Moldova national under-21 football team

The Moldova national under-21 football team represents Moldova in international football at this age level and is controlled by the Moldovan Football Federation, the governing body for football in Moldova. The team is considered to be the feeder team for the senior Moldovan national football team. The team competes to qualify for the UEFA European Under-21 Championship, held every two years. Since the establishment of the Moldovan under-21 team, the under-21 side has never reached a final tournament of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship, but has produced many players, who have become regular internationals for the senior side. The team is coached by Ștefan Stoica.[1][2]

Moldova Under-21
Nickname(s)Tricolorii mici (The Young Tricolours)
AssociationMoldovan Football Federation (FMF)
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Head coachȘtefan Stoica
CaptainArtiom Dijinari
Home stadiumZimbru Stadium
Nisporeni Central Stadium
FIFA codeMDA
First colours
Second colours
First international
 Moldova 0–1 Belarus 
(Chișinău, Moldova; 30 August 1992)
Biggest win
 Moldova 5–1 Georgia 
(Valletta, Malta; 27 February 2006)
 Gibraltar 0–4 Moldova 
(Gibraltar; 29 March 2022)
Biggest defeat
 Greece 8–0 Moldova 
(Sparta, Greece; 23 October 1996)
Websitefmf.md (in Romanian)

This team is for Moldovan players aged 21 or under at the start of a two-year European Under-21 Championship campaign, so players can be, and often are, up to 23 years old. Players born on or after 1 January 2002 are eligible for the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification.

Moldova U21s began their first competitive campaign in 1994, in which they tried to qualify for the 1996 finals. They eventually finished fourth in a five-team group, with two wins out of eight games. The U-21 team plays its home matches in many different venues all around the country, including Chișinău, Orhei and Tiraspol.

Results and fixtures

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The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

  Win   Draw   Loss

2024

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21 March 2024 (2024-03-21) Friendly Hungary   2–0   Moldova Budapest, Hungary
Kerezsi   54'
Jurek   90+2'
Report Stadium: Hidegkuti Nándor Stadion
Attendance: 800
Referee: Walter Altmann (Austria)
25 March 2024 (2024-03-25) 2025 UEFA Euro Under-21 qualifying Moldova   0–3   Netherlands Chișinău, Moldova
Report Rensch   7'
Manhoef   45+1'
Van Bommel   49'
Stadium: Stadionul Zimbru
Attendance: 1,473
Referee: Henrik Nalbandyan (Armenia)
11 June 2024 (2024-06-11) Friendly Slovakia   0–1   Moldova Senec, Slovakia
Report Răileanu   19' (pen.) Stadium: NTC Senec
Attendance: 338
Referee: Jakob Semler (Austria)
5 September 2024 (2024-09-05) 2025 UEFA Euro Under-21 qualifying Georgia   3–0   Moldova Batumi, Georgia
Mamageishvili   14'
Kvernadze   49'
Abuashvili   72'
Report Stadium: Adjarabet Arena
Attendance: 5,250
Referee: Radoslav Gidzhenov (Bulgaria)
10 September 2024 (2024-09-10) 2025 UEFA Euro Under-21 qualifying Moldova   0–0   Sweden Nisporeni, Moldova
Report Stadium: Nisporeni Central Stadium
Attendance: 2,070
Referee: Sayat Karabayev (Kazakhstan)
11 October 2024 (2024-10-11) 2025 UEFA Euro Under-21 qualifying North Macedonia   2–1   Moldova Skopje, North Macedonia
Feta   11'
Kamberi   90+4'
Report Răileanu   90+5' Stadium: Petar Miloševski Training Centre
Attendance: 280
Referee: Martin Dohal (Slovakia)
15 November 2024 (2024-11-15) Friendly Albania   1–1   Moldova Tirana, Albania
Rashica   10' (pen.) Report Costin   79' Stadium: Vora Stadium
Referee: Ermis Çelaj (Albania)
18 November 2024 (2024-11-18) Friendly Albania   4–0   Moldova Tirana, Albania
Rashica   17'
Ismaili   55'
Rama   88'
Daka   90+3'
Report Stadium: Vora Stadium
Referee: Olsion Yzeiraj (Albania)

