 0 0 20 - - 20/03/1985 30 Zenit - 3 0 0 0 31 3 - 10/04/1986 28 Man. City - 2 0 0 0 66 4 - 24/10/1987 27 Anderlecht - 1 0 0 0 29 1 Montreal - 05/08/1985 29 - 0 0 0 0 9 - Impact - 02/03/1989 26 Southampton - 3 0 0 0 43 1 - 24/04/1987 27 Tottenham - 3 0 0 0 66 5 - 28/06/1995 19 Celtic - 0 0 0 0 - - - Mousa Dembélé 16/07/1987 27 Tottenham - 0 0 0 0 60 5 - 12/01/1989 26 Zenit - 1 0 0 0 55 6 - 22/11/1987 27 Man. United - 3 0 0 0 60 9 - 07/01/1991 24 Chelsea - 2 0 0 0 53 6 - 04/05/1988 26 Roma - 2 1 0 0 8 2 - 28/06/1991 23 Wolfsburg - 3 2 0 0 30 8 - 06/05/1987 27 Napoli - 3 2 0 0 35 7 - 02/08/1989 25 Tottenham - 2 1 0 0 28 4 Forwards - 03/12/1990 24 Aston Villa - 1 0 0 0 20 6 - 02/10/1993 21 Marseille - 0 0 0 0 - - - Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco 04/09/1993 21 Monaco - 0 0 0 0 - - - 18/04/1995 19 LOSC - 3 1 0 0 13 3 Coach - 22/02/1969 46 - 3 0 0 0 32 -

4 Belgium - Cyprus Saturday 28 March 2015 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels

Cyprus Current season Overall Qual. FT Team No. Player DoB Age Club D Pld Gls Pld Gls Pld Gls Goalkeepers - Tasos Kissas 18/01/1988 27 APOEL - 1 0 0 0 11 - - Andreas Kittou 09/09/1990 24 Paralimni - 0 0 0 0 - - - Kostas Panayi 08/10/1994 20 Omonia - 0 0 0 0 - - Defenders AEK - Elias Charalambous 25/09/1980 34 - 0 0 0 0 65 - - 30/07/1984 30 Apollon - 4 1 0 0 30 1 - 14/05/1990 24 APOEL - 4 0 0 0 6 - - Charis Kyriakou 15/10/1989 25 Omonia - 3 0 0 0 7 - - Valentinos Sielis 01/03/1990 25 AEL - 1 0 0 0 11 - - Kostas Laifis 19/05/1993 21 Anorthosis - 1 0 0 0 1 - AEK - Nikos Englezou 11/07/1993 21 - 0 0 0 0 - - Larnaca - Marios Stylianou 23/09/1993 21 Apollon - 1 0 0 0 2 - Midfielders - Marios Nikolaou 04/10/1983 31 AEL - 4 0 0 0 45 1 Metalurh - Constantinos Makridis 13/01/1982 33 - 3 1 0 0 69 5 Donetsk - George Eleftheriou 30/09/1984 30 AEL - 0 0 0 0 1 - - 09/09/1984 30 Astra * 4 1 0 0 17 2 - Georgios Economides 10/04/1990 24 Omonia - 0 0 0 0 - - - Kostakis Artymatas 15/04/1993 21 APOEL - 0 0 0 0 5 - - Grigoris Kastanos 30/01/1998 17 Juventus - 0 0 0 0 - - Forwards - Georgios Kolokoudias 03/05/1989 25 Ayia Napa - 1 0 0 0 1 - Nea - Costas Mintikkis 14/07/1989 25 - 0 0 0 0 - - Salamis - 13/01/1993 22 APOEL - 2 0 0 0 11 - AEK - Nestor Mytidis 01/06/1991 23 - 1 0 0 0 13 - Larnaca - Antreas Makris 27/11/1995 19 Anorthosis - 2 0 0 0 4 - Coach - Charalampos Christodoulou 17/10/1967 47 - 4 0 0 0 7 -

