Romania national under-21 football team
Nickname(s) | Tricolorii Mici (The Small Tricolours) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Association | Romanian Football Federation | |||
Head coach | Daniel Pancu | |||
Captain | Louis Munteanu | |||
Most caps | Alexandru Pașcanu (29) | |||
Top scorer | George Pușcaș (18) | |||
Home stadium | Ilie Oană | |||
| ||||
Biggest win | ||||
Armenia 0–5 Romania (Yerevan, Armenia; 16 November 2004) Azerbaijan 0–5 Romania (Trabzon, Turkey; 25 April 1995) | ||||
Biggest defeat | ||||
Germany 8–0 Romania (Magdeburg, Germany; 9 September 2014) | ||||
UEFA U-21 Championship | ||||
Appearances | 4 (first in 1998) | |||
Best result | Semi-finals (2019) |
The Romania national under-21 football team, also known as Romania under-21s or Romania U21(s), is considered to be the feeder team for the Romania national football team.
This team is for Romanian players aged under 21 at the start of the calendar year in which a two-year European Under-21 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 Romania at any level, making it possible to play for the U21s, senior side, and again for the U21s. It is also possible to play for one country at youth level and another at senior level (providing the player has not played a senior competitive game in his previous country.)
History
The U-21 team came into existence, following the realignment of UEFA's youth competitions, in 1976. Romania qualified for the 1998 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, and under Victor Pițurcă reached the quarter-finals, where they were knocked out by the Netherlands. Romania had been 1–0 up, but were eventually beaten 2–1. The Romanian lineup included players like: Cosmin Contra, Bogdan Lobonț, Cătălin Munteanu, Ionel Dănciulescu and Ion Luțu.
Romania once again qualified unbeaten for the finals after topping their group in the qualifying series. The Romanians reached semi-final of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship for the first time in their history in the 2019 UEFA Under-21 Euro but eventually lost 4–2 to defending champions Germany who scored twice in the dying moments. Romania qualified for the 2020 Summer Olympics for their first Olympics since 1964. Overall, Romania was a revelation at the tournament, beating both England and Croatia (4-2 and 4–1), and looked on course for a shock before Germany fought back to make the final.
Romania U21s do not have a permanent home. They play in stadia dotted all around Romania, in an attempt to encourage younger fans in all areas of the country to get behind Romania. Because of the lower demand compared to the senior national team, smaller grounds can be used.
Competitive record
UEFA U-21 Championship Record
UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship record | UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Qualification record | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
1978 | did not qualify | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 8 | |||||||
1980 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 3 | ||||||||
1982 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 12 | ||||||||
1984 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 12 | ||||||||
1986 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 7 | ||||||||
1988 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 7 | ||||||||
1990 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 7 | ||||||||
1992 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 9 | ||||||||
1994 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 10 | ||||||||
1996 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 17 | 10 | ||||||||
1998 | Quarter-finals | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 4 | |
2000 | did not qualify | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 8 | |||||||
2002 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 5 | ||||||||
2004 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ||||||||
2006 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 17 | 8 | ||||||||
2007 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | ||||||||
2009 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 3 | ||||||||
2011 | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 23 | 6 | ||||||||
2013 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 6 | ||||||||
2015 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 19 | ||||||||
2017 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 15 | 14 | ||||||||
2019 | Semi-finals | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 19 | 4 | |
2021 | Group stage | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 22 | 7 | |
2023 | Group stage | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | Qualified as hosts | ||||||
Total | 4/24 | 13 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 15 | 18 | 160 | 87 | 31 | 52 | 268 | 181 |
Olympic Games
Football at the Summer Olympics was first played officially in 1908. The Olympiads between 1896 and 1980 was only open for amateur players. The 1984 and 1988 tournaments were open to players with no appearances in the FIFA World Cup. After the 1988 Olympics, the football event was changed into a tournament for U23 or U21 teams with a maximum of three older players. See Romania national football team for competition record from 1908 until 1988.
Olympic Games record | Olympic Games Qualification record ** | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D * | L | GF | GA | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
1992 | did not qualify | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 9 | ||||||||
1996 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 17 | 10 | |||||||||
2000 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 8 | |||||||||
2004 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 7 | |||||||||
2008 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | |||||||||
2012 | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 23 | 6 | |||||||||
2016 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 19 | |||||||||
2020 | Group Stage | 11th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 14 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 29 | 11 | |
2024 | did not qualify | ||||||||||||||
2028 | to be determined | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
- *Denotes draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
- **Includes both qualification phase and final tournament of UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship.
