Wikipedia

Georgia national under-21 football team

The Georgia national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Georgia and is controlled by the Georgian Football Federation. It is considered to be the feeder team for the senior Georgian national football team. The team competes in the European Under-21 Championship, held every two years.

Georgia Under-21
Nickname(s)ჯვაროსნები
Jvarosnebi (Crusaders)
AssociationGeorgian Football Federation
ConfederationUEFA
Head coachRamaz Svanadze
CaptainSaba Khvadagiani
Most capsNika Kvekveskiri (20 games)
Top scorerBeka Gotsiridze (9 goals)
FIFA codeGEO
First colours
Second colours
First international
Georgia (country) Georgia 3–0 Moldova Moldova
(Tbilisi, 27 May 1994)
Biggest win
Georgia (country) Georgia 7–1 Malaysia Malaysia
(Vienna, 26 March 2013)
Biggest defeat
Ukraine Ukraine 6–0 Georgia Georgia (country)
(Chervonohrad, 12 October 2004)
UEFA U-21 Championship
Appearances1 (first in 2023)
Best resultQuarter-finals (2023)
Websitenakrebi.ge

The current team is for Georgian players aged under 21 at the start of the calendar year in which a two-year European Under-21 Football Championship campaign begins, so some players can remain with the squad until the age of 23. As long as they are eligible, players can play for Georgia at any level, making it possible to play for the U21s, senior side, and again for the U21s. This has been the case for several senior team players like Jano Ananidze and Levan Kakubava.

Although the breakup of the Soviet Union occurred officially on 25 December 1991, the under-21 team continued as Soviet Union until the 1992 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship. After that, Georgia and the other countries who split from the Soviet Union like Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova and Ukraine became separate footballing entities.

Georgia held its first official game in a 1996 UEFA European U21 Championship qualification campaign against Moldova and achieved the best result in the next round by coming second in their group. Since the establishment of the Georgian under-21 side, it never reached a final tournament of the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, until the 2023 edition for which they automatically qualified as a co-host nation.

Despite the lowest rating points among the 2023 Championship teams, Georgia produced a main surprise on the tournament. They finished the group on top of the table and remained unbeaten after 120 minutes of a quarter-final clash with Israel as well, before eventually losing on penalties.[1]

Georgia U21s do not have a permanent home ground and play in stadiums of Erovnuli Liga clubs across the country. The record attendance for their match was set on 1 July 2023 when Georgia played Israel in quarter-final of the European Championship in front of 44,338 spectators.[2]

Competitive record edit

UEFA European U-21 Championship edit

Year Round Pld W D* L GF GA
    2023 1/4 f. 4 1 3 0 5 3

Note:

*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

Qualification edit

Year Group Place Pld W D L GF GA
  1996 Group 7 5th 8 1 0 7 7 17
  1998 Group 2 2nd 8 3 3 2 10 10
  2000 Group 2 3rd 8 2 5 3 11 13
  2002 Group 8 5th 8 1 0 7 9 17
  2004 Group 10 5th 8 1 2 5 7 16
  2006 Group 2 5th 12 3 2 7 7 22
  2007 Group 3 3rd 2 0 0 2 1 4
  2009 Group 4 5th 8 2 0 6 6 22
  2011 Group 2 3rd 10 4 3 3 12 9
  2013 Group 5 3rd 8 3 1 4 8 18
  2015 Group 3 4th 8 3 1 4 8 15
  2017 Group 6 4th 10 4 1 5 17 17
    2019 Group 3 3rd 8 3 3 4 11 19
    2021 Group 2 3rd 10 5 0 5 17 14
    2023 Qualified as hosts
  2025 Group C

Results and fixtures edit

  Win   Draw   Loss

2024 edit

6 June 2024 (2024-06-06) Friendly Georgia   0–0   Kazakhstan Tbilisi
19:00 GEO Report Stadium: Mikheil Meskhi Stadium
26 March 2024 (2024-03-26) UEFA Euro QR Gibraltar   0–2   Georgia Gibraltar
17:00 GEO Report
  • Odisharia   22'
  • Kvernadze   75' (pen.)
 Stadium: Victoria Stadium
Referee: J.Sundberg (Denmark)
22 March 2024 (2024-03-22) Friendly Turkey   2–1   Georgia Istanbul, Turkey
21:30 GET
  • Kilicsoy   16'
  • Yildirim   55' (pen.)
 Report Abuashvili   58' Stadium: Pendik Stadyumu