5 Belgium - Cyprus Saturday 28 March 2015 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels Head coach Marc Wilmots Date of birth: 22 February 1969 Nationality: Belgian Playing career: K. Sint-Truidense VV, KV Mechelen, R. Standard de Liège, FC Schalke 04, FC Girondins de Coaching career: FC Schalke 04, K. Sint-Truidense VV, Belgium • Started out at Sint-Truiden in 1985 and joined Mechelen in 1988, appearing as a substitute in the first leg of that year's UEFA Super Cup as the Belgian side defeated PSV Eindhoven. A forward before later moving into midfield, Wilmots helped Mechelen clinch the Belgian title in 1988/89 ahead of a switch to Standard, where he lifted the in 1993. • Signed for Schalke after five years with Standard, scoring the winner in the first leg of the 1997 UEFA Cup final against FC Internazionale Milano and then converting the decisive spot kick in the second-leg shoot-out. Wilmots ended his career with Schalke – picking up the German Cup in 2002 – after a short stint at Bordeaux. • Notched 28 goals in 70 outings for Belgium, including two at the 1998 FIFA World Cup and three in /Japan in 2002; he also featured at the 1994 World Cup and UEFA EURO 2000. • Took over as Schalke coach after retiring in 2003 but left the post soon afterwards to pursue a career in politics. Serving as a senator in his native Belgium, he then briefly held the reins at Sint-Truiden from 2004 to 2005. • Returned to the dugout in 2009 as assistant to Belgium boss , and later , before his own nomination as head coach in May 2012. Steered his country to the 2014 World Cup in his first qualifying campaign, Belgium going on to reach the quarter-finals in Brazil. Charalambos Christodoulou Date of birth: 17 October 1967 Nationality: Cypriot Playing career: Doxa Katokopia FC, FC, AEK Larnaca FC Coaching career: Doxa Katokopia FC, Olympiakos Nicosia FC, AEL Limassol FC, Anorthosis Famagusta FC • Had a modest career as a defensive midfielder in Cyprus, playing for second-tier Doxa between 1985 and 1989, before a five-year stint with Olympiakos where he reached the 1991 final. He finished his playing days with a solitary season at Larnaca. • Moved into coaching aged 39 and immediately steered Doxa to promotion to the top flight, where they stayed throughout Christodoulou's tenure. Earned a reputation for tactical astuteness and an eye for talent in the Portuguese lower leagues. • Guided Olympiakos to sixth in the First Division during his only campaign at the helm. Was rewarded with a switch to AEL, whom he led to a first Cypriot league title since 1968. Also took them to the 2012 Cypriot Cup final, where they suffered a 1-0 defeat by AC Omonia. • His side were ten minutes from the 2012/13 UEFA Champions League group stage, but RSC Anderlecht struck two late goals to send AEL into the UEFA Europa League. Left the club by mutual consent in October 2012. • Christodoulou's most recent post was a caretaker role at Anorthosis at the end of 2012/13, before his appointment as successor to Cyprus coach Nikos Nioplias in January 2014.

6 Belgium - Cyprus Saturday 28 March 2015 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels Match officials

Referee Ovidiu Haţegan (ROU) Assistant referees Octavian Șovre (ROU) , Radu Ghinguleac (ROU) Additional assistant referees Cristian Balaj (ROU) , Sebastian Colţescu (ROU) Fourth official Sebastian Gheorghe (ROU) UEFA Delegate Karl Espen Eriksen (NOR) UEFA Referee observer Stefan Messner (AUT)

Referee UEFA EURO Name Date of birth UEFA matches matches Ovidiu Haţegan 14/07/1980 3 52

Ovidiu Haţegan Referee since: 1996 First division: 2006 FIFA badge: 2008

Tournaments: 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, 2009 UEFA European Under-19 Championship

Finals N/A

UEFA European Championship matches featuring the two countries involved in this match No such matches refereed Other matches involving teams from either of the two countries involved in this match Stage Date Competition Home Away Result Venue reached 21/03/2008 U17 ELITE Belgium Croatia 0-4 Imotski 17/07/2008 UEL 1QR FK Pelister APOEL FC 0-0 Skopje 06/12/2011 UCL GS APOEL FC FC Shakhtar Donetsk 0-2 Nicosia 01/08/2012 UCL 3QR FC København Club Brugge KV 0-0 28/08/2014 UEL PO Hull City AFC KSC Lokeren OV 2-1 Hull 21/10/2014 UCL GS APOEL FC Saint-Germain 0-1 Nicosia

7 Belgium - Cyprus Saturday 28 March 2015 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels Competition facts

8 Belgium - Cyprus Saturday 28 March 2015 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels Match-by-match lineups Belgium

