Romania national under-21 football team

Romania Under-21

Nickname(s)	Tricolorii Mici (The Small Tricolours)
Association	Romanian Football Federation (FRF)
Head coach	Costin Curelea
Captain	vacant
Most caps	Alexandru Pașcanu (29)
Top scorer	George Pușcaș (18)
Home stadium	Various
First colours Second colours Third colours
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 UEFA 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 Championship 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		3	0	1	2	0	4		Qualified as hosts
2025		3	0	0	3	2	5		10	7	1	2	23	10
Total	5/25	16	3	4	9	17	23	170	94	32	54	291	191

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									3	0	1	2	0	4
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 Championship.

***Gold background color indicates that the tournament was won. Red border color indicates tournament was held on home soil.

EURO 2027

Main article: 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification Group A

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Finland	2	2	0	0	12	0	+12	6	Final tournament		—	25 Sep '26	14 Nov	18 Nov	31 Mar '26	7–0
2	Spain	2	2	0	0	6	1	+5	6	Play-offs		14 Oct	—	6 Oct '26	31 Mar '26	3–0	14 Nov
3	Romania	2	1	1	0	2	0	+2	4			30 Sep '26	18 Nov	—	0–0	14 Oct	31 Mar '26
4	Kosovo	2	0	1	1	1	3	−2	1			6 Oct '26	1–3	27 Mar '26	—	30 Sep '26	14 Oct
5	Cyprus	2	0	0	2	0	8	−8	0			0–5	27 Mar '26	25 Sep '26	14 Nov	—	6 Oct '26
6	San Marino	2	0	0	2	0	9	−9	0			26 Mar '26	30 Sep '26	0–2	25 Sep '26	18 Nov	—

Updated to match(es) played on 9 September 2025. Source: UEFA

Results and fixtures

Main article: Romania national under-21 football team results

The following is a list of matches in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

Legend

  Win  Draw  Lose  Fixture

2024

Montenegro   v   Romania

11 October 2024 (2024-10-11) 2025 UEFA Q	Montenegro	2–6	Romania	Podgorica, Montenegro
16:00	Janjić 21' Mrvaljević 70'	Report	Munteanu 16', 27', 74' R. Ilie 52' Popescu 59' Rădulescu 89'	Stadium: Podgorica City Stadium Referee: Jérémie Pignard (France)

Romania   v    Switzerland

15 October 2024 (2024-10-15) 2025 UEFA Q	Romania	3–1	Switzerland	Bucharest, Romania
18:00 (19:00 EEST)	Stoica 16', 35' Akdağ 68'	Report	Hajdari 65'	Stadium: Stadionul Rapid-Giulești Referee: Marc Nagtegaal (Netherlands)

2025

Portugal   v   Romania

21 March 2025 (2025-03-21) Friendly	Portugal	0–1	Romania	Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal
20:30			Mihai 89'	Stadium: Estádio Municipal 22 de Junho

Romania   v   Netherlands

25 March 2025 (2025-03-25) Friendly	Romania	0–2	Netherlands	Bucharest, Romania
19:30		Report	Valente 51' Bergen 59'	Stadium: Arcul de Triumf Stadium

Romania   v   Georgia

4 June 2025 (2025-06-04) Friendly	Romania	1–0	Georgia	Vorau, Austria
19:30	Borza 72'	Report		Stadium: Urkraft Arena

Italy   v   Romania

11 June 2025 (2025-06-11) 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship Group stage	Italy	1–0	Romania	Trnava, Slovakia
22:00	Baldanzi 26'	Report		Stadium: Anton Malatinský Stadium Attendance: 2,450 Referee: Vassilis Fotias (Greece)

Spain   v   Romania

14 June 2025 (2025-06-14) 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship Group stage	Spain	2–1	Romania	Bratislava, Slovakia
19:00	Jauregizar 85' Fernández 88'	Report	Munteanu 4'	Stadium: Tehelné pole Attendance: 10,023 Referee: Sander van der Eijk (Netherlands)

Romania   v   Slovakia

17 June 2025 (2025-06-17) 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship Group stage	Romania	1–2	Slovakia	Bratislava, Slovakia
22:00	Akdağ 67'	Report	Obert 11' Suslov 57'	Stadium: Tehelné pole Referee: Manfredas Lukjančukas (Lithuania)

Romania   v   Kosovo

5 September 2025 (2025-09-05) 2027 UEFA Q	Romania	0–0	Kosovo	Iași, Romania
18:30  UTC+3		Report		Stadium: Emil Alexandrescu Stadium Attendance: 8,565 Referee: Mehmet Türkmen (Turkey)

San Marino   v   Romania

9 September 2025 (2025-09-09) 2027 UEFA Q	San Marino	0–2	Romania	Serravalle, San Marino
21:30  UTC+3		Report	Biliboc 11' Trică 87'	Stadium: San Marino Stadium Attendance: 354 Referee: Antoine Chiaramonti (Andorra)

Romania   v   Cyprus

14 October 2025 (2025-10-14) 2027 UEFA Q	Romania	v	Cyprus	Cluj-Napoca, Romania
		Report		Stadium: Dr. Constantin Rădulescu Stadium

