Croatia national under-20 football team

Last updated

Croatia U20
Nickname(s) Mladi Vatreni (The Young Blazers)
Association Croatian Football Federation (HNS)
Confederation UEFA (Europe)
Head coach Mladen Ivančić
Most caps Alen Maras (14)
Top scorer Ahmad Sharbini (7)
FIFA code CRO
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First colours
Kit left arm cro20a.png
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Kit body cro20a.png
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Kit right arm cro20a.png
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Second colours
First international
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 0–1 Croatia  Flag of Croatia.svg
(Brežice, Slovenia; 22 September 1994)
Biggest win
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 0–6 Croatia  Flag of Croatia.svg
(Hungary; 5 September 1995)
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 6-0 Italy  Flag of Italy.svg
(Umag, Croatia; 15 March 2006)
Biggest defeat
Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 4–0 Croatia  Flag of Croatia.svg
(Calabar, Nigeria; 14 April 1999)
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 4–0 Croatia  Flag of Croatia.svg
(Brežice, Slovenia; 4 April 2006)
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 0–4 Serbia  Flag of Serbia.svg
(Županja, Croatia; 22 May 2012)
FIFA U-20 World Cup
Appearances3 (first in 1999 )
Best resultRound of 16 (1999, 2013)
Website hns-cff.hr

The Croatia national under-20 football team represents Croatia in international football matches for players aged 20 or under. It is governed by the Croatian Football Federation, the governing body for football in Croatia. It is a member of UEFA in Europe and FIFA in global competitions. The team's colours reference two national symbols: the Croatian checkerboard and the country's tricolour. They are colloquially referred to as the Mladi vatreni ('Young Blazers'). So far, the Mladi vatreni qualified for three FIFA U-20 World Cups, namely in 1999, 2011 and 2013. The team's greatest accomplishment is passing the group stage at the 1999 and 2013 tournaments.

Contents

The U20 team is the de facto U19 of the previous year, and it acts mainly as a feeder team for the U21s and provides further international development for youth players. The team qualifies for the FIFA U-20 World Cup based on the success of the U19 at the UEFA European Under-19 Championship.

History

The U20 national team was formed in 1994. The first match was played against the team of Austrian region Styria, and the first match against FIFA member was against Italy on 8 February 1995.

Croatia managed to qualify for 1999 FIFA U-20 World Cup. That was the second appearance from the Croatian football team in the FIFA competition, after A team appeared on FIFA World Cup in France in 1998. They passed the group, then lost to Brazil by 4–0 in Round of 16.

On 24 July 2010, after trashing Portugal 5–0 in 2010 UEFA European Under-19 Championship group game, Croatia qualified for the semi-final. Also, it secured a spot in 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia.

Another good performance by the U19 team at 2012 championship saw Croatia qualifying for the World Cup, this time held in Turkey in 2013.

Recent results

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  Fixture

2023

1 June 2023 (2023-06-01) Friendly Croatia  Flag of Croatia.svg1–1Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China Velika Gorica, Croatia
  • Ševelj Soccerball shade.svg90+2'
Report Stadium: Stadion Radnik
3 June 2023 (2023-06-03) Friendly Croatia  Flag of Croatia.svg4–1Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China Velika Gorica, Croatia
17:30
Report
Stadium: Stadion Radnik

Coaching staff

PositionName
Head coach Flag of Croatia.svg Ognjen Vukojević
Assistant coaches Flag of Croatia.svg Mato Neretljak
Goalkeeping coach Flag of Croatia.svg Marjan Mrmić
Fitness coach Flag of Croatia.svg Ivan Krakan
Physiotherapists Flag of Croatia.svg Ivan Halambek
Doctors Flag of Croatia.svg Goran Madžarac
Chief instructor Flag of Croatia.svg Petar Krpan
Team manager Flag of Croatia.svg Denis Lukša

Current squad

The following is the squad named for friendly matches against China played on 1 and 3 June 2023. [1]

No.Pos.PlayerDate of birth (age)CapsGoalsClub
1 GK Franko Kolić (2003-02-07) 7 February 2003 (age 21)40 Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Posušje
1 GK Mislav Zadro (2003-04-22) 22 April 2003 (age 20)20 Flag of Cyprus.svg Aris Limassol
1 GK Filip Kovačević (2002-03-22) 22 March 2002 (age 22)10 Flag of Croatia.svg Cibalia

2 DF Mateo Lisica (2003-07-09) 9 July 2003 (age 20)20 Flag of Croatia.svg Istra 1961
2 DF Moris Valinčić (2002-11-17) 17 November 2002 (age 21)20 Flag of Croatia.svg Istra 1961
2 DF Vicko Ševelj (2000-09-19) 19 September 2000 (age 23)51 Flag of Slovenia.svg Radomlje
2 DF Roko Jureškin (2000-09-29) 29 September 2000 (age 23)50 Flag of Italy.svg Pisa
2 DF Krešimir Krizmanić (2000-07-03) 3 July 2000 (age 23)20 Flag of Croatia.svg Gorica
2 DF Maro Katinić (2004-04-13) 13 April 2004 (age 19)10 Flag of Slovenia.svg Bravo
2 DF Ivan Smolčić (2000-08-17) 17 August 2000 (age 23)20 Flag of Croatia.svg Rijeka
2 DF Niko Galešić (2001-03-26) 26 March 2001 (age 23)60 Flag of Croatia.svg Rijeka
2 DF Luka Jelenić (2000-05-24) 24 May 2000 (age 23)10 Flag of Croatia.svg Varaždin
2 DF Nikola Soldo (2001-01-25) 25 January 2001 (age 23)20 Flag of Germany.svg 1. FC Kaiserslautern