European Qualifiers Matchday 2 (10/10/2014) Belgium 6-0 Andorra Goals: 1-0 De Bruyne 31 (P) , 2-0 De Bruyne 34, 3-0 Chadli 37, 4-0 Origi 59, 5-0 Mertens 65, 6-0 Mertens 68 Belgium: Courtois, Alderweireld, Lombaerts, Kompany (56 Pocognoli), Vertonghen, Nainggolan, De Bruyne, Mertens, Defour, Origi (66 Lukaku), Chadli (61 Fellaini) Matchday 3 (13/10/2014) Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-1 Belgium Goals: 1-0 Džeko 28, 1-1 Nainggolan 51 Belgium: Courtois, Alderweireld, Lombaerts, Kompany, Vertonghen, Nainggolan, De Bruyne, Lukaku (57 Mertens), E. Hazard, Defour (78 Fellaini), Origi Matchday 4 (16/11/2014) Belgium 0-0 Wales Belgium: Courtois, Alderweireld, Lombaerts, Vertonghen, Witsel, De Bruyne, Fellaini, E. Hazard, Origi (73 Mertens (89 Januzaj)), Vanden Borre, Chadli (62 Benteke) Matchday 5 (28/03/2015) Belgium-Cyprus Matchday 5 * (31/03/2015) * Match rescheduled from MD1 Israel-Belgium Matchday 6 (12/06/2015) Wales-Belgium Matchday 7 (03/09/2015) Belgium-Bosnia and Herzegovina Matchday 8 (06/09/2015) Cyprus-Belgium Matchday 9 (10/10/2015) Andorra-Belgium Matchday 10 (13/10/2015) Belgium-Israel Cyprus

European Qualifiers Matchday 1 (09/09/2014) Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-2 Cyprus Goals: 1-0 Ibišević 6, 1-1 Christofi 45, 1-2 Christofi 73 Cyprus: Giorgallides, Dossa Júnior, Merkis, Aloneftis (46 Charalambides), Kyriakou, Christofi, Makridis (83 Sielis), Laban, Antoniades, Efrem (71 Alexandrou), Nikolaou Matchday 2 (10/10/2014) Cyprus 1-2 Israel Goals: 0-1 Damari 38, 0-2 Ben Haim II 45, 1-2 Makridis 67 Cyprus: Giorgallides, Dossa Júnior, Merkis, Christofi, Charalambides (46 Sotiriou), Makridis, Laban, Antoniades, Stylianou (46 Kyriakou), Makris (70 Alexandrou), Nikolaou Matchday 3 (13/10/2014) Wales 2-1 Cyprus Goals: 1-0 Cotterrill 13, 2-0 Robson-Kanu 23, 2-1 Laban 36 Cyprus: Kissas, Dossa Júnior (29 Angeli (85 Papathanasiou)), Merkis, Kyriakou, Christofi, Makridis, Laban, Antoniades, Efrem, Sotiriou, Nikolaou (68 Alexandrou)

9 Belgium - Cyprus Saturday 28 March 2015 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels

Matchday 4 (16/11/2014) Cyprus 5-0 Andorra Goals: 1-0 Merkis 9, 2-0 Efrem 31, 3-0 Efrem 42, 4-0 Efrem 60, 5-0 Christofi 87 (P) Cyprus: Giorgallides, Demetriou, Merkis, Angeli, Aloneftis (46 Makris), Christofi, Mytidis (63 Kolokoudias), Laban, Antoniades, Efrem (78 Laifis), Nikolaou Matchday 5 (28/03/2015) Belgium-Cyprus Matchday 6 (12/06/2015) Andorra-Cyprus Matchday 7 (03/09/2015) Cyprus-Wales Matchday 8 (06/09/2015) Cyprus-Belgium Matchday 9 (10/10/2015) Israel-Cyprus Matchday 10 (13/10/2015) Cyprus-Bosnia and Herzegovina