Finland   v   Romania

14 November 2025 (2025-11-14) 2027 UEFA Q

Finland

v

Romania

Romania   v   Spain

18 November 2025 (2025-11-18) 2027 UEFA Q

Romania

v

Spain

2026

Kosovo   v   Romania

27 March 2026 (2026-03-27) 2027 UEFA Q

Kosovo

v

Romania

Romania   v   San Marino

31 March 2026 (2026-03-31) 2027 UEFA Q

Romania

v

San Marino

Cyprus   v   Romania

25 September 2026 (2026-09-25) 2027 UEFA Q

Cyprus

v

Romania

Romania   v   Finland

30 September 2026 (2026-09-30) 2027 UEFA Q

Romania

v

Finland

Spain   v   Romania

6 October 2026 (2026-10-06) 2027 UEFA Q

Spain

v

Romania

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification Group A matches against Kosovo and San Marino on 5 and 9 September 2025 respectively. ^[1]

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

Caps and goals are correct as of 9 September 2025, after the match against San Marino

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
	1 GK	Ștefan Lefter	(2004-11-18) 18 November 2004 (age 20)	2	0	Universitatea Cluj
	1 GK	Vlad Rafailă	(2005-02-17) 17 February 2005 (age 20)	1	0	Betis Deportivo
	1 GK	Codruț Sandu	(2006-04-17) 17 April 2006 (age 19)	0	0	Corvinul Hunedoara
	2 DF	Tony Strata	(2004-09-07) 7 September 2004 (age 21)	8	0	Vitória Guimarães
	2 DF	Matteo Duțu	(2005-11-23) 23 November 2005 (age 19)	5	0	Milan Futuro
	2 DF	Mario Tudose	(2005-01-21) 21 January 2005 (age 20)	3	0	FC Argeș
	2 DF	Kevin Ciubotaru	(2004-02-02) 2 February 2004 (age 21)	1	0	Hermannstadt
	2 DF	Antonio David	(2004-01-08) 8 January 2004 (age 21)	1	0	Inter Milan U23
	2 DF	Mark Țuțu	(2004-01-02) 2 January 2004 (age 21)	1	0	UTA Arad
	2 DF	Robert Jălade	(2005-03-28) 28 March 2005 (age 20)	0	0	Sevilla Atlético
	2 DF	Răzvan Pașcalău	(2004-05-05) 5 May 2004 (age 21)	0	0	CS Dinamo București
	3 MF	Cătălin Vulturar	(2004-03-09) 9 March 2004 (age 21)	12	1	Rapid București
	3 MF	Cristian Mihai	(2004-09-23) 23 September 2004 (age 20)	6	2	Dinamo București
	3 MF	Alexandru Musi	(2004-07-17) 17 July 2004 (age 21)	5	0	Dinamo București
	3 MF	Rareș Pop	(2005-06-14) 14 June 2005 (age 20)	4	0	Rapid București
	3 MF	Mihnea Rădulescu	(2005-09-17) 17 September 2005 (age 19)	3	1	Universitatea Craiova
	3 MF	Lorenzo Biliboc	(2006-10-22) 22 October 2006 (age 18)	2	1	CFR Cluj
	3 MF	Eduard Radaslavescu	(2004-07-30) 30 July 2004 (age 21)	2	0	Farul Constanța
	3 MF	Alin Boțogan	(2004-02-21) 21 February 2004 (age 21)	2	0	Petrolul Ploiești
	3 MF	Luca Szimionaș	(2006-09-03) 3 September 2006 (age 19)	1	0	Hellas Verona
	4 FW	Rareș Burnete	(2004-01-31) 31 January 2004 (age 21)	8	0	Juve Stabia
	4 FW	Atanas Trică	(2004-07-09) 9 July 2004 (age 21)	2	1	Universitatea Cluj
	4 FW	Ioan Vermeșan	(2006-10-18) 18 October 2006 (age 18)	2	0	Hellas Verona

Recent call-ups

Players born in or after 2004 are eligible for the 2027 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 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship:

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
DF	David Maftei INJ	(2004-07-12) 12 July 2004 (age 21)	2	0	Farul Constanța	v.   Kosovo, 5 September 2025
DF	Andrei Borza	(2005-11-12) 12 November 2005 (age 19)	14	2	Rapid București	v.   Slovakia, 17 June 2025
DF	Robert Bădescu	(2005-04-02) 2 April 2005 (age 20)	0	0	Rapid București	v.   Netherlands, 25 March 2025
DF	Ștefan Duțu	(2004-02-16) 16 February 2004 (age 21)	0	0	Farul Constanța	v.   Finland, 10 September 2024
MF	Ștefan Bană INJ	(2004-10-29) 29 October 2004 (age 20)	0	0	Oțelul Galați	v.   Kosovo, 5 September 2025
FW	Adrian Mazilu	(2005-09-13) 13 September 2005 (age 20)	7	0	Dinamo București	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

Role	Name
Head Coach	Costin Curelea
Assistant coaches	Lucian Sânmartean Răzvan Rotaru
Goalkeeping coach	Răzvan Stanca
Fitness Coach	Daniel Ene
Video Analyst	Vlăduț Lakatoș
Doctor	Dan Costin
Physioterapists	Florin Dragne Mădălin Tălpălaru
Masseur	Vladimir Foia
Kit man	Ionuț Niculici

See also

• Romania national football team
• Romania Olympic football team

References

1. "Lotul naționalei de tineret pentru meciurile cu Kosovo și San Marino din luna septembrie" (in Romanian). Romanian Football Federation. 30 August 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2025.

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