- ***Gold background color indicates that the tournament was won. Red border color indicates tournament was held on home soil.
EURO 2025
Pos | Team
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Switzerland | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 6 | +10 | 14 | Final tournament | — | 2–2 | 11 Oct '24 | 6 Sep '24 | 4–2 | 5–0 | |
2 | Romania | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 5 | +8 | 13 | Play-offs | 15 Oct '24 | — | 1–0 | 5–0 | 6 Sep '24 | 2–0 | |
3 | Finland | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 5 | +8 | 10 | 1–2 | 10 Sep '24 | — | 4–1 | 15 Oct '24 | 6–0 | ||
4 | Albania | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 16 | −7 | 10 | 1–3 | 3–2 | 0–0 | — | 2–0 | 15 Oct '24 | ||
5 | Montenegro | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 8 | −3 | 7 | 10 Sep '24 | 11 Oct '24 | 1–2 | 1–0 | — | 0–0 | ||
6 | Armenia (E) | 8 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 17 | −16 | 2 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 6 Sep '24 | 1–2 | 0–1 | — |
(E) Eliminated
Results and fixtures
Win Draw Loss
2023
24 March 2023 (2023-03-24) Friendly | Romania | 0–2 | Portugal | Bucharest, Romania |
UTC+02:00 | Stadium: Stadionul Steaua Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Adrian Sorin Costreie (Romania) |
28 March 2023 Friendly | Romania | 0–0 | Germany | Sibiu, Romania |
19:00 | Report | Stadium: Stadionul Municipal Sibiu Attendance: 12,000 Referee: Vidican Rareș (Romania) |
21 June 2023 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship | Romania | 0–3 | Spain | Bucharest, Romania |
21:45 | Report |
| Stadium: Stadionul Steaua Attendance: 21,227 Referee: Erik Lambrechts (Belgium) |
24 June 2023 (2023-06-24) 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship | Romania | 0–1 | Ukraine | Bucharest, Romania |
19:00 | Report | Dican 89' (o.g.) | Stadium: Stadionul Steaua Attendance: 14,309 Referee: Morten Krogh (Denmark) |
27 June 2023 (2023-06-27) 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship | Croatia | 0–0 | Romania | Bucharest, Romania |
21:45 | Report | Stadium: Stadionul Steaua Attendance: 7,816 Referee: João Pinheiro (Portugal) |
12 September 2023 (2023-09-12) 2025 UEFA Q | Albania | 3–2 | Romania | Elbasan, Albania |
18:30 | C. Shpendi 63' Berisha 71' Pajaziti 88' | Report | Grameni 47' Borza 58' | Stadium: Elbasan Arena Attendance: 713 Referee: Bulat Saryev (Kazakhstan) |
13 October 2023 (2023-10-13) 2025 UEFA Q | Romania | 2–0 | Armenia | Bucharest, Romania |
20:30 | Vulturar 37' Baiaram 80' | Report | Stadium: Rapid-Giulești Attendance: 2,346 Referee: Robertas Valikonis (Lithuania) |
17 October 2023 (2023-10-17) 2025 UEFA Q | Romania | 1–0 | Finland | Sibiu, Romania |
18:00 | M. Ilie 90+8' | Report | Stadium: Municipal Attendance: 7,654 Referee: Luka Bilbija (Bosnia and Herzegovina) |
17 November 2023 (2023-11-17) 2025 UEFA Q | Romania | 5–0 | Albania | Bucharest, Romania |
19:30 | Munteanu 7' (pen.) M. Ilie 15' R. Ilie 37' Grameni 55' Danciu 86' | Report | Stadium: Rapid-Giulești Attendance: 2,234 Referee: Matthew De Gabriele (Malta) |
21 November 2023 (2023-11-21) 2025 UEFA Q | Switzerland | 2–2 | Romania | Neuchâtel, Switzerland |
18:30 | Sanches 23' Dos Santos Correia 88' | Report | R. Ilie 11' Grameni 32' | Stadium: Maladière Attendance: 5,359 Referee: Dominik Stary (Czech Republic) |
2024
26 March 2024 (2024-03-26) 2025 UEFA Q | Armenia | 0–1 | Romania | Armavir, Armenia |
15:00 | Report | C. Mihai 89' | Stadium: Armavir Referee: Damian Sylwestrzak (Poland) |
6 September 2024 (2024-09-06) 2025 UEFA Q | Romania | – | Montenegro | TBA, Romania |
TBA | Stadium: TBA |
Players
Current squad
The following players were called up for the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification Group E match against Armenia on March 26, 2024.[1]
Note: Names in italics denote players that have been called up to the senior team.
