# Romania national under-21 football team

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.)

## 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 Football Championship record | UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship record | UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship record | UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship record | UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship record | UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship record | UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship record | UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship record | UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Qualification record | UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Qualification record | UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Qualification record | UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Qualification record | UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Qualification 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 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 8 |
| 1980 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 3 |
| 1982 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 12 |
| 1984 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 12 |
| 1986 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 7 |
| 1988 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 7 |
| 1990 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 7 |
| 1992 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 9 |
| 1994 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 10 |
| 1996 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | 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 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 8 |
| 2002 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 5 |
| 2004 | 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 | 7 |
| 2006 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 17 | 8 |
| 2007 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| 2009 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 3 |
| 2011 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 23 | 6 |
| 2013 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 6 |
| 2015 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 19 |
| 2017 | 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 | 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 | Group stage | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | Qualified as hosts | Qualified as hosts | Qualified as hosts | Qualified as hosts | Qualified as hosts | Qualified as hosts |
| Total | 4/24 | 13 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 15 | 18 | 160 | 87 | 31 | 52 | 268 | 181 |

### 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 record | Olympic Games record | Olympic Games record | Olympic Games record | Olympic Games record | Olympic Games record | Olympic Games record | Olympic Games record | Olympic Games Qualification record ** | Olympic Games Qualification record ** | Olympic Games Qualification record ** | Olympic Games Qualification record ** | Olympic Games Qualification record ** | Olympic Games Qualification record ** |
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D * | L | GF | GA | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
| 1992 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 9 |
| 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 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 17 | 10 |
| 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 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 8 |
| 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 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| 2008 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| 2012 | 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 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 23 | 6 |
| 2016 | 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 | 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 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | | | | | | |
| 2028 | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined | 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 Football Championship.
    ***Gold background color indicates that the tournament was won. Red border color indicates tournament was held on home soil.

### EURO 2025

| Pos | Teamvte | 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 | — |

## Results and fixtures

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

## Players
### Current squad

The following players were called up for the friendly matches against Portugal and Netherlands on 21 and 25 March 2025 respectively.
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
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
| | 1GK | Otto Hindrich | (2002-08-02) 2 August 2002 (age 22) | 1 | 0 | CFR Cluj |
| | 1GK | Vlad Răfăilă | (2005-02-17) 17 February 2005 (age 20) | 0 | 0 | Lecce |
| 23 | 1GK | Alexandru Roșca | (2003-11-12) 12 November 2003 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | Dinamo București |
| 3 | 2DF | Cristian Ignat | (2003-01-29) 29 January 2003 (age 22) | 9 | 0 | Rapid București |
| 11 | 2DF | Andrei Borza | (2005-11-12) 12 November 2005 (age 19) | 8 | 1 | Rapid București |
| | 2DF | Matei Ilie | (2002-12-11) 11 December 2002 (age 22) | 6 | 2 | CFR Cluj |
| 5 | 2DF | Ümit Akdağ | (2003-10-06) 6 October 2003 (age 21) | 4 | 1 | Toulouse |
| 4 | 2DF | Costin Amzăr | (2003-07-11) 11 July 2003 (age 21) | 3 | 0 | Al-Nasr |
| | 2DF | Darius Oroian | (2003-08-01) 1 August 2003 (age 21) | 1 | 0 | Sepsi OSK |
| | 2DF | Dan Sîrbu | (2003-04-22) 22 April 2003 (age 21) | 1 | 0 | Farul Constanța |
| | 2DF | Matteo Duțu | (2005-11-23) 23 November 2005 (age 19) | 0 | 0 | Milan Futuro |
| 8 | 3MF | Constantin Grameni | (2002-10-23) 23 October 2002 (age 22) | 17 | 3 | Rapid București |
| 17 | 3MF | Marius Corbu | (2002-05-07) 7 May 2002 (age 22) | 15 | 1 | APOEL |
| 7 | 3MF | Ianis Stoica | (2002-12-08) 8 December 2002 (age 22) | 12 | 3 | Hermannstadt |
| | 3MF | Ștefan Baiaram | (2002-12-31) 31 December 2002 (age 22) | 12 | 2 | Universitatea Craiova |
| 19 | 3MF | Rareș Ilie | (2003-04-19) 19 April 2003 (age 21) | 10 | 3 | Catanzaro |
| 6 | 3MF | Ovidiu Perianu | (2002-04-16) 16 April 2002 (age 22) | 5 | 0 | Unirea Slobozia |
| | 3MF | Cătălin Cîrjan | (2002-12-01) 1 December 2002 (age 22) | 3 | 0 | Dinamo București |
| | 3MF | Alexandru Musi | (2004-07-17) 17 July 2004 (age 20) | 2 | 0 | FCSB |
| 21 | 3MF | Cristian Mihai | (2004-09-23) 23 September 2004 (age 20) | 1 | 1 | UTA Arad |
| | 3MF | Andrei Gheorghiță | (2002-07-16) 16 July 2002 (age 22) | 0 | 0 | FCSB |
| 9 | 4FW | Louis Munteanu (captain) | (2002-06-16) 16 June 2002 (age 22) | 15 | 5 | CFR Cluj |
| | 4FW | Ionuț Cojocaru | (2003-07-26) 26 July 2003 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | Farul Constanța |

