Irish rivals tipped to trounce San Marino
But Cyprus boss Angelos Anastasiadis warned his players they must not underestimate the minnows.
“Every player must be aware that these games will be hard,” Anastasiadis said.
Cyprus fans will see it as an opportunity for their team to boost their points total in a pool which also includes Germany and the Czech Republic.
Anastasiadis has selection worries, with APOEL duo Konstantinos Makrides and Michalis Morfis ruled out. San Marino have lost all six of their group games and have a -35 goal difference.
Meanwhile Northern Ireland boss Nigel Worthington admits the prospect of managing his country for the first time is as thrilling as his first cap.
The former international captain makes his bow on Wednesday after succeeding Lawrie Sanchez by leading the team against Liechtenstein at Windsor Park in a Group F qualifier.
Worthington has already made his mark in three days of training, according to record scorer David Healy.
“The manager has been like a little kid in training, ” he claimed. “It is as if he is about to win his first cap.”
Worthington agreed: “It is always nice to represent your country.”
Completing the double over Liechtenstein will see Northern Ireland leapfrog Spain and move into second spot behind Sweden.
Serbia and Portugal are looking to make up ground on Group A leaders Poland when they play Group A qualifying games today.
The two are five points behind the Poles, who have played two more games.
Portugal travel to Armenia while Serbia go to Belgium.
Serbia could extinguish Belgium’s hopes of qualifying with victory in Brussels.
In the same group Finland face Kazakhstan tonight. The Finns are seven points behind the chasing pack and are without Mikael Forssell for the home clash with Kazakhstan.
In Group E Estonia face Andorra today.
Meanwhile England boss Steve McClaren will not be worried if Michael Owen fails to repeat his hat-trick heroics against Germany tonight as long as England’s top striker has his shooting boots on against Israel and Russia next month.
After making a long-awaited season’s bow for Newcastle against Aston Villa at the weekend, Owen will feature in a Wembley encounter which is merely a stepping stone to the key Euro 2008 double-header on home soil in September.
Owen’s return has extra significance with Wayne Rooney sidelined for two months with a broken foot.
“Michael is a big player for us,” said McClaren.
“When he came back in the summer, he looked really sharp, if anything better than he was before.
“Every team needs a world-class goalscorer and we have Michael.
“Tomorrow represents an ideal opportunity to give him minutes on the pitch and get some more match practice under his belt in preparation for three weeks when we play Israel and Russia next month.”
Owen could find himself paired with Newcastle team-mate Alan Smith.
The other realistic option is Peter Crouch, even though the Liverpool forward has been restricted to just one start and a substitute appearance by Reds boss Rafael Benitez this term and is also suspended for the Israel encounter.
David Beckham is likely to figure even though he has a troublesome ankle injury.
As skipper John Terry is expected to partner Rio Ferdinand in central defence, man-of-the-moment Micah Richards is expected to start at right back, with Ashley Cole completing the defensive quartet.
Elsewhere Scotland manager Alex McLeish has revealed Kenny Miller’s name would have been the first on his team-sheet for tonight’s friendly against South Africa even if he had not rediscovered his goalscoring touch at Celtic.
The striker was on target in the 4-1 win over Falkirk, before inspiring the 3-1 victory at Aberdeen at the weekend by coming off the bench to claim a double.
His return to form has come at exactly the right time as far as McLeish is concerned, with vital Euro 2008 qualifiers against Lithuania and France looming next month.
“It wasn’t a weight off my mind that he scored some goals. I’m sure it was reassurance for Kenny but, at the same time, he has never let Scotland down.” said McLeish.
Danny Gabbidon will captain Wales in his first game of the season against Bulgaria. It will be Wales’ first game since Ryan Giggs retired and Gabbidon said: “We now have to step up as far as Wales is concerned to prove that there is life without Ryan Giggs.”
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