Caps and goals are correct as of 26 March 2024, after the match against Armenia
No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1GK | Răzvan Sava | (2002-06-21) 21 June 2002 (age 21) | 6 | 0 | CFR Cluj |
12 | 1GK | Otto Hindrich | (2002-08-02) 2 August 2002 (age 21) | 1 | 0 | CFR Cluj |
1GK | Alexandru Roșca | (2003-11-12) 12 November 2003 (age 20) | 0 | 0 | 1599 Șelimbăr | |
6 | 2DF | Matei Ilie | (2002-12-11) 11 December 2002 (age 21) | 6 | 2 | CFR Cluj |
3 | 2DF | Cristian Ignat | (2003-01-29) 29 January 2003 (age 21) | 6 | 0 | Mioveni |
4 | 2DF | Costin Amzăr | (2003-07-11) 11 July 2003 (age 20) | 3 | 0 | Dinamo București |
2DF | Ümit Akdağ | (2003-10-06) 6 October 2003 (age 20) | 2 | 0 | Göztepe | |
13 | 2DF | Ștefan Ștefanovici | (2002-02-20) 20 February 2002 (age 22) | 1 | 0 | Politehnica Iași |
17 | 2DF | Darius Oroian | (2003-08-01) 1 August 2003 (age 20) | 1 | 0 | Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe |
5 | 2DF | Gabriel Dănuleasă | (2003-05-08) 8 May 2003 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | Farul Constanța |
18 | 2DF | David Maftei | (2004-07-12) 12 July 2004 (age 19) | 0 | 0 | Steaua București |
8 | 3MF | Constantin Grameni | (2002-10-23) 23 October 2002 (age 21) | 13 | 3 | Farul Constanța |
10 | 3MF | Marius Corbu | (2002-05-07) 7 May 2002 (age 22) | 12 | 1 | Puskás Akadémia |
11 | 3MF | Ștefan Baiaram | (2002-12-31) 31 December 2002 (age 21) | 10 | 2 | Universitatea Craiova |
7 | 3MF | Ianis Stoica | (2002-12-08) 8 December 2002 (age 21) | 8 | 1 | FC Hermannstadt |
19 | 3MF | Rareș Ilie | (2003-04-19) 19 April 2003 (age 21) | 7 | 2 | Lausanne-Sport |
15 | 3MF | Cătălin Vulturar | (2004-03-09) 9 March 2004 (age 20) | 6 | 1 | UTA Arad |
20 | 3MF | Alexandru Musi | (2004-07-17) 17 July 2004 (age 19) | 2 | 0 | Petrolul Ploiești |
21 | 3MF | Cristian Mihai | (2004-09-23) 23 September 2004 (age 19) | 1 | 1 | UTA Arad |
16 | 3MF | Luca Mihai | (2003-10-11) 11 October 2003 (age 20) | 1 | 0 | Politehnica Iași |
3MF | Andrei Pandele | (2003-07-09) 9 July 2003 (age 20) | 0 | 0 | FCSB | |
9 | 4FW | Louis Munteanu | (2002-06-16) 16 June 2002 (age 22) | 11 | 1 | Farul Constanța |
14 | 4FW | Rareș Burnete | (2004-01-31) 31 January 2004 (age 20) | 3 | 0 | Lecce |
Recent call-ups
Players born in or after 2002 are eligible for the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
The following players have also been called up in the past to the Romania under-21 squad and remain eligible to play in the qualification matches for 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship:
Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GK | Alexandru Borbei | (2003-06-27) 27 June 2003 (age 20) | 0 | 0 | Lecce | v. Albania, 12 September 2023 |
GK | Robert Popa | (2003-03-05) 5 March 2003 (age 21) | 1 | 0 | FC U Craiova | v. Netherlands, 27 September 2022 |
DF | Alexandru Pantea | (2003-09-11) 11 September 2003 (age 20) | 10 | 0 | FCSB | v. Switzerland, November 21, 2023 |