### Recent call-ups

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 | Răzvan Sava | (2002-06-21) 21 June 2002 (age 22) | 10 | 0 | Udinese | v. Switzerland, 15 October 2024 |
| GK | Robert Popa | (2003-03-05) 5 March 2003 (age 22) | 1 | 0 | FC U Craiova | v. Switzerland, 15 October 2024 |
| GK | Alexandru Borbei | (2003-06-27) 27 June 2003 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | CFR Cluj | v. Albania, 12 September 2023 |
| DF | Alexandru Pantea | (2003-09-11) 11 September 2003 (age 21) | 12 | 0 | FCSB | v. Switzerland, 15 October 2024 |
| DF | Gabriel Dănuleasă | (2003-05-08) 8 May 2003 (age 21) | 3 | 0 | Afumați | v. Switzerland, 15 October 2024 |
| DF | David Maftei | (2004-07-12) 12 July 2004 (age 20) | 2 | 0 | Oțelul Galați | v. Switzerland, 15 October 2024 |
| DF | Cristian Licsandru | (2003-03-27) 27 March 2003 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | Dinamo București | v. Switzerland, 15 October 2024 |
| DF | Tony Strata | (2004-09-07) 7 September 2004 (age 20) | 2 | 0 | Ajaccio | v. Finland, 10 September 2024 |
| DF | Bogdan Oteliță | (2002-08-12) 12 August 2002 (age 22) | 2 | 0 | Sepsi OSK | v. Finland, 10 September 2024 |
| DF | Ștefan Ștefanovici | (2002-02-20) 20 February 2002 (age 23) | 1 | 0 | Politehnica Iași | v. Finland, 10 September 2024 |
| DF | Ștefan Duțu | (2004-02-16) 16 February 2004 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | Afumați | v. Finland, 10 September 2024 |
| DF | Sergiu Rimovecz | (2003-07-29) 29 July 2003 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | CSM Reșița | v. Finland, 10 September 2024 |
| DF | Răzvan Pașcalău | (2004-05-05) 5 May 2004 (age 20) | 0 | 0 | Dinamo București | v. Switzerland, November 21, 2023 |
| DF | Gabriel Buta | (2002-01-29) 29 January 2002 (age 23) | 0 | 0 | Farul Constanța | v. Switzerland, November 21, 2023 |
| DF | Radu Drăgușin | (2002-02-03) 3 February 2002 (age 23) | 9 | 0 | Tottenham Hotspur | v. Netherlands, 27 September 2022 |
| DF | Andrei Coubiș | (2003-09-29) 29 September 2003 (age 21) | 1 | 0 | Milan Futuro | v. Netherlands, 27 September 2022 |
| DF | Daniel Bîrzu | (2002-05-28) 28 May 2002 (age 22) | 1 | 0 | Dunărea Călărași | v. Slovakia, 7 June 2022 |
| MF | Octavian Popescu | (2002-12-27) 27 December 2002 (age 22) | 15 | 2 | FCSB | v. Switzerland, 15 October 2024 |
| MF | Cătălin Vulturar | (2004-03-09) 9 March 2004 (age 21) | 8 | 1 | Rapid București | v. Switzerland, 15 October 2024 |
| MF | Mihnea Rădulescu | (2005-09-17) 17 September 2005 (age 19) | 2 | 1 | Petrolul Ploiești | v. Switzerland, 15 October 2024 |
| MF | Robert Silaghi | (2002-04-02) 2 April 2002 (age 22) | 2 | 0 | Universitatea Cluj | v. Switzerland, 15 October 2024 |
| MF | Rareș Pop | (2005-06-14) 14 June 2005 (age 19) | 3 | 0 | Rapid București | v. Finland, 10 September 2024 |
| MF | Andrei Bani | (2002-08-22) 22 August 2002 (age 22) | 2 | 0 | Oțelul Galați | v. Finland, 10 September 2024 |
| MF | Luca Mihai | (2003-10-11) 11 October 2003 (age 21) | 1 | 0 | Gloria Buzău | v. Armenia, 26 March 2024 |
| MF | Andrei Pandele | (2003-07-09) 9 July 2003 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | Voluntari | v. Armenia, 26 March 2024 |
| MF | Ștefan Pănoiu | (2002-09-23) 23 September 2002 (age 22) | 1 | 0 | Botoșani | v. Switzerland, November 21, 2023 |
| MF | Aurelian Ciuciulete | (2003-04-04) 4 April 2003 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | Concordia Chiajna | v. Switzerland, November 21, 2023 |
| MF | Alexi Pitu | (2002-06-05) 5 June 2002 (age 22) | 8 | 0 | Dunkerque | v. Albania, 12 September 2023 |
| MF | Marian Danciu | (2002-04-24) 24 April 2002 (age 22) | 1 | 1 | UTA Arad | v. Albania, 12 September 2023 |
| MF | Robert Filip | (2002-03-02) 2 March 2002 (age 23) | 1 | 0 | Botoșani | v. Albania, 12 September 2023 |
| FW | Vladislav Blănuță | (2002-01-12) 12 January 2002 (age 23) | 5 | 0 | Universitatea Cluj | v. Switzerland, 15 October 2024 |
| FW | Rareș Burnete | (2004-01-31) 31 January 2004 (age 21) | 3 | 0 | Lecce | v. Armenia, 26 March 2024 |
| FW | Adrian Mazilu | (2005-09-13) 13 September 2005 (age 19) | 7 | 0 | Brighton & Hove Albion | v. Switzerland, November 21, 2023 |
| FW | Filip Ilie | (2002-07-05) 5 July 2002 (age 22) | 1 | 0 | Unirea Slobozia | 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.