Croatia national under-21 football team

Croatia U21

Nickname(s)	Mladi Vatreni (The Young Blazers)
Association	Croatian Football Federation (HNS)
Confederation	UEFA (Europe)
Head coach	Ivica Olić
Captain	Bartol Franjić
Most caps	Luka Ivanušec (28)
Top scorer	Tomislav Bušić (13)
FIFA code	CRO
First colours Second colours
First international
Croatia 6–1 Hungary   (Zagreb, Croatia, 14 October 1992)
Biggest win
Croatia 10–0 San Marino   (Zagreb, Croatia, 8 October 2020)
Biggest defeat
Spain 6–0 Croatia   (Alicante, Spain, 10 September 2012)
UEFA U-21 Championship
Appearances	5 (first in 2000 )
Best result	Quarter-finals (2021)
Website	hns-cff.hr

The Croatia national under-21 football team represents Croatia in international football matches for players 21 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 five UEFA European Under-21 Championships, namely in 2000, 2004, 2019, 2021 and 2023. Croatia was unable to pass the group stage until the 2021 Euro when it was eliminated in the quarter-finals, its greatest accomplishment in the European competition so far.

Results and fixtures

Main article: Croatia national under-21 football team results (2020–present)

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

2024

Croatia   v   Faroe Islands

5 September 2024 (2024-09-05) Euro 2025 qualif Gr G

Croatia

2–1

Faroe Islands

Croatia   v   Portugal

10 September 2024 (2024-09-10) Euro 2025 qualif Gr G

Croatia

0–2

Portugal

Croatia   v   Andorra

11 October 2024 (2024-10-11) Euro 2025 qualif Gr G

Croatia

2–0

Andorra

Croatia   v   Greece

15 October 2024 (2024-10-15) Euro 2025 qualif Gr G

Croatia

3–2

Greece

Coaching staff

Current coaching staff

Position	Name [1]
Head coach	Ivica Olić
Assistant coaches	Ante Tomić Renato Pilipović Niko Kranjčar
Goalkeeping coach	Darko Staneković
Fitness coaches	Vedran Naglić Aris Naglić
Analyst	Nikola Buzadžić
Doctors	Mislav Rakić Boban Dangubić Nino Brajković
Physiotherapists	Tomislav Buljan
Technical secretary	Josip Tomaško
Kit men	Milan Vincek Luka Karlo

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the friendly tournament against Qatar, Republic of Ireland and Sweden on 3, 6 and 10 June 2025; respectively. ^[2]

