Moldova national under-21 football team

Moldova Under-21

Nickname(s)	Tricolorii mici (The Young Tricolours)
Association	Moldovan Football Federation (FMF)
Confederation	UEFA (Europe)
Head coach	Serghei Cebotari
Captain	Artiom Dijinari
Home stadium	Zimbru Stadium Nisporeni Central Stadium
FIFA code	MDA
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)
Website	fmf.md (in Romanian)

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 Serghei Cebotari.^[1][2]

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 2004 are eligible for the 2027 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.

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

Hungary  v  Moldova

21 March 2024 (2024-3-21) Friendly	Hungary	2–0	Moldova	Budapest, Hungary
	Kerezsi 54' Jurek 90+2'	Report		Stadium: Hidegkuti Nándor Stadion Attendance: 800 Referee: Walter Altmann (Austria)

Moldova  v  Netherlands

25 March 2024 (2024-3-25) 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)

Slovakia  v  Moldova

11 June 2024 (2024-6-11) Friendly	Slovakia	0–1	Moldova	Senec, Slovakia
		Report	Răileanu 19' (pen.)	Stadium: NTC Senec Attendance: 338 Referee: Jakob Semler (Austria)

Georgia  v  Moldova

5 September 2024 (2024-9-5) 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)

Moldova  v  Sweden

10 September 2024 (2024-9-10) 2025 UEFA Euro Under-21 qualifying	Moldova	0–0	Sweden	Nisporeni, Moldova
		Report		Stadium: Nisporeni Central Stadium Attendance: 2,070 Referee: Sayat Karabayev (Kazakhstan)

North Macedonia  v  Moldova

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)

Albania  v  Moldova

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)

Albania  v  Moldova

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)

Moldova  v  Northern Ireland

20 March 2025 (2025-3-20) Friendly	Moldova	1–1	Northern Ireland	Belek, Turkey
	Rotaru 8'	Report	Oudni-Morgan 69' (pen.)	Stadium: Cornelia Sports Centre Referee: Hakan Yurtseven (Turkey)

Moldova  v  Azerbaijan

22 March 2025 (2025-3-22) Friendly	Moldova	v	Azerbaijan	Belek, Turkey
		Report		Stadium: Cornelia Sports Centre

Moldova  v  Kosovo

25 March 2025 (2025-3-25) Friendly	Moldova	v	Kosovo	Belek, Turkey
		Report		Stadium: Cornelia Sports Centre

Moldova  v  Andorra

10 June 2025 (2025-6-10) 2027 UEFA Euro Under-21 qualifying	Moldova	v	Andorra	Moldova
		Report

Moldova  v  Republic of Ireland

4 September 2025 (2025-9-4) 2027 UEFA Euro Under-21 qualifying	Moldova	v	Republic of Ireland	Moldova
		Report

Moldova  v  Slovakia

9 September 2025 (2025-9-9) 2027 UEFA Euro Under-21 qualifying	Moldova	v	Slovakia	Moldova
		Report

Moldova  v  England

10 October 2025 (2025-10-10) 2027 UEFA Euro Under-21 qualifying	Moldova	v	England	Moldova
		Report

Slovakia  v  Moldova

14 October 2025 (2025-10-14) 2027 UEFA Euro Under-21 qualifying	Slovakia	v	Moldova	Slovakia
		Report

Kazakhstan  v  Moldova

17 November 2025 (2025-11-17) 2027 UEFA Euro Under-21 qualifying	Kazakhstan	v	Moldova	Kazakhstan
		Report

Republic of Ireland  v  Moldova

26 March 2026 (2026-3-26) 2027 UEFA Euro Under-21 qualifying	Republic of Ireland	v	Moldova	Republic of Ireland
		Report

England  v  Moldova

30 March 2026 (2026-3-30) 2027 UEFA Euro Under-21 qualifying	England	v	Moldova	England
		Report

Andorra  v  Moldova

2 October 2026 (2026-10-2) 2027 UEFA Euro Under-21 qualifying	Andorra	v	Moldova	Andorra
		Report

Moldova  v  Kazakhstan

6 October 2026 (2026-10-6) 2027 UEFA Euro Under-21 qualifying	Moldova	v	Kazakhstan	Moldova
		Report

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	England	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Final tournament
2	Republic of Ireland	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Play-offs
3	Slovakia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	Moldova	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
5	Kazakhstan	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
6	Andorra	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Position	Staff
Head coach	Serghei Cebotari
Assistant coach	Simeon Bulgaru
Goalkeeping coach	Serghei Botnaraș

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		2021–2025
Serghei Cebotari		2025–

The following players were selected for the friendly matches against Northern Ireland, Azerbaijan and Kosovo between 20 and 25 March 2025.

