Cyprus stars in line for cup bonus

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NICOSIA, Cyprus -- The Cypriot Football Association is contemplating giving victory bonuses to its national side after a 1-1 draw with Germany in European Championship Group D qualifying on Wednesday.

Each player in Angelos Anastassiades' squad is eligible for a home draw bonus of 750 pounds ($1,666) but it could double to 1,500 pounds, standard for a win bonus, Cyprus FA chairman Costakis Koutsokoumnis said.

"We are considering an extra bonus because the result was very very significant for Cyprus football. This is a way for us to show our appreciation," he told Reuters.

Cyprus ended new Germany coach Joachim Loew's perfect record thanks to Yiannakis Okkas's volley just before halftime, the first time the Germans have conceded a goal to Cyprus.

The result followed the surprise 5-2 demolition of Ireland in October. Cyprus's qualifying campaign had an awful start when they were thumped 6-1 by Slovakia.

Cypriot newspapers lavished praise on the team on Thursday and it was headline news on radio bulletins.

"David intercepted Goliath," wrote the daily Simerini. "God didn't want us to lose," it added as a tongue-in-cheek reference to Anastassiades.

The Greek coach is deeply religious and frequently mentions God in his public comments. He didn't fail to deliver at his post-match news conference.

"I have to thank God because he gave these lads the strength to clear their mind, to change the way they play and do something very simple; make the ball roll," he said.

Michael Ballack, celebrating his 75th international appearance, put the visitors ahead in the 15th minute of the Group D match but there were few other clear chances for a Germany team missing a number of players.

After four games Germany have 10 points and are level on points with fellow group heavyweights Czech Republic.

Cyprus are fourth with four points behind Slovakia on six.

Started brightly

The Cypriots, who have already beaten Ireland 5-2 in this campaign, started brightly with Efstathios Aloneftis racing down the left and sending in a cross that Manuel Friedrich did well to cut out in the first minute.

Germany were missing regulars like goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, midfielder Tim Borowski and striker Lukas Podolski yet they were quickly able to take control and went ahead.

Torsten Frings and Bastian Schweinsteiger looked to have made a mess of a short free kick but Ballack ran on to the misplaced pass, rounded one player and sent in a shot just inside the keeper's right-hand post.

It was a 35th Germany goal for Ballack and looked likely to set the team on the way to a fourth win out of four in Group D, and a sixth in six games under Loew.

Instead, Germany let their concentration wander and paid the price when Aloneftis made ground on the left and crossed for Okkas to blast in first time from the edge of the area two minutes before the break.

"We weren't precise enough and we weren't fully concentrated," said Loew, who stepped up to replace Juergen Klinsmann after Germany's run to third place at the World Cup. "But we can live with this result."

The start of the second half was held up when a spectator ran on to the field and stuffed the ball under his T-shirt.

When it did begin, Cyprus attacked once again with conviction and were almost rewarded in the 50th minute.

Clemens Fritz played a weak back pass to Hildebrand and his hurried clearance struck Constantinos Charalambides.

The attacker looked likely to have a simple chance to put Cyprus ahead as he raced for the loose ball but Fritz was quick to get back and clear.

Germany gradually improved with Ballack and substitute striker Mike Hanke both going close before Schweinsteiger was just wide with a point-blank strike a minute from time.

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