Cyprus vs Spain - Euro 2024 qualifier: TV channel, team news, lineups & prediction
- Spain have already qualified for Euro 2024 in Germany
- Cyprus are winless and guaranteed to finish bottom of Group A
- Spain are locked in a battle with Scotland for top spot
Spain travel to Cyprus for a Euro 2024 qualifier on Thursday afternoon with their place in Germany next summer already secured.
Luis de la Fuente's side rose above the self-inflicted turmoil raging across the Spanish football association following Luis Rubiales' diabolical departure to qualify for the upcoming Euros with a 1-0 win over Norway last month.
Cyprus, by stark contrast, sit bottom of Group A with a demoralising return of zero points from seven games. While this is an exercise in damage limitation for the nation managed by former Newcastle United forward Temuri Ketsbaia, Spain still have their seeding at the finals to worry about.
With two qualifiers left to play, Scotland have the same points tally as Spain (15). Both encounters between these nations ended in 2-0 wins for the home side, leaving goal difference - rather than head-to-head results - as the tiebreaker.
Yet, to be a group winner is not enough to guarantee a place in the Pot 1 for the draw in Germany. Only half of the first-placed teams in each of the ten groups earn passage into the top pot, with each group winner judged by their overall record in qualifying.
Here's everything you need to know about a match which carries plenty of importance for Spain.
Where are Cyprus vs Spain playing?
- Location: Limassol, Cyprus
- Stadium: Alphamega Stadium
- Date: Thursday 16 November
- Kick-off Time: 17:00 GMT / 12:00 ET / 09:00 PT
- Referee: Mykola Balakin (UKR)
- VAR: Kateryna Monzul (UKR)
Cyprus vs Spain H2H Record (Last Five Games)
- Cyprus: 1 win
- Spain: 4 wins
- Draws: 0
- Last meeting: Spain 6-0 Cyprus (Euro 2024 qualifier) - 12 September 2023
Current Form (Last Five Games)
- Cyprus: LLLLL
- Spain: WWWWW
How to watch Cyprus vs Spain on TV and live stream
Country | TV channel/live stream |
|---|---|
United Kingdom | Viaplay UK, Viaplay Sports 2 |
United States | ViX |
Canada | DAZN |
Cyprus team news
Ketsbaia can only call upon one player currently plying their trade within one of Europe's top five leagues; Salernitana's Grigoris Kastanos - who scored Cyprus' most recent qualifying goal back in June.
The versatile midfielder, who came through Juventus' youth setup, is hardly a reliable source of goals. Cyprus boast the second-worst shot conversion rate across the continental qualifiers - behind only the goalless Gibraltar - and their attack has been blunted further by the absence of Pieros Sotiriou.
The 30-year-old striker captained his nation when they travelled to Spain in September but missed the October internationals through injury and was overlooked for this month's fixtures.
Cyprus predicted lineup vs Spain
Cyprus predicted lineup (5-3-2): Mall; Andreou, Karo, Kyprianou, Gogic, Ioannou; Kyriakou, Spoljaric, Kousoulos; Kastanos, Kakoullis
Spain team news
Valencia skipper Jose Gaya was an injury doubt heading into the international break after damaging his knee during a 5-1 thrashing against Real Madrid last Saturday. However, the impact was less severe than first feared and he remains part of De la Fuente's squad.
Alejandro Grimaldo could earn his senior debut at left-back in place of Gaya. The former Barcelona youth team player has excelled for Xabi Alonso's Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen this season. Despite regularly posting impressive assist statistics in the Portuguese top flight, the 28-year-old has been overlooked until his summer move from Benfica to Bayer. Barcelona full-back Alejandro Balde was controversially left out of this month's squad.
High-flying Real Sociedad, who sit atop their Champions League group ahead of last season's finalists Inter, boast five players in the squad, more than any other club. Real Madrid can only produce two internationals; Joselu and Dani Carvajal.
Only Italy have used more players in this qualifying process than Spain, with De la Fuente cycling through the riches at his disposal.
Spain predicted lineup vs Cyprus
Spain predicted lineup (4-3-3): Simon; Carvajal, Le Normand, Martinez, Grimaldo; Gavi, Rodri, Merino; Yamal, Morata, Oyarzabal
Cyprus vs Spain score prediction
As has been proven under numerous coaches over several years since the golden vintage of a decade ago, Spain are capable of coming unstuck against theoretically inferior opposition if they are well-organised and a threat on the counter. Cyprus are neither.
Ranked 124th in the world, sat snugly between Malawi and Zimbabwe, Cyprus are at a painfully low ebb. Winless throughout the entirety of 2023, with seven defeats from eight matches, the Mediterranean island's wait for a victory is all but certain to drag on.
Prediction: Cyprus 0-3 Spain
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