Caps and goals are correct as of 20 March 2025, after the match against Northern Ireland.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Artur Nazarciuc	(2004-01-06) 6 January 2004 (age 21)	2	0	Bălți
12	1GK	Roman Lazăr	(2004-01-14) 14 January 2004 (age 21)	1	0	Reggina
23	1GK	Daniel Vîrlan	(2005-09-18) 18 September 2005 (age 19)	0	0	Spartanii Sportul
2	2DF	Danila Forov	(2004-01-07) 7 January 2004 (age 21)	5	0	Sheriff Tiraspol
3	2DF	Mihail Gherasimencov	(2005-03-25) 25 March 2005 (age 19)	1	0	Cavalry
4	2DF	Vlad Coliș	(2004-01-24) 24 January 2004 (age 21)	5	0	Dacia Buiucani
5	2DF	Artiom Dijinari (captain)	(2005-10-26) 26 October 2005 (age 19)	7	0	Sheriff Tiraspol
13	2DF	Vasile Luchița	(2004-07-16) 16 July 2004 (age 20)	2	0	Milsami Orhei
14	2DF	Petar Gospodinov	(2005-03-09) 9 March 2005 (age 20)	0	0	Septemvri Sofia II
16	2DF	Iulian Bejan	(2004-03-04) 4 March 2004 (age 21)	0	0	Victoria Chișinău
17	2DF	Daniele Grosu	(2005-11-20) 20 November 2005 (age 19)	3	0	Treviso
6	3MF	Vladislav Costin	(2004-02-24) 24 February 2004 (age 21)	3	1	Sheriff-2 Tiraspol
8	3MF	Cristian Păscăluță	(2005-09-08) 8 September 2005 (age 19)	9	0	Petrocub Hîncești
10	3MF	Sergiu Perciun	(2006-04-23) 23 April 2006 (age 18)	1	0	Torino Primavera
18	3MF	Ovidiu David	(2006-10-24) 24 October 2006 (age 18)	1	0	Academia Rebeja
19	3MF	Pavel Nazari	(2005-06-12) 12 June 2005 (age 19)	0	0	Spartanii Sportul
20	3MF	Lucian Radu	(2005-11-01) 1 November 2005 (age 19)	1	0	Zimbru Chișinău
7	4FW	Mihai Lupan	(2004-09-08) 8 September 2004 (age 20)	12	1	Petrocub Hîncești
9	4FW	Nicu Rotaru	(2005-12-19) 19 December 2005 (age 19)	5	1	Spartanii Sportul
11	4FW	Veaceslav Cozma	(2005-03-01) 1 March 2005 (age 20)	2	0	Sheriff Tiraspol
21	4FW	Ion Ciobanu	(2006-02-13) 13 February 2006 (age 19)	0	0	Union Berlin U19
22	4FW	Vlad Lupașco	(2005-02-11) 11 February 2005 (age 20)	9	0	Dacia Buiucani
24	4FW	Serghei Țurcan	(2004-07-27) 27 July 2004 (age 20)	3	0	Spartanii Sportul
25	4FW	Vitalie Dumbrava	(2004-04-23) 23 April 2004 (age 20)	3	0	Dacia Buiucani

