# Moldova national under-21 football team

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.
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.

## Results and fixtures

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

### 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification
#### Group D

| 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 | |

## Coaching staff
### Current coaching staff

| Position | Staff |
| Head coach | Serghei Cebotari |
| Assistant coach | Simeon Bulgaru |
| Goalkeeping coach | Serghei Botnaraș |
Last updated: 31 January 2025 Source: FMF

### Manager history

| Coach | 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– |

## Players
### Current squad

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 18 November 2024, after the match against Albania.
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
| 12 | 1GK | Daniel Vîrlan | (2005-09-18) 18 September 2005 (age 19) | 0 | 0 | Spartanii Sportul |
| 23 | 1GK | Artur Nazarciuc | (2004-01-06) 6 January 2004 (age 21) | 1 | 0 | Bălți |
| | 1GK | Roman Lazăr | (2004-01-14) 14 January 2004 (age 21) | 1 | 0 | Reggina |
| 4 | 2DF | Vlad Coliș | (2004-01-24) 24 January 2004 (age 21) | 4 | 0 | Dacia Buiucani |
| 5 | 2DF | Artiom Dijinari (captain) | (2005-10-26) 26 October 2005 (age 19) | 6 | 0 | Sheriff Tiraspol |
| 13 | 2DF | Vasile Luchița | (2004-07-16) 16 July 2004 (age 20) | 2 | 0 | Milsami Orhei |
| 15 | 2DF | Danila Forov | (2004-01-07) 7 January 2004 (age 21) | 4 | 0 | Sheriff Tiraspol |
| 20 | 2DF | Daniele Grosu | (2005-11-20) 20 November 2005 (age 19) | 2 | 0 | Treviso |
| | 2DF | Petar Gospodinov | (2005-03-09) 9 March 2005 (age 20) | 0 | 0 | Septemvri Sofia II |
| | 2DF | Mihail Gherasimencov | (2005-03-25) 25 March 2005 (age 19) | 0 | 0 | Cavalry |
| | 2DF | Iulian Bejan | (2004-03-04) 4 March 2004 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | Victoria Chișinău |
| 8 | 3MF | Cristian Păscăluță | (2005-09-08) 8 September 2005 (age 19) | 8 | 0 | Petrocub Hîncești |
| 18 | 3MF | Vasile Bîtlan | (2004-01-31) 31 January 2004 (age 21) | 1 | 0 | Fratria |
| 19 | 3MF | Vladislav Costin | (2004-02-24) 24 February 2004 (age 21) | 2 | 1 | Sheriff-2 Tiraspol |
| | 3MF | Sergiu Perciun | (2006-04-23) 23 April 2006 (age 18) | 0 | 0 | Torino Primavera |
| | 3MF | Pavel Nazari | (2005-06-12) 12 June 2005 (age 19) | 0 | 0 | Spartanii Sportul |
| | 3MF | Lucian Radu | (2005-11-01) 1 November 2005 (age 19) | 0 | 0 | Zimbru Chișinău |
| 2 | 4FW | Vitalie Dumbrava | (2004-04-23) 23 April 2004 (age 20) | 2 | 0 | Dacia Buiucani |
| 9 | 4FW | Vlad Lupașco | (2005-02-11) 11 February 2005 (age 20) | 8 | 0 | Dacia Buiucani |
| 10 | 4FW | Mihai Lupan | (2004-09-08) 8 September 2004 (age 20) | 11 | 1 | Petrocub Hîncești |
| 11 | 4FW | Nicu Rotaru | (2005-12-19) 19 December 2005 (age 19) | 4 | 0 | Spartanii Sportul |
| 17 | 4FW | Serghei Țurcan | (2004-07-27) 27 July 2004 (age 20) | 3 | 0 | Spartanii Sportul |
| 24 | 4FW | Veaceslav Cozma | (2005-03-01) 1 March 2005 (age 20) | 1 | 0 | Sheriff Tiraspol |
| | 4FW | Ion Ciobanu | (2006-02-13) 13 February 2006 (age 19) | 0 | 0 | Union Berlin U19 |

### Recent call-ups

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 | Virtus 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. |||||||

## Competition history
### UEFA European Under-21 Championship

* 1978 to 1992 – see Soviet Union
| UEFA U-21 European Championship | UEFA U-21 European Championship | UEFA U-21 European Championship | UEFA U-21 European Championship | UEFA U-21 European Championship | UEFA U-21 European Championship | UEFA U-21 European Championship | UEFA U-21 European Championship | UEFA U-21 European Championship | UEFA U-21 European Championship | UEFA U-21 Qualification record | UEFA U-21 Qualification record | UEFA U-21 Qualification record | UEFA U-21 Qualification record | UEFA U-21 Qualification record | UEFA U-21 Qualification record | UEFA U-21 Qualification record | UEFA U-21 Qualification record |
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Squad | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Campaign | Campaign |
| 1996 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 11 | 1996 | 1996 |
| 1998 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 17 | 1998 | 1998 |
| 2000 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 8 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 2000 | 2000 |
| 2002 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 13 | 2002 | 2002 |
| 2004 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 8 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 14 | 2004 | 2004 |
| 2006 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 12 | 2006 | 2006 |
| 2007 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 2007 | 2007 |
| 2009 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 2009 | 2009 |
| 2011 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 2011 | 2011 |
| 2013 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 24 | 2013 | 2013 |
| 2015 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 6 | 2015 | 2015 |
| 2017 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 10 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 18 | 2017 | 2017 |
| 2019 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 10 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 23 | 2019 | 2019 |
| 2021 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 22 | 2021 | 2021 |
| 2023 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 2023 | 2023 |
| 2025 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 10 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 20 | 2025 | 2025 |
| 2027 | In progress | In progress | In progress | In progress | In progress | In progress | In progress | In progress | In progress | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2027 | 2027 |
| Total | 0/16 | 0/16 | | | | | | | | 140 | 35 | 27 | 78 | 107 | 228 | | |

## Head-to-head record

Only competitive matches are included and correct as of 11 October 2024.
| 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 |