2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification

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Group C

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Netherlands 10 10 0 0 32 3 +29 30 Final tournament
2   Georgia 10 6 1 3 14 10 +4 19 Play-offs
3   Sweden 10 5 2 3 25 10 +15 17
4   North Macedonia 10 4 0 6 8 15 −7 12
5   Moldova 10 2 1 7 7 20 −13 7
6   Gibraltar 10 1 0 9 3 31 −28 3
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Coaching staff

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Current coaching staff

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Position Staff
Head coach   Ștefan Stoica
Assistant coach   Simeon Bulgaru
Goalkeeping coach   Serghei Botnaraș

Last updated: 11 October 2024
Source: FMF

Manager history

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Coach Nat. Period
Anatol Teslev   1995–1996
Alexandru Spiridon   2000–2001
Alexandru Guzun   2002–2003
Vladimir Vusatîi   2003–2004
Boris Tropaneț   2004–2007
Ilie Carp   2007–2008
Sergiu Chirilov   2008–2011
Alexandru Curtianu   2011–2014
Igor Ursachi   2014–2015
Dănuț Oprea   2015–2017
Serghei Cleșcenco   2019–2020
Alexandru Guzun   2020
Ștefan Stoica   2021–present

Players

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Current squad

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The following players were selected for the friendly matches against Albania on 15 and 18 November 2024.

Caps and goals are correct as of 18 November 2024, after the match against Albania.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Victor Dodon (2004-03-01) 1 March 2004 (age 20) 5 0   Petrocub Hîncești
12 1GK Daniel Vîrlan (2005-09-18) 18 September 2005 (age 19) 0 0   Spartanii Sportul
23 1GK Artur Nazarciuc (2004-01-06) 6 January 2004 (age 20) 1 0   Bălți

3 2DF Cristian Martin (2004-12-22) 22 December 2004 (age 19) 2 0   Gilortul Târgu Cărbunești
4 2DF Vlad Coliș (2004-01-24) 24 January 2004 (age 20) 4 0   Dacia Buiucani
5 2DF Artiom Dijinari (captain) (2005-10-26) 26 October 2005 (age 19) 6 0   Sheriff Tiraspol U19
15 2DF Danila Forov (2004-01-07) 7 January 2004 (age 20) 4 0   Sheriff Tiraspol
19 2DF Vladislav Costin (2004-02-24) 24 February 2004 (age 20) 2 1   Sheriff-2 Tiraspol

2 3MF Vitalie Dumbrava (2004-04-23) 23 April 2004 (age 20) 2 0   Dacia Buiucani
6 3MF Alexandru Gău (2004-01-27) 27 January 2004 (age 20) 3 0   Bălți
7 3MF Ștefan Bîtca (2005-09-25) 25 September 2005 (age 19) 4 0   Zimbru Chișinău
8 3MF Cristian Păscăluță (2005-09-08) 8 September 2005 (age 19) 8 0   Spartanii Sportul
13 3MF Vasile Luchița (2004-07-16) 16 July 2004 (age 20) 2 0   Milsami Orhei
16 3MF Marius Ursu (2005-01-01) 1 January 2005 (age 19) 1 0   Bacău
17 3MF Serghei Țurcan (2004-07-27) 27 July 2004 (age 20) 3 0   Spartanii Sportul
18 3MF Vasile Bîtlan (2004-01-31) 31 January 2004 (age 20) 1 0   Fratria
20 3MF Daniele Grosu (2005-11-20) 20 November 2005 (age 19) 2 0   Treviso

9 4FW Vlad Lupașco (2005-02-11) 11 February 2005 (age 19) 8 0   Dacia Buiucani
10 4FW Mihai Lupan (2004-09-08) 8 September 2004 (age 20) 11 1   Petrocub Hîncești
11 4FW Nicu Rotaru (2005-12-19) 19 December 2005 (age 18) 4 0   Spartanii Sportul
14 4FW Victor Ciumașu (2005-06-24) 24 June 2005 (age 19) 3 0   Bacău
24 4FW Veaceslav Cozma (2005-03-01) 1 March 2005 (age 19) 1 0   Sheriff Tiraspol U19

