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
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Tricolorii mici (The Small Tricolours)
AssociationMoldovan Football Federation (FMF)
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Head coachȘtefan Stoica
CaptainIon Borș
Home stadiumZimbru 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)
European Championship
Appearances0
Websitefmf.md

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 edit

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

2023 edit

15 June 2023 (2023-06-15) 2025 UEFA Euro Under-21 qualifying Gibraltar   1–3   Moldova Gibraltar, Gibraltar
Borge   2' Report Borș   27' (pen.)
Răileanu   31', 67'
Stadium: Victoria Stadium
Attendance: 350
Referee: Jasmin Šabotić (Luxembourg)
8 September 2023 (2023-09-08) 2025 UEFA Euro Under-21 qualifying Netherlands   3–0   Moldova Waalwijk, Netherlands
Proper   43'
Babadi   67'
Manhoef   73'
Report Stadium: Mandemakers Stadion
Attendance: 3,094
Referee: Miloš Gigovic (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
12 September 2023 (2023-09-12) 2025 UEFA Euro Under-21 qualifying Moldova   0–1   Georgia Chișinău, Moldova
Report Iobashvili   84' Stadium: Stadionul Zimbru
Attendance: 800
Referee: Antti Munukka (Finland)
13 October 2023 (2023-10-13) 2025 UEFA Euro Under-21 qualifying Sweden   4–0   Moldova Falkenberg, Sweden
Vilhelmsson   8', 32'
Swedberg   19'
Bergvall   89'
Report Stadium: Falkenberg Arena
Attendance: 1,036
Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann (Malta)
17 October 2023 (2023-10-17) 2025 UEFA Euro Under-21 qualifying Moldova   2–1   North Macedonia Chișinău, Moldova
Răileanu   55'
Lupan   85'
Report Stankovski   60' Stadium: Stadionul Zimbru
Attendance: 400
Referee: Robert Jenkins (Wales)
21 November 2023 (2023-11-21) 2025 UEFA Euro Under-21 qualifying Moldova   1–2   Gibraltar Chișinău, Moldova
Mișcov   80' Report Borge   29' (pen.)
Carrington   57'
Stadium: Stadionul Zimbru
Attendance: 400
Referee: Ashot Ghaltakhchyan (Armenia)

2024 edit

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)
5 September 2024 (2024-09-05) 2025 UEFA Euro Under-21 qualifying Georgia   v   Moldova Georgia
Report
10 September 2024 (2024-09-10) 2025 UEFA Euro Under-21 qualifying Moldova   v   Sweden Moldova
Report
11 October 2024 (2024-10-11) 2025 UEFA Euro Under-21 qualifying North Macedonia   v   Moldova North Macedonia
Report

2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification edit

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Netherlands 7 7 0 0 21 2 +19 21 Final tournament
2   Georgia 5 3 1 1 4 3 +1 10 Final tournament if among three best runners-up
(play-offs otherwise)
3   Sweden 5 2 1 2 11 5 +6 7
4   Moldova 7 2 0 5 6 15 −9 6
5   North Macedonia 5 2 0 3 3 5 −2 6
6   Gibraltar 7 1 0 6 3 18 −15 3
Updated to match(es) played on 25 March 2025. Source: UEFA

Coaching staff edit

Current coaching staff edit

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

Last updated: 25 March 2024
Source: FMF

Manager history edit

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 edit

Current squad edit

The following players were selected for the friendly match against Hungary on 21 March 2024 and the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification match against Netherlands on 25 March 2024.

Caps and goals correct as of 25 March 2024, after the match against Netherlands.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Victor Dodon (2004-03-01) 1 March 2004 (age 20) 3 0   Dacia Buiucani
12 1GK Roman Dumenco (2004-07-30) 30 July 2004 (age 19) 2 0   Sheriff-2 Tiraspol

2 2DF Cătălin Cucoș (2003-09-29) 29 September 2003 (age 20) 10 0   Kolos Kovalivka
3 2DF Leo Saca (2007-01-03) 3 January 2007 (age 17) 4 0   Barcelona U18
4 2DF Iurie Iovu (2002-07-06) 6 July 2002 (age 21) 16 1   Istra 1961
5 2DF Doru Calestru (2002-11-15) 15 November 2002 (age 21) 9 0   Akritas Chlorakas
13 2DF Andrei Moțoc (2002-12-13) 13 December 2002 (age 21) 12 0   Legnano Salus
15 2DF Vitalie Dumbrava (2004-04-23) 23 April 2004 (age 19) 1 0   Dacia Buiucani