Caps and goals correct as of 10 June 2025, after the match against Sweden

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1 GK	Ante Vuković	(2004-08-10) 10 August 2004 (age 21)	1	0	Vis Pesaro
12	1 GK	Anthony Pavlešić	(2006-01-31) 31 January 2006 (age 19)	2	0	Bayern Munich
23	1 GK	Tin Sajko	(2004-03-07) 7 March 2004 (age 21)	2	0	Rudeš
	1 GK	Toni Silić	(2004-05-07) 7 May 2004 (age 21)	1	0	Hajduk Split
2	2 DF	Filip Krušelj	(2005-03-30) 30 March 2005 (age 20)	2	0	Slaven Belupo
3	2 DF	Antonio Tikvić	(2004-04-21) 21 April 2004 (age 21)	8	0	Grazer
4	2 DF	Viktor Damjanić	(2005-11-03) 3 November 2005 (age 19)	2	0	Jedinstvo Ub
5	2 DF	Šimun Hrgović	(2004-03-20) 20 March 2004 (age 21)	10	0	Hajduk Split
19	2 DF	Moreno Živković	(2004-05-22) 22 May 2004 (age 21)	9	0	Lokomotiva Zagreb
21	2 DF	Matej Matić	(2004-06-05) 5 June 2004 (age 21)	1	0	Polissya Zhytomyr
22	2 DF	Filip Markanović	(2005-01-13) 13 January 2005 (age 20)	1	0	Lokomotiva Zagreb
24	2 DF	Teo Barišić	(2004-09-30) 30 September 2004 (age 20)	3	0	Lyon
	2 DF	Dominik Prpić	(2004-05-19) 19 May 2004 (age 21)	6	0	Hajduk Split
	2 DF	Matía Barzić	(2004-05-31) 31 May 2004 (age 21)	4	0	Eldense
	2 DF	Marko Zebić	(2007-01-08) 8 January 2007 (age 18)	0	0	Dinamo Zagreb
6	3 MF	Luka Vrbančić	(2005-07-04) 4 July 2005 (age 20)	5	0	Lokomotiva Zagreb
13	3 MF	Ante Kavelj	(2005-08-26) 26 August 2005 (age 20)	3	0	Šibenik
15	3 MF	Lovre Kulušić	(2006-11-15) 15 November 2006 (age 18)	2	0	Šibenik
17	3 MF	Fabijan Krivak	(2005-02-24) 24 February 2005 (age 20)	2	1	Lokomotiva Zagreb
18	3 MF	Luka Tunjić	(2005-11-19) 19 November 2005 (age 19)	6	1	Fortuna Sittard
	3 MF	Adriano Jagušić	(2005-09-06) 6 September 2005 (age 20)	4	0	Slaven Belupo
	3 MF	Vito Čaić	(2005-04-01) 1 April 2005 (age 20)	1	0	Gorica
8	4 FW	Bruno Durdov	(2007-12-11) 11 December 2007 (age 17)	2	0	Hajduk Split
9	4 FW	Fran Topić	(2004-03-20) 20 March 2004 (age 21)	5	2	Zrinjski Mostar
10	4 FW	Marin Šotiček	(2004-09-18) 18 September 2004 (age 20)	14	2	Basel
16	4 FW	Roko Brajković	(2005-07-03) 3 July 2005 (age 20)	2	0	Hajduk Split
	4 FW	Mate Antunović	(2004-03-03) 3 March 2004 (age 21)	4	1	Varaždin
	4 FW	Gabriel Rukavina	(2004-01-16) 16 January 2004 (age 21)	4	0	Rijeka

Recent call-ups

The following players have also been called up to the squad in the last 12 months and are still eligible for selection.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Borna Buljan	(2005-04-05) 5 April 2005 (age 20)	0	0	Hajduk Split	v.   Portugal, 10 September 2024
DF	Luka Vušković	(2007-02-24) 24 February 2007 (age 18)	4	1	Westerlo	v.   Georgia, 19 November 2024
DF	Noa Mikić	(2007-01-27) 27 January 2007 (age 18)	0	0	Dinamo Zagreb	v.   Portugal, 10 September 2024
DF	Maro Katinić	(2004-04-13) 13 April 2004 (age 21)	6	0	Sharjah	v.   Andorra, 11 October 2024PRE
DF	Domagoj Bukvić	(2004-02-22) 22 February 2004 (age 21)	9	1	Osijek	v.   Georgia, 15 November 2024PRE
DF	Luka Hodak	(2006-06-10) 10 June 2006 (age 19)	0	0	Hajduk Split	v.   Andorra, 11 October 2024PRE
MF	Lovro Zvonarek	(2005-05-08) 8 May 2005 (age 20)	8	0	Sturm Graz	v.   Georgia, 19 November 2024
MF	Marin Prekodravac	(2005-03-03) 3 March 2005 (age 20)	0	0	Šibenik	v.   Georgia, 15 November 2024PRE
MF	Šimun Mikolčić	(2004-01-21) 21 January 2004 (age 21)	0	0	Osijek	v.   Georgia, 15 November 2024PRE
MF	Antonio Baždarić	(2006-01-08) 8 January 2006 (age 19)	0	0	Lokomotiva	v.   Andorra, 11 October 2024PRE
MF	Luka Kapulica	(2005-01-18) 18 January 2005 (age 20)	0	0	Gorica	v.   Andorra, 11 October 2024PRE
MF	Marko Capan	(2004-02-24) 24 February 2004 (age 21)	0	0	Hajduk Split	v.   Portugal, 10 September 2024
MF	Branko Pavić	(2006-11-07) 7 November 2006 (age 18)	1	0	Dinamo Zagreb	v.   Greece, 15 October 2024
FW	Anton Matković	(2006-02-19) 19 February 2006 (age 19)	2	0	Osijek	v.   Andorra, 11 October 2024 INJ
INJ = Injured or ill. WD = Withdrew. SUS = Suspended from participating. RET = Retired after latest call-up. SEN = Joined the Croatia senior team instead. PRE = Preliminary squad.