10 Belgium - Cyprus Saturday 28 March 2015 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels Team facts

UEFA European Championship records: Belgium History 2012 – did not qualify 2008 – did not qualify 2004 – did not qualify 2000 – group stage 1996 – did not qualify 1992 – did not qualify 1988 – did not qualify 1984 – group stage 1980 – runners-up 1976 – did not qualify 1972 – third 1968 – did not qualify 1964 – did not qualify 1960 – did not participate Final tournament win 2-0: Belgium v Yugoslavia, 13/06/84 Final tournament loss 5-0: France v Belgium, 16/06/84 Qualifying win 6-0: Belgium v Andorra, 10/10/14 0-6: Luxembourg v Belgium, 14/10/86 Qualifying loss 5-0: Netherlands v Belgium, 25/04/76 Final tournament appearances 7: 7: Jean-Marie Pfaff 7: René Vandereycken 6: Final tournament goals 2: Jan Ceulemans 1: 11 players Overall appearances 29: 27: 26: Jan Ceulemans 22: Jean-Marie Pfaff 22: 22: François Van Der Elst 22: Overall goals 9: François Van Der Elst 8: 7: 7: 7: Erwin Vandenbergh 6: Jan Ceulemans 6: Johan Devrindt 6:

UEFA European Championship records: Cyprus History 2012 – did not qualify

11 Belgium - Cyprus Saturday 28 March 2015 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels

2008 – did not qualify 2004 – did not qualify 2000 – did not qualify 1996 – did not qualify 1992 – did not qualify 1988 – did not qualify 1984 – did not qualify 1980 – did not qualify 1976 – did not qualify 1972 – did not qualify 1968 – did not qualify 1964 – did not participate 1960 – did not participate Qualifying win 4-0: Cyprus v San Marino, 10/02/99 Qualifying loss 8-0: Spain v Cyprus, 08/09/99 8-0: Netherlands v Cyprus, 28/10/87 Overall appearances 31: 27: Charalambos Pittas 23: Nikos Pantziaras 23: Constantinos Charalambides 22: Yiannakis Yiangoudakis 21: 21: Nicos Panagiotou 20: Georgios Savvides 20: Constantinos Makridis Overall goals 10: Ioannis Okkas 8: Michalis Konstantinou 4: Stathis Aloneftis 4: Milenko Špoljarić 3: Marios Agathocleous 3: Constantinos Charalambides

12 Belgium - Cyprus Saturday 28 March 2015 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels Legend

:: Previous meetings

Goals for/against: Goal totals include the outcome of disciplinary decisions (e.g. match forfeits when a 3-0 result is determined). Goals totals do not include goals scored during a penalty shoot-out after a tie ended in a draw

:: Squad list

Qual.: Total European Qualifiers appearances/goals for UEFA EURO 2020 only. FT: Total UEFA EURO 2020 appearances/goals in final tournament only. Overall: Total international appearances/goals. DoB: Date of birth Age: Based on the date press kit was last updated D: Disciplinary (*: misses next match if booked, S: suspended)

:: Team facts

EURO finals: The UEFA European Championship was a four-team event in 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972 and 1976 (when the preliminary round and quarter-finals were considered part of qualifying).

From 1980 it was expanded to an eight-team finals and remained in that format in 1984, 1988 and 1992 until 1996, when the 16-team format was adopted. UEFA EURO 2016 was the first tournament to be played as a 24-team finals.

Records of inactive countries A number of UEFA associations have been affected by dissolution or splits of member associations. For statistical purposes, the records of these inactive countries have been allocated elsewhere: therefore, all Soviet Union matches are awarded to Russia; all West Germany – but not East Germany – matches are awarded to Germany; all Yugoslavia and Serbia & Montenegro matches are awarded to Serbia; all Czechoslovakia matches are allocated to both the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Abandoned/forfeited matches For statisical purposes, when a match has been started and then abandoned but later forfeited, the result on the pitch at the time of abandonment is counted. Matches that never started and were either cancelled or forfeited are not included in the overall statistics. Competitions Other abbreviations (aet): After extra time pens: Penalties No.: Number og: Own goal ag: Match decided on away goals P: Penalty agg: Aggregate Pld: Matches played AP: Appearances Pos.: Position Comp.: Competition Pts: Points D: Drawn R: Sent off (straight red card) DoB: Date of birth Res.: Result ET: Extra Time sg: Match decided by silver goal GA: Goals against t: Match decided by toss of a coin GF: Goals for W: Won gg: Match decided by golden goal Y: Booked L: Lost Y/R: Sent off (two yellow cards) Nat.: Nationality N/A: Not applicable Disclaimer: Although UEFA has taken all reasonable care that the information contained within this document is accurate at the time of publication, no representation or guarantee (including liability towards third parties), expressed or implied, is made as to its accuracy, reliability or completeness. Therefore, UEFA assumes no liability for the use or interpretation of information contained herein. More information can be found in the competition regulations available on UEFA.com.

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