Cyprus' Charalambous back for Euro 2012 qualifiers

Published Sep. 30, 2011 3:20 p.m. ET

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Veteran defender Elias Charalambous returns to the Cyprus squad that will take on Denmark and Norway in its last two European Championship qualifiers next month.

Charalambous got the call-up from Cyprus coach Nikos Nioplias on Friday. The 31-year-old defender signed a two-year contract with Alki earlier this month after being let go by Omonia in the off-season.

Nioplias is looking to shore up his back line and avoid a repeat of the 4-0 trouncing Portugal dealt his side at home earlier this month.

Georgios Pelagias, a defender who plays for Italian 2nd division club S.S. Barletta, has also been added to the squad.

Nioplias will again be without the services of his top forward Efstathios Aloneftis, who is not yet match-fit after only recently re-signing with his club Omonia.

Midfielder Konstantinos Makridis will sit out the Denmark match after receiving a second yellow card in a Sept. 6 qualifier against Iceland.

Cyprus has two points from six Group H qualifying matches, but could play the role of spoiler to Denmark and Norway, who are tied with Portugal on 13 points.

Cyprus plays Denmark at home on Oct. 7 and Norway in Oslo four days later.

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Squad:

Goalkeepers: Antonis Giorgallides (Omonia), Tasos Kissas (APOEL)

Defenders: Savvas Poursaitides (APOEL), Stelios Parpas (AEL), Elias Charalambous (Alki), George Merkis (Apollon Limassol), Nectarios Alexandrou (APOEL), Georgios Pelagias (S.S. Barletta Calcio)

Midfielders: Constantinos Charalambides (APOEL), Konstantinos Makridis (Omonia), Jason Demetriou (AEK Larnaca), Sinisa Dobrasinovic (Alki), Kyriakos Pavlou (AEK Larnaca), Marios Nicolaou (AEL), Athos Solomou (APOEL), Marinos Satsias (APOEL)

Forwards: Michael Constantinou (Anorthosis Famagusta), Demetris Christofi (Omonia), Ioannis Okkas (Anorthosis Famagusta), George Efrem (Omonia), Andreas Avraam (Omonia), Andreas Stavrou (Apollon Limassol)