DF | Gabriel Buta | (2002-01-29) 29 January 2002 (age 22) | 0 | 0 | FC U Craiova | v. Switzerland, November 21, 2023 |
DF | Răzvan Pașcalău | (2004-05-05) 5 May 2004 (age 20) | 0 | 0 | Lecce | v. Switzerland, November 21, 2023 |
DF | Andrei Borza | (2005-11-12) 12 November 2005 (age 18) | 4 | 1 | Rapid București | v. Armenia, 13 October 2023 |
DF | Dan Sîrbu | (2003-04-22) 22 April 2003 (age 21) | 1 | 0 | Farul Constanța | v. Albania, 12 September 2023 |
DF | Andrei Coubiș | (2003-09-29) 29 September 2003 (age 20) | 1 | 0 | AC Milan | v. Netherlands, 27 September 2022 |
DF | Radu Drăgușin | (2002-02-03) 3 February 2002 (age 22) | 9 | 0 | Tottenham Hotspur | v. Netherlands, 27 September 2022 |
DF | Daniel Bîrzu | (2002-05-28) 28 May 2002 (age 22) | 1 | 0 | Viitorul Târgu Jiu | v. Slovakia, 7 June 2022 |
MF | Octavian Popescu | (2002-12-27) 27 December 2002 (age 21) | 13 | 1 | FCSB | v. Switzerland, November 21, 2023 |
MF | Ștefan Pănoiu | (2002-09-23) 23 September 2002 (age 21) | 1 | 0 | Universitatea Cluj | v. Switzerland, November 21, 2023 |
MF | Aurelian Ciuciulete | (2003-04-04) 4 April 2003 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | Unirea Dej | v. Switzerland, November 21, 2023 |
MF | Cătălin Cîrjan | (2002-12-01) 1 December 2002 (age 21) | 1 | 0 | Rapid București | v. Armenia, 13 October 2023 |
MF | Ovidiu Perianu | (2002-04-16) 16 April 2002 (age 22) | 1 | 0 | Gloria Buzău | v. Albania, 12 September 2023 |
MF | Rareș Pop | (2005-06-14) 14 June 2005 (age 19) | 1 | 0 | UTA Arad | v. Albania, 12 September 2023 |
MF | Robert Filip | (2002-03-02) 2 March 2002 (age 22) | 1 | 0 | CFR Cluj | v. Albania, 12 September 2023 |
MF | Marian Danciu | (2002-04-24) 24 April 2002 (age 22) | 1 | 1 | Universitatea Craiova | v. Albania, 12 September 2023 |
MF | Alexi Pitu | (2002-06-05) 5 June 2002 (age 22) | 8 | 0 | Bordeaux | v. Albania, 12 September 2023 |
FW | Adrian Mazilu | (2005-09-13) 13 September 2005 (age 18) | 7 | 0 | Vitesse Arnhem | v. Switzerland, November 21, 2023 |
FW | Filip Ilie | (2002-07-05) 5 July 2002 (age 21) | 1 | 0 | Universitatea Cluj | v. Switzerland, November 21, 2023 |
- Notes
- INJ = Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury
- SUS = Player is serving suspension
- WD = Player withdrew from the squad
- COV = Player withdrawn from the squad due to positive COVID-19 test
- Names in italics denote players that have been capped for the Senior team.
Coaching staff
- As of September 2022.[2]
Role | Name |
---|---|
Head Coach | Daniel Pancu |
Assistant Coaches | Nicolae Grigore Adrian Boingiu |
Goalkeeping Coach | Eugen Anghel |
Fitness Coach | Silviu Ioniță |
Video Analyst | Vlad Munteanu |
Physioterapists | Adrian Mîrza Andrei Bogatan Mădălin Talpalaru Valentin Șerban Dragoș Paraschiv |
See also
Footnotes
References
External links
- UEFA Under-21 website Contains full results archive
- The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation Contains full record of U-21/U-23 Championships.
- FRF.ro