6 3MF Ion Borș (captain) (2002-07-25) 25 July 2002 (age 21) 15 1   Petrocub Hîncești
7 3MF Ilie Botnari (2003-07-25) 25 July 2003 (age 20) 6 0   Dacia Buiucani
8 3MF Daniel Lisu (2002-04-02) 2 April 2002 (age 21) 16 0   Milsami Orhei
10 3MF Vlad Răileanu (2003-01-09) 9 January 2003 (age 21) 6 3   Zimbru Chișinău
14 3MF Cristian Păscăluță (2005-09-08) 8 September 2005 (age 18) 2 0   Bălți
16 3MF Mihai Dolghi (2002-07-08) 8 July 2002 (age 21) 10 0   CSM Reșița
17 3MF Alexandru Gău (2004-01-27) 27 January 2004 (age 20) 2 0   Bălți
18 3MF Nichita Covali (2002-09-07) 7 September 2002 (age 21) 8 0   Zimbru Chișinău
20 3MF Vicu Bulmaga (2003-07-05) 5 July 2003 (age 20) 12 0   Isloch Minsk

9 4FW Vlad Lupașco (2005-02-11) 11 February 2005 (age 19) 2 0   Dacia Buiucani
11 4FW Sorin Chele (2003-09-22) 22 September 2003 (age 20) 4 0   Milsami Orhei
19 4FW Mihai Lupan (2004-09-08) 8 September 2004 (age 19) 6 1   Petrocub Hîncești

Recent call-ups edit

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 Silviu Șmalenea (2002-12-09) 9 December 2002 (age 21) 10 0   Petrocub Hîncești v.   Gibraltar, 21 November 2023
GK Roman Lazăr (2005-06-28) 28 June 2005 (age 18) 0 0   Città di Fasano v.   Austria, 27 March 2023

DF Cornelius Staver (2003-03-08) 8 March 2003 (age 21) 5 0   Pescara v.   Gibraltar, 21 November 2023

MF Vladislav Zavalișca (2003-01-23) 23 January 2003 (age 21) 1 0   Milsami Orhei v.   Gibraltar, 21 November 2023
MF Mihai Morozan (2004-03-22) 22 March 2004 (age 20) 1 0   Zimbru Chișinău v.   Gibraltar, 21 November 2023
MF Vasile Bîtlan (2004-01-31) 31 January 2004 (age 20) 0 0   Dacia Buiucani v.   Gibraltar, 21 November 2023
MF Nicolai Covalschi (2004-04-17) 17 April 2004 (age 19) 1 0   Sheriff-2 Tiraspol v.   Austria, 27 March 2023

FW Vladimir Fratea (2003-07-27) 27 July 2003 (age 20) 1 0   Akritas Chlorakas v.   Gibraltar, 21 November 2023
FW Serghei Mișcov (2003-04-25) 25 April 2003 (age 20) 6 1   Bălți v.   Gibraltar, 21 November 2023
FW Vladislav Blănuță (2002-01-12) 12 January 2002 (age 22) 8 3   U Craiova 1948 v.   Austria, 27 March 2023
FW Nichita Picus (2002-09-13) 13 September 2002 (age 21) 2 0   Florești v.   Austria, 27 March 2023
FW Daniel Dosca (2003-02-20) 20 February 2003 (age 21) 1 0   Dacia Buiucani v.   Austria, 27 March 2023

Competition history edit

UEFA European Under-21 Championship edit

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
  1996 Did not qualify 8 2 2 4 5 11
  1998 8 1 1 6 5 17
  2000 8 0 4 4 3 10
  2002 10 2 3 5 6 13
  2004 8 0 2 6 3 14
  2006 10 3 2 5 8 12
  2007 4 1 2 1 4 5
  2009 8 4 0 4 6 8
  2011 10 4 2 4 9 13
  2013 8 2 1 5 10 24
  2015 10 5 1 4 12 6
  2017 10 2 1 7 8 18
    2019 10 2 1 7 8 23
    2021 8 2 1 5 6 22
    2023 10 3 3 4 7 12
  2025 Future event 7 2 0 5 6 15
Total 0/15 137 35 26 76 106 223

Head-to-head record edit

Only competitive matches are included and correct as of 25 March 2024.[4]

See also edit

References edit

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

External links edit