2023 edit

16 November 2023 (2023-11-16) UEFA Euro QR North Macedonia   0–1   Georgia Skopje, North Macedonia
16:00 GET Report
Stadium: FFM Training Centre
Referee: Rauf Jabarov (Azerbaijan)
17 October 2023 (2023-10-17) UEFA Euro QR Georgia   0–0   Sweden Batumi, Georgia
19:00 GET Report Stadium: Batumi Stadium
Referee: Michael Fabbri (Italy)
12 October 2023 (2023-10-12) UEFA Euro QR Georgia   0–3   Netherlands Batumi, Georgia
18:00 GET Report
Stadium: Batumi Stadium
Referee: Alessandro Dudic (Switzerland)
12 September 2023 (2023-09-12) UEFA Euro QR Moldova   0–1   Georgia Chisinau, Moldova
20:00 Report
Stadium: Stadionul Zimbru
Referee: Antti Munukka (Finland)
6 September 2023 (2023-09-06) UEFA Euro QR Georgia   2–0   Gibraltar Kutaisi, Georgia
20:00
Report Stadium: Ramaz Shengelia Stadium
Referee: Daniyar Sakhi (Kazakhstan)
1 July 2023 (2023-07-01) UEFA Euro U21 Quarterfinal Georgia   0–0 (a.e.t.)
(3–4 p)		   Israel Tbilisi, Georgia
20:00 Report Stadium: Boris Paichadze Stadium
Attendance: 44,338
Referee: Espen Eskås (Norway)
Penalties
27 June 2023 (2023-06-27) UEFA Euro U21 Netherlands   1–1   Georgia Tbilisi, Georgia
20:00
Report
Stadium: Boris Paichadze Stadium
Attendance: 43,004
Referee: Rade Obrenović (Slovenia)
24 June 2023 (2023-06-24) UEFA Euro U21 Georgia   2–2   Belgium Tbilisi, Georgia
20:00
Report
Stadium: Boris Paichadze Stadium
Attendance: 41,886
Referee: Duje Strukan (Croatia)
21 June 2023 (2023-06-21) UEFA Euro U21 Georgia   2–0   Portugal Tbilisi, Georgia
20:00
Report Stadium: Boris Paichadze Stadium
Attendance: 24,447
Referee: Espen Eskås (Norway)
15 June 2023 (2023-06-15) Friendly Georgia   2–0   Cyprus Tbilisi, Georgia
 Stadium: Mikheil Meskhi Stadium
26 March 2023 (2023-03-26) Friendly Latvia   0–1   Georgia Belek, Turkey

Source

Current team edit

Coaching staff edit

As of June 2023[3]

Position Name
Head Coach   Ramaz Svanadze
Assistant coach   Giorgi Adamia
  Zaur Svanadze
  Aleksandre Amisulashvili
Goalkeeper coach   Temur Charkviani
Fitness coach   Bondo Gotsiridze
Video analyst   Jumber Burjanadze

Players edit

The following players born in or after 2002 were called up for a friendly game against Kazakhstan in June 2024.[4]

Note: Names in italics denote players that have been called up to the senior team.

Caps and goals correct as of 6 June 2024, after the friendly match against Kazakhstan.[5]