Competitive record

Summer Olympics

  Gold medalists    Silver medalists    Bronze medalists     Tournament hosted

Summer Olympics											Qualification
Year	Host	Round	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	Squad		Pos.	Pld	W	D	L	F	A
1900 to 1904		Only club teams participated									Only club teams participated
1908 to 1992		Part of Yugoslavia									Part of Yugoslavia
1996	United States	Did not qualify									4th	10	5	2	3	13	12
2000	Australia										4th	13	7	3	3	32	15
2004	Greece										4th	11	4	3	4	14	10
2008	China										3rd	2	0	0	2	2	4
2012	United Kingdom										1st	10	5	2	3	18	15
2016	Brazil										1st	10	6	1	3	22	9
2020	Japan										4th	13	8	2	3	35	13
2024	France										3rd	15	8	2	5	28	16
2028	United States	To be determined									To be determined
Total		Never qualified	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0/8	84	43	15	26	164	94

UEFA European Under-21 Championship

  Winners    Runners-up     Tournament hosted

UEFA European Under-21 Championship											Qualification
Year	Host	Round	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	Squad		Pos.	Pld	W	D	L	F	A
1972 to 1992		Part of Yugoslavia									Part of Yugoslavia
1994	France	Not a UEFA member									Not a UEFA member
1996	Spain	Did not qualify									4th	10	5	2	3	13	12
1998	Romania										3rd	8	4	0	4	13	9
2000	Slovakia	Group stage	3	0	1	2	4	6	Squad		1st	10	7	2	1	28	9
2002	Switzerland	Did not qualify									2nd	8	3	4	1	10	7
2004	Germany	Group stage	3	0	1	2	3	5	Squad		1st	8	4	2	2	11	5
2006	Portugal	Did not qualify									1st	12	8	1	3	16	11
2007	Netherlands										1st	2	0	0	2	2	4
2009	Sweden										2nd	10	7	1	2	20	12
2011	Denmark										1st	10	5	2	3	19	14
2013	Israel										4th	8	2	1	5	7	16
2015	Czech Republic										1st	10	6	1	3	22	9
2017	Poland										3rd	10	6	2	2	24	11
2019	Italy	Group stage	3	0	1	2	4	8	Squad		3rd	10	8	1	1	31	5
2021	Hungary Slovenia	Group stage	3	1	0	2	4	5	Squad		2nd	10	6	2	2	37	7
2023	Georgia Romania	Group stage	3	0	1	2	0	3	Squad		2nd	12	8	1	3	28	13
2025	Slovakia	Did not qualify									2nd	12	8	1	3	23	17
2027	Albania Serbia	To be determined									To be determined
Total		Group stage	15	1	4	10	15	27	—		5/16	150	87	23	40	304	161

Statistics

Managers

The following table provides a summary of the complete record of each manager including their results regarding European Under-21 Championship.

Key: Pld–games played, W–games won, D–games drawn; L–games lost, %–win percentage