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	Victor Dodon	(2004-03-01) 1 March 2004 (age 21)	5	0	Petrocub Hîncești	v.  Albania, 18 November 2024
GK	Silviu Șmalenea	(2002-12-09) 9 December 2002 (age 22)	13	0	Petrocub Hîncești	v.  North Macedonia, 11 October 2024
GK	Nicolae Danko Ciobanu	(2005-12-06) 6 December 2005 (age 19)	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	Cristian Martin	(2004-12-22) 22 December 2004 (age 20)	2	0	Gilortul Târgu Cărbunești	v.  Albania, 18 November 2024
DF	Leo Saca	(2007-01-03) 3 January 2007 (age 18)	7	0	Barcelona Atlètic	v.  Albania, 15 November 2024 INJ
DF	Danis Baciu	(2005-02-01) 1 February 2005 (age 20)	0	0	Dacia Buiucani	v.  North Macedonia, 11 October 2024
DF	Cătălin Cucoș	(2003-09-29) 29 September 2003 (age 21)	14	0	Kolos Kovalivka	v.  North Macedonia, 11 October 2024
DF	Iurie Iovu	(2002-07-06) 6 July 2002 (age 22)	18	1	Alavés B	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 22)	13	0	Entella	v.  Slovakia, 11 June 2024
MF	Marius Ursu	(2005-01-01) 1 January 2005 (age 20)	1	0	Bacău	v.  Albania, 18 November 2024
MF	Alexandru Gău	(2004-01-27) 27 January 2004 (age 21)	3	0	Minaur Baia Mare	v.  Albania, 18 November 2024
MF	Ștefan Bîtca	(2005-09-25) 25 September 2005 (age 19)	4	0	Zimbru Chișinău	v.  Albania, 18 November 2024
MF	Tudor Butucel	(2003-08-14) 14 August 2003 (age 21)	4	0	Legia Warsaw II	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 22)	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	Victor Ciumașu	(2005-06-24) 24 June 2005 (age 19)	3	0	Bacău	v.  Albania, 18 November 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.

• 1978 to 1992 – see Soviet Union

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	In progress										0	0	0	0	0	0		2027
Total	0/16										140	35	27	78	107	228

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

Opponents	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
Albania	2	1	0	1	5	5	0
Andorra	2	2	0	0	4	1	+3
Armenia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Austria	2	0	0	2	0	2	−2
Azerbaijan	2	1	1	0	1	0	+1
Belarus	6	2	1	3	8	12	−4
Belgium	4	1	0	3	3	8	−5
Bosnia and Herzegovina	2	0	1	1	1	5	−4
Bulgaria	4	0	2	2	0	4	−4
Croatia	2	0	0	2	0	7	−7
Cyprus	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Czech Republic	6	0	0	6	3	16	−13
Denmark	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
England	5	0	1	4	2	9	−7
Estonia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Faroe Islands	2	1	1	0	2	1	+1
Finland	4	1	1	2	2	3	−1
France	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Georgia	6	1	1	4	2	9	−7
Germany	8	1	1	6	4	20	−16
Gibraltar	4	3	0	1	9	3	+6
Greece	2	0	0	2	1	7	−6
Hungary	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Iceland	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Israel	2	1	0	1	1	1	0
Italy	4	0	0	4	0	11	−11
Kazakhstan	2	1	1	0	1	0	+1
Kosovo	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Latvia	4	2	1	1	4	4	0
Liechtenstein	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Lithuania	2	2	0	0	6	0	+6
Luxembourg	2	2	0	0	4	0	+4
Malta	2	0	1	1	2	3	−1
Montenegro	2	1	0	1	1	1	0
Netherlands	6	0	2	4	2	14	−12
North Macedonia	4	2	0	2	6	5	+1
Northern Ireland	4	0	2	2	1	5	−4
Norway	2	1	0	1	3	4	−1
Poland	4	2	0	2	8	8	0
Portugal	2	0	0	2	0	7	−7
Republic of Ireland	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Romania	2	0	0	2	0	4	−4
Russia	4	0	1	3	3	14	−11
San Marino	4	4	0	0	8	0	+8
Scotland	2	0	2	0	0	0	0
Serbia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Slovakia	2	0	1	1	0	3	−3
Slovenia	2	0	0	2	1	4	−3
Spain	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Sweden	4	0	1	3	0	9	−9
Switzerland	3	0	1	2	2	7	−5
Turkey	4	0	2	2	3	6	−3
Ukraine	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Wales	8	3	2	3	4	6	−2
Total	140	35	27	78	107	228	−121

• Moldova national football team
• Moldova national under-19 football team
• Moldova national under-17 football team

• Moldova U-21 at uefa.com
• Moldova U-21 at soccerway