3 MF Ante Palaversa (2000-04-06) 6 April 2000 (age 23)40 Flag of France.svg Troyes
3 MF Ivan Ćubelić (2003-06-02) 2 June 2003 (age 20)10 Flag of Croatia.svg Hajduk Split
3 MF Luka Stojković (2003-10-28) 28 October 2003 (age 20)41 Flag of Croatia.svg Dinamo Zagreb
3 MF Adrian Liber (2001-01-09) 9 January 2001 (age 23)40 Flag of Croatia.svg Rijeka
3 MF Leon Belcar (2002-01-04) 4 January 2002 (age 22)60 Flag of Croatia.svg Varaždin
3 MF Niko Janković (2001-08-25) 25 August 2001 (age 22)10 Flag of Croatia.svg Rijeka

4 FW Silvio Goričan (2000-02-27) 27 February 2000 (age 24)30 Flag of Croatia.svg Lokomotiva Zagreb
4 FW Ante Crnac (2003-12-17) 17 December 2003 (age 20)30 Flag of Poland.svg Raków Częstochowa
4 FW Karlo Špeljak (2003-03-14) 14 March 2003 (age 21)50 Flag of Slovenia.svg Celje
4 FW Bartol Barišić (2003-01-01) 1 January 2003 (age 21)50 Flag of Slovakia.svg DAC Dunajská Streda
4 FW Michele Šego (2000-08-05) 5 August 2000 (age 23)81 Flag of Croatia.svg Varaždin
4 FW Denis Bušnja (2000-04-14) 14 April 2000 (age 23)42 Flag of Croatia.svg Rijeka

Competitive record

 Champions  
 Runners-up  
 Third place  
 Fourth place  
  Tournament played fully or partially on home soil  

Croatian under-20 team played most of its matches competing in a regional cup called Mirop Cup, also known as Cup Alpe-Adria, with groups of Slovenia, Hungary, Italy, Slovakia and teams of some Austrian and Hungarian regions. Croatia won that cup three times in a row, in 1994, 1995 and 1996, and ever after.

FIFA U-20 World Cup record

FIFA U-20 World Cup recordQualifications record
YearRoundPositionPldWDLGFGASquad
Flag of Tunisia.svg 1977 Part of Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Yugoslavia
Flag of Japan.svg 1979
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 1981
Flag of Mexico.svg 1983
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg 1985
Flag of Chile.svg 1987
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg 1989
Flag of Portugal.svg 1991
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 1993 Not a FIFA member
Flag of Qatar.svg 1995 Did not qualify UEFA European Under-19 Championship 1994
Flag of Malaysia.svg 1997 1996
Flag of Nigeria.svg 1999 Round of 1614/24412166 1999 1998
Flag of Argentina.svg 2001 Did not qualify 2000
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg 2003 2002
Flag of the Netherlands.svg 2005 2004
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg 2007 2006
Flag of Egypt.svg 2009 2008
Flag of Colombia.svg 2011 Group stage23/24300328 2011 2010
Flag of Turkey.svg 2013 Round of 1611/24421144 2013 2012
Flag of New Zealand.svg 2015 Did not qualify' 2014
Flag of South Korea.svg 2017 2016
Flag of Poland.svg 2019 2018
Flag of Argentina.svg 2023 2022
Flag of Chile.svg 2025 To be determined 2024
TotalRound of 163/24113351218

Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out; correct as of 3 July 2013 after the match against Flag of Chile.svg  Chile.

Matches
First matchFlag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 1–1 Croatia  Flag of Croatia.svg
(Kaduna, Nigeria; 4 April 1999)
Biggest winFlag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 5–1 Kazakhstan  Flag of Kazakhstan.svg
(Kaduna, Nigeria; 7 April 1999)
Biggest defeatFlag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 4–0 Croatia  Flag of Croatia.svg
(Calabar, Nigeria; 14 April 1999)

Record per opponent

  More wins than losses
  As many wins as losses
  Fewer wins than losses

Correct as of 3 June 2023, after the match against Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China.

OpponentPldWDLGFGAGDWin %
Flag of Albania.svg  Albania 220041+3100.00
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 101000+0000.00
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 110052+3100.00
Flag of Belarus.svg  Belarus 330061+5100.00
Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 100104−4000.00
Flag of Chile.svg  Chile 100102−2000.00
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 211052+3050.00
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 100103−3000.00
Flag of France.svg  France 101011+0000.00
Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 101011+0000.00
Flag of Guatemala.svg  Guatemala 100101−1000.00
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 1410223517+18071.43
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 1853102734−7027.78
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 100101−1000.00
Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan 110051+4100.00
Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro 101000+0000.00
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 110021+1100.00
Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 100125−3000.00
Flag of Paraguay.svg  Paraguay 100112−1000.00
Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar 311144+0033.33
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 220020+2100.00
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia 201113−2000.00
Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 200206−6000.00
Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia 431083+5075.00
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 2416535223+29066.67
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 100114−3000.00
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 310245−1033.33
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 100101−1000.00
Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay 110011+0100.00
Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Uzbekistan 101011+0000.00
Flag of Vietnam.svg  Vietnam 110010+1100.00
Total: 31 teams played98491930169130+39050.00

See also

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References

  1. "Hrvatska U-20 dva puta protiv Kine, u utorak protiv selekcije Utakmice života". Croatian Football Federation (in Croatian). Zagreb. 1 June 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.