Bilić is one of two former U21 managers who later coached Croatia's senior team

Manager	Tenure	Pld	W	D	L	Win %	Tournaments
Martin Novoselac	1994–1996 2000–2004	54	19	20	15	035.2	1996 European Championship  – Failed to qualify 2002 European Championship  – Failed to qualify 2004 European Championship  – Group stage
Ivo Šušak	1997–2000 2011–2013	38	18	6	14	047.4	1998 European Championship  – Failed to qualify 2000 European Championship  – Group stage 2013 European Championship  – Failed to qualify
Slaven Bilić	2004–2006	20	11	3	6	055.0	2006 European Championship  – Play-offs
Aljoša Asanović (c)	2005	1	0	0	1	000.0	2006 European Championship  – Failed to qualify [3]
Ivica Grnja (c)	2005	1	0	0	1	000.0	2006 European Championship  – Failed to qualify [4]
Marijan Brnčić (c) [5]	2005	1	0	1	0	000.0	—
Dražen Ladić	2006–2011	32	20	6	6	062.50	2007 European Championship  – Failed to qualify 2009 European Championship  – Failed to qualify 2011 European Championship  – Failed to qualify
Niko Kovač	2013	7	5	0	2	071.4	—
Nenad Gračan	2013–2019	41	21	9	11	051.2	2015 European Championship  – Failed to qualify 2017 European Championship  – Failed to qualify 2019 European Championship  – Group stage
Igor Bišćan	2019–2023	30	18	5	7	060.0	2021 European Championship  – Quarter-finals
Dragan Skočić	2023–	8	3	3	2	037.5	2023 European Championship  – Group stage

Last updated: Croatia vs Belarus, 20 November 2023. Statistics include official FIFA-recognised matches only.

Most capped players

Players in bold are still active with Croatia.

With 28 caps, Ivanušec is the most capped player of the U21 team

Before joining the senior team Lovren played 19 matches for the U21 team

#	Name	Career	Caps	Goals
1	Luka Ivanušec	2017–2021	28	10
2	Tomislav Vranjić	2002–2005	26	0
3	Tomislav Bušić	2005–2008	25	12
4	Nikola Moro	2017–2021	24	6
5	Josip Tadić	2005–2008	22	5
6	Ivan Leko	1994–2000	21	5
	Mato Jajalo	2007–2010		4
8	Tomo Šokota	1997–2000	19	10
	Roko Šimić	2021–		8
	Nikola Vlašić	2015–2019		7
	Lovro Majer	2017–2021		5
	Davor Vugrinec	1994–1997		3
	Dejan Lovren	2007–2010		3
	Mario Lučić	2002–2004		2
	Domagoj Vida	2007–2010		2
	Dario Smoje	1997–2000		1
	Boško Šutalo	2019–2022		1
	Mario Carević	2001–2004		0
	Luka Vučko	2004–2006		0
	Borna Sosa	2017–2020		0

Last updated: Belarus vs Croatia, 20 November 2023

Source: Croatian Football Federation

Top goalscorers

Players in bold are still active with Croatia.

Brozović scored 7 goals for the U21 team before he was promoted to the senior team

#	Name	Goals	Caps	Ratio	Career
1	Tomislav Bušić	12	29	0.41	2005–2008
2	Tomo Šokota	10	19	0.53	1997–2000
	Luka Ivanušec		28	0.36	2017–2021
4	Josip Brekalo	9	17	0.53	2016–2019
5	Eduardo da Silva	8	12	0.67	2004–2005
	Stipe Perica		12	0.67	2013–2016
	Roko Šimić		19	0.42	2021–
8	Marcelo Brozović	7	13	0.54	2011–2014
	Nikola Vlašić		19	0.37	2015–2019
10	Ante Rukavina	6	9	0.67	2007–2008
	Marin Ljubičić		11	0.55	2021–
	Mario Pašalić		14	0.43	2014–2016
	Mihael Mikić		15	0.4	1999–2001
	Sandro Kulenović		15	0.4	2019–2021
	Nikola Moro		24	0.25	2017–2021

Last updated: Belarus vs Croatia, 20 November 2023

Source: Croatian Football Federation

Record per opponent

  More wins than losses

  As many wins as losses

  Fewer wins than losses

Correct as of 20 November 2023, after the match against Belarus.

