Kuhn sticks to young guns

Switzerland v Cyprus: Switzerland coach Kobi Kuhn is expected to name a similar team to the one that had a scoreless draw with…

Switzerland v Cyprus: Switzerland coach Kobi Kuhn is expected to name a similar team to the one that had a scoreless draw with France for their qualifier with Israel.

Arsenal defender Philippe Senderos and Reto Ziegler of Tottenham Hotspur could be given their second starts by Kuhn in this evening's game in Zurich.

The pair impressed on their international debuts last Saturday as a well-organised Swiss side held the French and after the game Kuhn heaped praise on his young players.

"This is a good result for our part," Kuhn said. "It's particularly important for our young players. I'm proud of them. There is still a long road ahead of us too. There are six matches to play and we can expect tough ones. We won't take anything lightly."

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Cyprus will be without first-choice goalkeeper Antonis Georgallides, who pulled a thigh muscle during last Saturday's friendly game against Jordan.

Georgallides limped off in the first half of Cyprus's 2-1 win in Larnaca and will be replaced by veteran Nicos Panagiotou, with Michalis Morphis coming into the squad as number two.

The game is coach Angelos Anastasiadis's competitive debut, and the Greek trainer has called up striker Efstathios Aloneftis, midfielder Petros Filaniotis and debutant Andreas Constantinou.

SWITZERLAND (Probable): Zuberbuhler, Degen, Muller, Senderos, Cabanas, Lonfat, Spycher, Vogel, Ziegler, Frei, Gygax.

CYPRUS (Squad): Panagiotou, Morphis, Satsias, Okkarides, Lambrou, Louca, Constantinou, Michael, Charalambidis, Elias, Garpozis, Krassas, Makrides, Filaniotis, Goumenos, Velis, Okkas, Constantinou, Yiasemakis, Aloneftis.