Cyprus vs Norway prediction: EUROPE: Euro – Qualification betting tips on match 2023-10-11 18:45.
Cyprus manager Temur Ketsbaia described playing against Spain as “an extra motivation”, but his side failed to rally behind him, losing 6-0 last month. Rooted to the bottom of Group A in UEFA European Championship qualifying after losing all five of their games, they will be mathematically out of top-two contention if they don’t beat Norway or if Spain avoid defeat against Scotland.
It’s only a theoretical chance of qualifying for the play-offs that they are clinging on to, as the Cypriots have now lost eight Euro qualifiers in a row since their last win four years ago in Kazakhstan. Having conceded 17 and scored just two in this campaign, the hosts are coming up short both defensively and offensively, with the team now odds on to extend their run of never making the European finals.
Norway won the return fixture 3-1 and arrive in Larnaca on a three-match winning streak, but boss StĂĄle Solbakken will still be disappointed about the 2-1 loss to Scotland in June, with two goals conceded after the 85th minute. Subsequent victories over Cyprus and Georgia keep the Scandinavians in the hunt for a top-two finish, but with Scotland boasting a 100% record in the group and Spain two points ahead of Norway with a game in hand on them, Solbakken and his squad will be hoping the three-time Euro winners slip up again at home to the leaders on Thursday night.
Norway need to be in a position to cash in, but their away form has been anything but morale-boosting. They have won just two of their last nine away Euro qualifiers (D3, L4), although history suggests this trip might be a pleasant one, having won each of the 12 H2Hs, scoring 2.6 goals per match on average in that sequence.
Players to watch: A goal from Pieros Sotiriou could be a good omen for Cyprus, who have gone unbeaten in his last six scoring appearances (W4, D2). For Norway, goal machine Erling Haaland is coming off a rare three-game scoring drought for Manchester City, but has netted four times in his last three Euro qualifiers, including a brace in the reverse fixture.
Hot stat: Five of Norway’s last six Euro qualifiers have seen at least one goal scored in or after the 85th minute.