Croatia U21
Nickname(s)Mladi Vatreni (The Young Blazers)
AssociationCroatian Football Federation (HNS)
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Head coachDragan Skočić
CaptainBoško Šutalo
Most capsLuka Ivanušec (28)
Top scorerTomislav Bušić (13)
FIFA codeCRO
First colours
Second colours
First international
 Croatia 6–1 Hungary 
Zagreb, 14 October 1992
Biggest win
 Croatia 10–0 San Marino 
Zagreb, 8 October 2020
Biggest defeat
 Spain 6–0 Croatia 
Alicante, 10 September 2012
UEFA U-21 Championship
Appearances4 (first in 2000)
Best resultQuarter-finals (2021)
Websitehns-cff.hr

The Croatia national under-21 football team represents Croatia in association football matches for players aged 21 or under.

The team played its first match, a friendly against Hungary in Zagreb in 1992. Since that time, Croatia qualified for five UEFA European Under-21 Championship, namely 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.

UEFA European Under-21 Championship

2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification

Main article: 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification Group A
Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Norway 10 8 0 2 26 11 +15 24 Final tournament — 3–2 3–1 3–1 2–1 3–0
2  Croatia 10 7 1 2 25 10 +15 22 Play-offs 3–2 — 2–3 0–0 2–0 2–0
3  Finland 10 6 1 3 18 13 +5 19 0–2 0–2 — 3–1 3–0 1–0
4  Austria 10 5 1 4 22 13 +9 16 2–1 1–3 2–3 — 6–0 2–0
5  Azerbaijan 10 2 1 7 12 24 −12 7 1–2 1–5 1–1 0–3 — 3–0
6  Estonia 10 0 0 10 0 32 −32 0 0–5 0–4 0–3 0–4 0–5 —
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship play-offs

Main article: 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification play-offs

The four play-off winners qualify for the final tournament.

All times are CEST (UTC+2), as listed by UEFA (local times, if different, are in parentheses).

Team 1 Agg. Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Croatia  3–3 (5–4 p)  Denmark 2–1 1–2 (a.e.t.)
Slovakia  3–5  Ukraine 3–2 0–3
Republic of Ireland  1–1 (1–3 p)  Israel 1–1 0–0 (a.e.t.)
Iceland  1–2  Czech Republic 1–2 0–0

Results and fixtures

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

2022

3 June 2022 (2022-06-03) Euro 2023 qualif Gr A Norway  3–2  Croatia Drammen, Norway
18:00
Report
Stadium: Marienlyst
Referee: David Munro (Scotland)
Assistant referees: David Roome (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Craig Ferguson (Scotland)
Fourth official: Greg Aitken (Scotland)
8 June 2022 (2022-06-08) Euro 2023 qualif Gr A Estonia  0–4  Croatia Pärnu, Estonia
 Report
  • Šarnin Yellow card 79'
 Stadium: Pärnu Rannastaadion
Referee: Ashot Ghaltakhchyan (Armenia)
Assistant referees: Mesrop Ghazaryan (Armenia)
Assistant referees: Artur Gdlyan (Armenia)
Fourth official: Zaven Hovhannisyan (Armenia)
23 September 2022 (2022-09-23) Euro 2023 qualif play-offs Croatia  2–1  Denmark Pula, Croatia
18:00
Report
Stadium: Stadion Aldo Drosina
Referee: Goga Kikacheishvili (Georgia)
Assistant referees: Giorgi Elikashvili (Georgia)
Assistant referees: David Akhvlediani (Georgia)
Fourth official: Irakli Kvirikashvili (Georgia)
27 September 2022 (2022-09-27) Euro 2023 qualif play-offs Denmark  2–1 (a.e.t.)
(3–3 agg.)
(4–5 p)		  Croatia Vejle, Denmark
18:00 Report Stadium: Vejle Stadium
Referee: Sebastian Gishamer (Austria)
Assistant referees: Roland Riedel (Austria)
Assistant referees: Santino Schreiner (Austria)
Fourth official: Walter Altmann (Austria)
Penalties
17 November 2022 (2022-11-17) Friendly Croatia  3–1  Poland Pula, Croatia
18:00
Report
Stadium: Stadion Aldo Drosina
21 November 2022 (2022-11-21) Friendly Croatia  1–1  Austria Pula, Croatia
18:00
Report
Stadium: Stadion Aldo Drosina

2023

23 March 2023 (2023-03-23) Friendly Croatia  0–0  Israel Varaždin, Croatia
18:00 (UTC+02:00) Report
Stadium: Stadion Varteks
Referee: Toni Dadić (Croatia)
28 March 2023 (2023-03-28) Friendly England  1–2  Croatia London, England
19:45 (UTC+01:00)
Stadium: Craven Cottage
21 June 2023 (2023-06-21) 2023 Euro Gr B Ukraine  v  Croatia Bucharest, Romania
19:00 Report Stadium: Superbet Arena
24 June 2023 (2023-06-24) 2023 Euro Gr B Spain  v  Croatia Bucharest, Romania
21:45 Report Stadium: Superbet Arena
27 June 2023 (2023-06-27) 2023 Euro Gr B Croatia  v  Romania Bucharest, Romania
21:45 Report Stadium: Stadionul Steaua
12 September 2023 (2023-09-12) Euro 2025 qualif Gr G Faroe Islands  v  Croatia
13 October 2023 (2023-10-13) Euro 2025 qualif Gr G Greece  v  Croatia
17 October 2023 (2023-10-17) Euro 2025 qualif Gr G Croatia  v  Belarus
20 November 2023 (2023-11-20) Euro 2025 qualif Gr G Belarus  v  Croatia