Recent call-ups

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The following players have also been called up to the squad within the last 12 months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Roman Lazăr (2004-01-14) 14 January 2004 (age 20) 1 0   Reggina v.   Albania, 15 November 2024 PRE
GK Silviu Șmalenea (2002-12-09) 9 December 2002 (age 21) 13 0   Petrocub Hîncești v.   North Macedonia, 11 October 2024
GK Nicolae Danko Ciobanu (2005-12-06) 6 December 2005 (age 18) 0 0   Livorno v.   Slovakia, 11 June 2024
GK Roman Dumenco (2004-07-30) 30 July 2004 (age 20) 2 0   Sheriff-2 Tiraspol v.   Netherlands, 25 March 2024

DF Leo Saca (2007-01-03) 3 January 2007 (age 17) 7 0   Barcelona Atlètic v.   Albania, 15 November 2024 INJ
DF Danis Baciu (2005-02-01) 1 February 2005 (age 19) 0 0   Dacia Buiucani v.   North Macedonia, 11 October 2024
DF Cătălin Cucoș (2003-09-29) 29 September 2003 (age 21) 14 0   Zimbru Chișinău v.   North Macedonia, 11 October 2024
DF Iurie Iovu (2002-07-06) 6 July 2002 (age 22) 18 1   Istra 1961 v.   North Macedonia, 11 October 2024
DF Doru Calestru (2002-11-15) 15 November 2002 (age 22) 13 0   Akritas Chlorakas v.   North Macedonia, 11 October 2024
DF Ion Borș (2002-07-25) 25 July 2002 (age 22) 18 1   Petrocub Hîncești v.   North Macedonia, 11 October 2024 INJ
DF Andrei Motoc (2002-12-13) 13 December 2002 (age 21) 13 0   Athens Kallithea v.   Slovakia, 11 June 2024

MF Tudor Butucel (2003-08-14) 14 August 2003 (age 21) 4 0   1599 Șelimbăr v.   North Macedonia, 11 October 2024
MF Vicu Bulmaga (2003-07-05) 5 July 2003 (age 21) 16 0   Isloch Minsk v.   North Macedonia, 11 October 2024
MF Vlad Răileanu (2003-01-09) 9 January 2003 (age 21) 9 5   Zimbru Chișinău v.   North Macedonia, 11 October 2024
MF Daniel Danu (2002-08-26) 26 August 2002 (age 22) 11 0   Chindia Târgoviște v.   Sweden, 10 September 2024
MF Ilie Botnari (2003-07-25) 25 July 2003 (age 21) 9 0   Pirin Blagoevgrad v.   Sweden, 10 September 2024
MF Daniel Lisu (2002-04-02) 2 April 2002 (age 22) 16 0   Milsami Orhei v.   Netherlands, 25 March 2024
MF Mihai Dolghi (2002-07-08) 8 July 2002 (age 22) 10 0   CSM Reșița v.   Netherlands, 25 March 2024
MF Nichita Covali (2002-09-07) 7 September 2002 (age 22) 8 0   Zimbru Chișinău v.   Netherlands, 25 March 2024

FW Sorin Chele (2003-09-22) 22 September 2003 (age 21) 4 0   Milsami Orhei v.   Slovakia, 11 June 2024

INJ Withdrew due to injury
PRE Preliminary squad / standby
SUS Serving suspension
WD Player withdrew from the squad due to non-injury issue.

Competition history

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UEFA European Under-21 Championship

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UEFA U-21 European Championship UEFA U-21
Qualification record[3]
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Squad Pld W D L GF GA Campaign
  1996 Did not qualify 8 2 2 4 5 11 1996
  1998 8 1 1 6 5 17 1998
  2000 8 0 4 4 3 10 2000
  2002 10 2 3 5 6 13 2002
  2004 8 0 2 6 3 14 2004
  2006 10 3 2 5 8 12 2006
  2007 4 1 2 1 4 5 2007 2007
  2009 8 4 0 4 6 8 2009
  2011 10 4 2 4 9 13 2011
  2013 8 2 1 5 10 24 2013
  2015 10 5 1 4 12 6 2015
  2017 10 2 1 7 8 18 2017
    2019 10 2 1 7 8 23 2019
    2021 8 2 1 5 6 22 2021
    2023 10 3 3 4 7 12 2023
  2025 10 2 1 7 7 20 2025
    2027 To be determined 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0/16 140 35 27 78 107 228

Head-to-head record

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Only competitive matches are included and correct as of 11 October 2024.[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Lot". fmf.md.
  2. ^ "Staff-ul tehnic". fmf.md.
  3. ^ "Statistics". RSSSF.
  4. ^ "H2H". fmf.md.
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