Greece turn down invitation to play Cyprus in coming event
 | Greece turn down invitation to play Cyprus in coming event |  |
 Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 3:15 pm |
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| Simon |
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THE MANAGER of the Greek national football team has snubbed Cyprus, demanding that Greece and Cyprus be kept apart in the upcoming Cyprus Football Association (CFA) International tournament.
Tassos Katsikides, president of the CFA’s National Teams Committee, told the Cyprus Mail that, “a request was made to the Hellenic Football Federation for the two sides to meet, but Greek manager Otto Rehhagel refused, saying the two sides could be drawn to face each other in the same Euro 2008 qualifying group.
“When the draw was made, Greece and Cyprus were kept apart, so we really wanted to play against them and made another request to the Greek Federation.
“But again, the answer was no, and we were left disappointed. However, I would like to stress that there is no problem between the Cyprus Football Association and the Hellenic Football Federation. Our relationship has always been good and will continue to be good.”
European champions Greece are among the sides involved in the tournament, which is billed as a warm-up for Euro 2008.
The tournament is taking place between February 27 and March 2, with matches due to be played in Nicosia, Limassol and Larnaca.
A total of eight teams will be taking part and they are: Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Slovenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Finland and Armenia.
The teams have been divided into two groups of four, with the top-placed side in each section being declared joint tournament winners. Each country will play two games.
The first matches will take place on February 28. In Group 1, Greece take on Belarus while Finland face Kazakhstan. Cyprus are in Group 2 and will play Slovenia while Romania do battle with Armenia. Both groups conclude on March 1, with the two winners from the first fixtures in the pools meeting while the two losers fight it out for the right to finish third.
Despite the disappointment, Katsikides said: “It’s an honour to be hosting the European champions. It is irrelevant that Greece will not meet Cyprus, the fact is they will be here and our fans can go and see them. It will be a very strong tournament.”
APOEL fan Petros Ioannou couldn’t disguise his anger though. “I find it extremely insulting that Rehhagel doesn’t want to face Cyprus. I, along with thousands of other Cypriot fans, flew to Portugal to support Greece during their triumph in 2004, and this is how he thanks us.
“I think the Hellenic Football Federation should do something about it. How can the coach of a team decide which side he wants to play against in a tournament?
“The Cyprus Football Association obviously are more than happy to buckle to his demands and I feel betrayed.”
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Can anybody explain to me why Greece's manager, who typically is not Greek, would refuse such a request? |
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| Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 10:56 pm |
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| Sotos |
| professor |
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| Joined: 17 Aug 2005 |
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| No clue. Very strange indeed! Maybe he thinks we are too weak for his team? |
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| Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 11:17 pm |
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| bigfatlondonboy |
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| i think he is worried in case cyprus win..... |
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| Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2006 5:06 am |
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| Venizelist |
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| Sotos wrote: |
| Maybe he thinks we are too weak for his team? |
Thats obsurd. He doesn't consider any team too weak for Greece to play. |
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Last edited by Venizelist on Fri Feb 10, 2006 5:14 am; edited 1 time in total |
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| Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2006 5:12 am |
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| Venizelist |
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| bigfatlondonboy wrote: |
| i think he is worried in case cyprus win..... |
Cyprus has great strikers but they can't work well as a team and most of their defenders tend to play a striking role throughout games. |
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| Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2006 5:35 am |
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| Agios Amvrosios |
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Greece is Playing Australia in a friendly in Melbourne in May 06. Prepare for CHAOS.
Tickets in the 100,000 seat MCG are expected to sell out in minutes |
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| Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2006 5:37 am |
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| KONSTANTINOU |
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| THE German is afraid to play Cyprus in case they lose they would eat him alive in Greece if they lost...Two years ago we defeated Greece in Crete with goals from Okkas and Iokiem...... |
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| Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2006 6:09 am |
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| Main_Source |
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Come on, stop hating on Rehagel...he did the unthinkable a couple of years ago. Im sure there is a very rational explanation which the papers havent discovered yet.
Surprised Kazakstahn is in the tournament, thought they had Turkey's back on everything political and didnt recognise Cyprus...or maybe thats the 'thoroughly truthful' Turkish media telling us that.
Anyway, shame there arent any big European teams in the tournament. Even one would have been good. |
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| Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2006 3:12 am |
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| Venizelist |
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| KONSTANTINOU wrote: |
| THE German is afraid to play Cyprus in case they lose they would eat him alive in Greece if they lost...Two years ago we defeated Greece in Crete with goals from Okkas and Iokiem...... |
We have a lot more wins against you guys than you have against us  But I hope the Cypriots do well in their friendlies. I also wish the Cypriots luck in qualifying to Euro 2008. I know it's gonna be hard but you guys have a chance of going 3rd in your group which will take you directly to a play off. Howevor anything can happen in football so the Cypriots might actually snatch 1st place in the group. |
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| Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2006 3:16 am |
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| Patto |
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| Joined: 04 Nov 2005 |
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| Location: Scarborough, England :( Rather Be in Limassol |
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| just so u know 3rd place dont get play-off spot. infact there is no play-off. its 1st and 2nd go straight through |
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