Nickname(s) | Tricolorii Mici (The Small Tricolours) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Association | Romanian Football Federation (FRF) | |||
Head coach | Daniel Pancu | |||
Captain | Louis Munteanu | |||
Most caps | Alexandru Pașcanu (29) | |||
Top scorer | George Pușcaș (18) | |||
Home stadium | Various | |||
| ||||
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.)
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.
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 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | Qualified as hosts | |||||||
Total | 4/24 | 13 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 15 | 18 | 160 | 87 | 31 | 52 | 268 | 181 |
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 | ||||||||
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Romania | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 23 | 10 | +13 | 22 | Final tournament | — | 1–0 | 3–1 | 5–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | |
2 | Finland | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 21 | 8 | +13 | 20 | Play-offs | 2–0 | — | 1–2 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 6–0 | |
3 | Switzerland | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 21 | 12 | +9 | 18 | 2–2 | 1–1 | — | 1–2 | 4–2 | 5–0 | ||
4 | Albania | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 17 | −5 | 16 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 1–3 | — | 2–0 | 1–0 | ||
5 | Montenegro | 10 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 19 | −11 | 7 | 2–6 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 1–0 | — | 0–0 | ||
6 | Armenia | 10 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 21 | −19 | 2 | 0–1 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 0–1 | — |
Win Draw Loss
17 October 2023 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 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 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) |
26 March 2024 2025 UEFA Q | Armenia | 0–1 | Romania | Armavir, Armenia |
15:00 | Report | C. Mihai 89' | Stadium: Armavir Referee: Damian Sylwestrzak (Poland) |
6 September 2024 2025 UEFA Q | Romania | 1–0 | Montenegro | Târgoviște, Romania |
18:30 (19:30 EEST) |
| Report | Stadium: Eugen Popescu Stadium Referee: David Dickinson, (Scotland) |
10 September 2024 2025 UEFA Q | Finland | 2–0 | Romania | Tampere, Finland |
16.00 UTC | Report | Stadium: Tammelan Stadion Attendance: 2,014 Referee: Kristoffer Hagenes, (Norway) |
11 October 2024 2025 UEFA Q | Montenegro | 2–6 | Romania | Podgorica, Montenegro |
16:00 |
| Report | Stadium: Podgorica City Stadium Referee: Jérémie Pignard (France) |
15 October 2024 2025 UEFA Q | Romania | 3–1 | Switzerland | Bucharest, Romania |
18:00 (19:00 EEST) | Report |
| Stadium: Stadionul Rapid-Giulești Referee: Marc Nagtegaal (Netherlands) |
The following players were called up for the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification Group E matches against Montenegro and Switzerland on 11 and 15 October 2024 respectively. [1]
Note: Names in italics denote players that have been called up to the senior team.
Caps and goals are correct as of 15 October 2024, after the match against Switzerland
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 | Otto Hindrich | 2 August 2002 | 1 | 0 | CFR Cluj | v. Armenia, 26 March 2024 |
GK | Alexandru Borbei | 27 June 2003 | 0 | 0 | Lecce | v. Albania, 12 September 2023 |
DF | Tony Strata | 7 September 2004 | 2 | 0 | Ajaccio | v. Finland, 10 September 2024 |
DF | Bogdan Oteliță | 12 August 2002 | 2 | 0 | Sepsi OSK | v. Finland, 10 September 2024 |
DF | Ștefan Ștefanovici | 20 February 2002 | 1 | 0 | Politehnica Iași | v. Finland, 10 September 2024 |
DF | Ștefan Duțu | 16 February 2004 | 0 | 0 | Afumați | v. Finland, 10 September 2024 |
DF | Sergiu Rimovecz | 29 July 2003 | 0 | 0 | CSM Reșița | v. Finland, 10 September 2024 |
DF | Matei Ilie | 11 December 2002 | 6 | 2 | CFR Cluj | v. Armenia, 26 March 2024 |
DF | Darius Oroian | 1 August 2003 | 1 | 0 | Sepsi OSK | v. Armenia, 26 March 2024 |
DF | Răzvan Pașcalău | 5 May 2004 | 0 | 0 | Dinamo București | v. Switzerland, November 21, 2023 |
DF | Gabriel Buta | 29 January 2002 | 0 | 0 | Farul Constanța | v. Switzerland, November 21, 2023 |
DF | Dan Sîrbu | 22 April 2003 | 1 | 0 | Farul Constanța | v. Albania, 12 September 2023 |
DF | Radu Drăgușin | 3 February 2002 | 9 | 0 | Tottenham Hotspur | v. Netherlands, 27 September 2022 |
DF | Andrei Coubiș | 29 September 2003 | 1 | 0 | Milan Futuro | v. Netherlands, 27 September 2022 |
DF | Daniel Bîrzu | 28 May 2002 | 1 | 0 | Viitorul Târgu Jiu | v. Slovakia, 7 June 2022 |
MF | Cătălin Cîrjan INJ | 1 December 2002 | 3 | 0 | Dinamo București | v. Montenegro, 11 October 2024 |
MF | Ștefan Baiaram | 31 December 2002 | 12 | 2 | Universitatea Craiova | v. Finland, 10 September 2024 |
MF | Rareș Pop | 14 June 2005 | 3 | 0 | Rapid București | v. Finland, 10 September 2024 |
MF | Andrei Bani | 22 August 2002 | 2 | 0 | Dinamo București | v. Finland, 10 September 2024 |
MF | Alexandru Musi | 17 July 2004 | 2 | 0 | FCSB | v. Armenia, 26 March 2024 |
MF | Luca Mihai | 11 October 2003 | 1 | 0 | Gloria Buzău | v. Armenia, 26 March 2024 |
MF | Andrei Pandele | 9 July 2003 | 0 | 0 | Voluntari | v. Armenia, 26 March 2024 |
MF | Ștefan Pănoiu | 23 September 2002 | 1 | 0 | Botoșani | v. Switzerland, November 21, 2023 |
MF | Aurelian Ciuciulete | 4 April 2003 | 0 | 0 | Concordia Chiajna | v. Switzerland, November 21, 2023 |
MF | Alexi Pitu | 5 June 2002 | 8 | 0 | Unattached | v. Albania, 12 September 2023 |
MF | Marian Danciu | 24 April 2002 | 1 | 1 | Universitatea Craiova | v. Albania, 12 September 2023 |
MF | Robert Filip | 2 March 2002 | 1 | 0 | CFR Cluj | v. Albania, 12 September 2023 |
FW | Rareș Burnete | 31 January 2004 | 3 | 0 | Lecce | v. Armenia, 26 March 2024 |
FW | Adrian Mazilu | 13 September 2005 | 7 | 0 | Brighton & Hove Albion | v. Switzerland, November 21, 2023 |
FW | Filip Ilie | 5 July 2002 | 1 | 0 | Unirea Slobozia | v. Switzerland, November 21, 2023 |
Role | Name |
---|---|
Head Coach | Daniel Pancu |
Assistant Coaches | Lucian Sânmartean Răzvan Rotaru |
Goalkeeping Coach | Răzvan Stanca |
Fitness Coach | Vlad Nicoară |
Video Analyst | Ovidiu Popescu |
Doctor | Costin Dan |
Video Analyst | Ovidiu Popescu |
Physioterapists | Constantin Crețu Mădălin Tălpălaru |
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