Have Cyprus ever come close to qualifying for a major football tournament?

Watching underdogs and debutants like Cape Verde, Haiti, Jordan, and Curaçao not only participate but hold their own against elite opposition at this summer’s World Cup is truly inspiring. But it also prompts a familiar question for local fans: will we ever see Cyprus competing in the finals of a major international tournament?

Providing a definitive answer to that question would require a crystal ball and a deep analysis of the current state of Cypriot football. However, today we can look...