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
23 1GK Luka Kharatishvili (2003-01-13) 13 January 2003 (age 21) 7 0   Dinamo Batumi
12 1GK Levan Tandilashvili (2003-02-27) 27 February 2003 (age 21) 1 0   Telavi
4 2DF Saba Khvadagiani (2003-01-30) 30 January 2003 (age 21) 20 2   Maccabi Netanya
3 2DF Saba Goglichidze (2004-06-25) 25 June 2004 (age 19) 7 0   Empoli
18 2DF Giorgi Maisuradze (2002-01-31) 31 January 2002 (age 22) 9 0   Dinamo Tbilisi
13 2DF Saba Mamatsashvili (2003-08-23) 23 August 2003 (age 20) 7 1   Iberia 1999
2 2DF Zurab Rukhadze (2003-07-30) 30 July 2003 (age 20) 4 0   Dila
2DF Lasha Kvaratskhelia (2002-02-27) 27 February 2002 (age 22) 1 0   Samtredia
5 2DF Nikoloz Ugrekhelidze (2003-08-15) 15 August 2003 (age 20) 2 0   Dinamo Tbilisi
2DF Luka Latsabidze (2004-03-18) 18 March 2004 (age 20) 0 0   Shakhtar
10 3MF Luka Gagnidze (2003-02-28) 28 February 2003 (age 21) 14 0   Dynamo Moscow
14 3MF Levan Osikmashvili (2002-04-20) 20 April 2002 (age 22) 7 0   Dinamo Tbilisi
7 3MF Lasha Odisharia (2002-10-23) 23 October 2002 (age 21) 8 1   RFS Riga
19 3MF Tornike Morchiladze (2002-01-10) 10 January 2002 (age 22) 5 0   Telavi
17 3MF Shalva Ogbaidze (2002-01-08) 8 January 2002 (age 22) 6 0   Den Bosch
3MF Nodar Lominadze (2002-04-04) 4 April 2002 (age 22) 11 0   Dinamo Tbilisi
20 3MF Giorgi Abuashvili (2003-02-08) 8 February 2003 (age 21) 7 1   Kolkheti 1913
3MF Giorgi Kharebava (2004-02-26) 26 February 2004 (age 20) 1 0   Kolkheti 1913
9 4FW Giorgi Kvernadze (2003-02-07) 7 February 2003 (age 21) 12 1   Frosinone
22 4FW Vasilios Gordeziani (2002-01-29) 29 January 2002 (age 22) 5 1   Dinamo Tbilisi
4FW Jaduli Iobashvili (2004-01-01) 1 January 2004 (age 20) 4 1   Dinamo Tbilisi
4FW Vakhtang Salia (2007-07-30) 30 July 2007 (age 16) 1 0   Dinamo Tbilisi

Recent call-up edit

The following players have been called up within the last twelve months and are still eligible for selection.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Mikheil Makatsaria (2004-06-11) 11 June 2004 (age 19) 1 0   Dinamo Tbilisi v.   Gibraltar, 26 March 2024
DF Saba Sazonov (2002-02-01) 1 February 2002 (age 22) 8 1   Torino v.   North Macedonia, 16 November 2023
DF Luka Salukvadze (2003-01-28) 28 January 2003 (age 21) 2 0   Dinamo Tbilisi v.   Gibraltar, 26 March 2024
DF Irakli Azarovi (2002-02-21) 21 February 2002 (age 22) 7 0   Shakhtar Donetsk v.   Israel, 1 July 2023
DF Davit Zurabiani (2002-02-22) 22 February 2002 (age 22) 2 0   Kolkheti 1913 v.   Gibraltar, 26 March 2024
MF Otar Mamageishvili (2003-01-15) 15 January 2003 (age 21) 12 1   Iberia 1999 v.   Gibraltar, 26 March 2024
MF Gizo Mamageishvili (2003-01-15) 15 January 2003 (age 21) 4 0   Iberia 1999 v.   Gibraltar, 26 March 2024
MF Gabriel Sigua (2005-06-30) 30 June 2005 (age 18) 5 0   Basel v.   Gibraltar, 26 March 2024
MF Nikoloz Sikharulashvili (2003-10-07) 7 October 2003 (age 20) 2 0   Dinamo Tbilisi v.   Gibraltar, 26 March 2024
MF Irakli Egoian (2004-03-19) 19 March 2004 (age 20) 4 0   Twente v.   Gibraltar, 26 March 2024
MF Nikoloz Tskhovrebashvili (2004-01-07) 7 January 2004 (age 20) 3 0   Liepaja v.   Gibraltar, 26 March 2024
MF Gegi Geguchadze (2003-12-30) 30 December 2003 (age 20) 1 0   Locomotive Tbilisi v.   Netherlands, 17 October 2023
DF Mukhran Bagrationi (2004-02-13) 13 February 2004 (age 20) 0 0   Dinamo Batumi v.   Netherlands, 17 October 2023
MF Demetre Gvasalia (2002-02-28) 28 February 2002 (age 22) 0 0   Kolkheti 1913 v.   North Macedonia, 16 November 2023

Statistics edit

Last update: 6 June 2024[6]