Opponent	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Win %
Albania	2	1	0	1	4	1	+3	050.00
Australia U23	1	0	0	1	0	3	−3	000.00
Austria	4	1	3	0	5	3	+2	025.00
Azerbaijan	4	4	0	0	11	3	+8	100.00
Belarus	5	4	1	0	11	1	+10	080.00
Belgium	4	2	1	1	5	3	+2	050.00
Bosnia and Herzegovina	9	4	3	2	19	14	+5	044.44
Bulgaria	6	2	1	3	6	6	+0	033.33
Chile U23	1	0	0	1	0	1	−1	000.00
Czech Republic	7	1	3	3	11	10	+1	014.29
Cyprus	2	1	0	1	2	3	−1	050.00
Denmark	6	4	0	2	8	5	+3	066.67
England	7	3	1	3	12	10	+2	042.86
Estonia	10	9	1	0	23	3	+20	090.00
Faroe Islands	3	3	0	0	8	3	+5	100.00
Finland	2	1	0	1	4	3	+1	050.00
France	5	0	1	4	3	8	−5	000.00
Georgia	4	1	2	1	4	4	+0	025.00
Germany	1	1	0	0	2	0	+2	100.00
Greece	11	6	3	2	22	13	+9	054.55
Hungary	12	7	4	1	30	14	+16	058.33
Iceland	2	2	0	0	4	2	+2	100.00
Republic of Ireland	2	1	1	0	7	3	+4	050.00
Israel	5	0	2	3	0	5	−5	000.00
Italy	8	1	4	3	7	10	−3	012.50
Italy B	2	0	2	0	1	1	+0	000.00
Latvia	4	3	1	0	9	4	+5	075.00
Liechtenstein	2	2	0	0	9	0	+9	100.00
Lithuania	4	4	0	0	13	1	+12	100.00
FYR Macedonia	4	3	1	0	8	1	+7	075.00
Malta	4	4	0	0	6	0	+6	100.00
Mexico	1	0	0	1	0	1	−1	000.00
Moldova	2	2	0	0	7	0	+7	100.00
Montenegro	3	1	2	0	4	2	+2	033.33
Morocco U20	1	0	0	1	0	4	−4	000.00
Netherlands	2	1	0	1	4	4	+0	050.00
Norway	5	4	0	1	15	7	+8	080.00
Poland	3	1	2	0	4	2	+2	033.33
Portugal	4	1	0	3	3	5	−2	025.00
Romania	2	0	1	1	1	4	−3	000.00
Russia	1	0	0	1	3	4	−1	000.00
San Marino	6	6	0	0	33	0	+33	100.00
Scotland	6	2	2	2	9	7	+2	033.33
Serbia	2	1	1	0	5	3	+2	050.00
Serbia and Montenegro	5	1	1	3	12	12	+0	020.00
Slovakia	8	3	3	2	14	11	+3	037.50
Slovenia	11	6	1	4	20	13	+7	054.55
Spain	9	1	1	7	7	19	−12	011.11
Sweden	6	3	1	2	9	7	+2	050.00
Switzerland	5	2	0	3	6	10	−4	040.00
Togo U23	1	1	0	0	1	0	+1	100.00
Turkey	1	0	1	0	0	0	+0	000.00
Ukraine	7	2	2	3	7	8	−1	028.57
United Arab Emirates U23	1	1	0	0	3	0	+3	100.00
Total: 54 teams played	235	114	53	68	421	261	+160	048.51

Source: Croatian Football Federation

See also

• Croatia national football team
• Croatia national football B team
• Croatia national under-23 football team
• Croatia national under-20 football team
• Croatia national under-19 football team
• Croatia national under-18 football team
• Croatia national under-17 football team
• Croatia national under-16 football team
• Croatia national under-15 football team
• Croatia women's national football team
• Croatia women's national under-19 football team
• Croatia women's national under-17 football team
• Croatia women's national under-15 football team

References

1. "Croatia U-21". Croatian Football Federation. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
2. "Ivica Olić publishes a list of players for a friendly tournament in Croatia" (in Croatian). Hrvatski Nogometni Savez. 19 May 2025. Retrieved 11 June 2025.
3. He coached the U21 team during the first play-off to 2006 European Championship lost 1:3 to Serbia HNS: Serbia-Croatia 3:1, 2005
4. He coached the U21 team during the second play-off to 2006 European Championship lost 1:2 to Serbia HNS: Croatia-Serbia 1:2, 2005
5. As a temporary manager he coached the U21 team during the friendly 1:1 draw against Italy HNS: Croatia-Italy 1:1, 2005

≤== External links ==

• Under-21 at UEFA.com
• U23/U21 Tournaments at the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation website
• Croatia youth teams players' statistics at the Croatian Football Federation website