Note: Includes friendly matches

Opponent Matches Wins Draws Losses GF GA
  Albania 8 3 1 4 7 10
  Armenia 2 1 0 1 3 4
  Azerbaijan 3 2 1 0 5 1
  Belarus 2 1 0 1 4 2
  Belgium 1 0 1 0 2 2
  Bulgaria 3 0 0 3 1 4
  Croatia 4 1 2 1 4 4
  Cyprus 3 1 2 0 4 2
  Denmark 5 0 1 4 7 15
  England 4 1 1 2 4 9
  Estonia 7 6 0 1 14 5
  Faroe Islands 2 1 0 1 2 3
  Finland 2 1 1 0 4 3
  France 3 0 0 3 3 10
  Germany 3 0 1 2 2 7
  Gibraltar 2 2 0 0 4 0
  Greece 5 0 2 3 4 11
  Hungary 2 0 0 2 1 4
  Iceland 2 1 1 0 7 5
  Republic of Ireland 4 0 4 0 4 4
  Israel 4 1 1 2 3 5
  Italy 4 1 0 3 4 11
  Kazakhstan 5 2 1 2 4 6
  Latvia 4 4 0 0 11 3
  Liechtenstein 2 2 0 0 6 0
  Lithuania 6 3 1 2 9 6
  Luxembourg 2 1 0 1* 3 3
  Malta 3 3 0 0 9 4
  Moldova 7 4 2 1 9 4
  Montenegro 2 0 1 1 2 3
  Netherlands 4 1 1 2 2 10
  North Macedonia 1 1 0 0 1 0
  Norway 2 0 1 1 0 3
  Poland 6 1 1 4 8 17
  Portugal 2 1 0 1 3 4
  Romania 5 1 1 3 5 8
  Russia 4 1 0 3 4 10
  San Marino 2 2 0 0 7 0
  Scotland 2 1 1 0 3 2
  Serbia 1 0 0 1 1 3
  Slovakia 4 1 0 3 5 8
  Slovenia 4 1 3 0 6 3
  Spain 6 0 0 6 4 24
   Switzerland 8 0 1 7 1 16
  Sweden 3 0 1 2 2 4
  Turkey 6 2 1 3 6 5
  Ukraine 5 0 3 2 7 16
  Wales 4 0 2 2 5 10
Total 175 55 40 80 216 303
  • Luxemburg were awarded a 3–0 win[7]

Most capped players edit

Note: Competitive matches only

 
With 20 caps, Kvekveskiri is the most capped player of the U21 team
# Name Career Caps Goals
1 Nika Kvekveskiri 2009–2014 20 2
2 Gulverd Tomashvili 2008–2010 18 0
3 Giorgi Khidesheli 2005–2010 16 1
4 Davit Ubilava 2013–2016 15 0
5 Mikheil Ashvetia 1997–1999 14 6
Solomon Kverkvelia 2011–2013 0

Last updated: 16 June 2023

Source: UEFA

Top goalscorers edit

Note: Competitive matches only

# Player Career Goals
1 Mikheil Ashvetia 1997–1999 6
Nika Kacharava 2013–2016
3 Rati Aleksidze 1997–1999 4
Vladimir Akhalaia 2002–2003
Beka Mikeltadze 2017–2018

Last updated: 16 June 2023

Source: UEFA

Notable results edit

Date Tournament Venue Team Result Team
10 September 1997 Euro 1998 Rustavi   Georgia 2–0   Italy
20 November 2007 Euro 2009 Tbilisi   Georgia 2–0   Russia
9 September 2009 Euro 2011 Zestafoni   Georgia 4–0   Turkey
3 June 2011 Euro 2013 Dugopolje   Croatia 0–1   Georgia
4 September 2014 Euro 2015 Deventer   Netherlands 0–1   Georgia
16 November 2021 Friendly Batumi   Georgia 3–2   England
21 June 2023 Euro 2023 Tbilisi   Georgia 2–0   Portugal

Notable former players edit

Managerial history edit

Source[8]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Georgia loses to Israel in penalty shootout of UEFA U21 European Championship quarter-finals". agenda.ge. 2 July 2023.
  2. ^ "Under-21 EURO finals attendance record broken". uefa.com. UEFA. 1 July 2023.
  3. ^ "U21 coaches". nakrebi.ge (in Georgian). Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  4. ^ "ახალგაზრდული ნაკრების შემადგენლობა ყაზახეთთან მატჩისთვის" (in Georgian). საქართველოს ფეხბურთის ფედერაცია. 30 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  5. ^ "Squad". nakrebi.ge (in Georgian). Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  6. ^ "U21 statistics". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  7. ^ "Georgia vs Luxemburg". uefa.com. UEFA. 5 March 2014.
  8. ^ "ახალგაზრდული ნაკრების ყველა მატჩი". 1tv.ge (in Georgian), p.33. Retrieved 29 June 2023.

External links edit

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