2024

21 March 2024 (2024-03-21) Euro 2025 qualif Gr G Andorra  v  Croatia
26 March 2024 (2024-03-26) Euro 2025 qualif Gr G Portugal  v  Croatia
5 September 2024 (2024-09-05) Euro 2025 qualif Gr G Croatia  v  Faroe Islands
10 September 2024 (2024-09-10) Euro 2025 qualif Gr G Croatia  v  Portugal
11 October 2024 (2024-10-11) Euro 2025 qualif Gr G Croatia  v  Andorra
15 October 2024 (2024-10-15) Euro 2025 qualif Gr G Croatia  v  Greece

Coaching staff

Current coaching staff

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

Players

Current squad

The following was the final squad for the friendlies played against Israel and England on 23 and 28 March 2023.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Nikola Čavlina (2002-06-02) 2 June 2002 (age 20) 1 0 Croatia Lokomotiva Zagreb
1GK Dominik Kotarski (2000-02-10) 10 February 2000 (age 23) 12 0 Greece PAOK
1GK Ivor Pandur (2000-03-25) 25 March 2000 (age 23) 4 0 Netherlands Fortuna Sittard
2DF David Čolina (2000-07-19) 19 July 2000 (age 22) 15 0 Germany FC Augsburg
2DF Jan Jurčec (2000-11-27) 27 November 2000 (age 22) 2 0 Austria Rheindorf Altach
2DF Luka Jelenić (2000-05-24) 24 May 2000 (age 22) 2 0 Croatia Varaždin
2DF Roko Jureškin (2000-09-29) 29 September 2000 (age 22) 1 1 Italy Benevento
2DF Mauro Perković (2003-03-22) 22 March 2003 (age 20) 2 0 Croatia Dinamo Zagreb
2DF Hrvoje Smolčić (2000-08-17) 17 August 2000 (age 22) 6 0 Germany Eintracht Frankfurt
2DF Nikola Soldo (2001-01-25) 25 January 2001 (age 22) 8 1 Germany 1. FC Köln
3MF Martin Baturina (2003-02-16) 16 February 2003 (age 20) 8 0 Croatia Dinamo Zagreb
3MF Veldin Hodža (2002-10-15) 15 October 2002 (age 20) 5 0 Croatia Rijeka
3MF Niko Janković (2001-08-25) 25 August 2001 (age 21) 0 0 Croatia Rijeka
3MF Lukas Kačavenda (2003-03-02) 2 March 2003 (age 20) 9 1 Croatia Lokomotiva Zagreb
3MF Ante Palaversa (2000-04-06) 6 April 2000 (age 23) 8 0 France Troyes
3MF Jurica Pršir (2000-05-29) 29 May 2000 (age 22) 11 1 Croatia Gorica
4FW Dion Drena Beljo (2002-03-01) 1 March 2002 (age 21) 7 1 Germany FC Augsburg
4FW Ivan Dolček (2000-04-24) 24 April 2000 (age 23) 6 0 Croatia Šibenik
4FW Matija Frigan (2003-02-11) 11 February 2003 (age 20) 1 0 Croatia Rijeka
4FW Marin Ljubičić (2002-02-28) 28 February 2002 (age 21) 7 2 Austria LASK
4FW Antonio Marin (2001-01-09) 9 January 2001 (age 22) 15 1 Croatia Rijeka
4FW Roko Šimić (2003-09-10) 10 September 2003 (age 19) 14 7 Switzerland Zürich
4FW Luka Stojković (2003-10-28) 28 October 2003 (age 19) 3 0 Croatia Lokomotiva Zagreb
4FW Gabriel Vidović (2003-12-01) 1 December 2003 (age 19) 6 2 Netherlands Vitesse

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 Karlo Sentić (2001-06-03) 3 June 2001 (age 21) 1 0 Croatia Hajduk Split v.  Austria, 21 November 2022
DF Mislav Matić (2000-01-06) 6 January 2000 (age 23) 2 0 Croatia Šibenik v.  Austria, 21 November 2022
DF Marco Pašalić (2000-09-14) 14 September 2000 (age 22) 4 0 Germany Borussia Dortmund v.  Austria, 21 November 2022
DF Ivan Smolčić (2000-08-17) 17 August 2000 (age 22) 2 0 Croatia Rijeka v.  Austria, 21 November 2022
MF Marko Bulat (2001-09-26) 26 September 2001 (age 21) 3 0 Croatia Dinamo Zagreb v.  Austria, 21 November 2022
MF Luka Sučić (2002-09-08) 8 September 2002 (age 20) 7 5 Austria Red Bull Salzburg v.  Denmark, 27 September 2022
MF Jakov-Anton Vasilj (2002-06-02) 2 June 2002 (age 20) 1 0 Croatia Lokomotiva Zagreb v.  Denmark, 27 September 2022
FW Stipe Biuk (2002-12-26) 26 December 2002 (age 20) 10 2 United States Los Angeles FC v.  Austria, 21 November 2022
FW Ante Crnac (2003-12-17) 17 December 2003 (age 19) 1 0 Croatia Slaven Belupo v.  Austria, 21 November 2022
FW Igor Matanović (2003-03-31) 31 March 2003 (age 20) 1 0 Germany St. Pauli v.  Denmark, 27 September 2022
FW Michele Šego (2000-08-05) 5 August 2000 (age 22) 4 0 Croatia Varaždin v.  Austria, 21 November 2022
Key
  • SEN = Joined the senior team.
  • INJ = Injured or ill.
  • WD = Withdrew from the squad.
  • SUS = Suspended from participating.

Competative record

UEFA European Under-21 Championship

UEFA European Under-21 Championship record Qualifications record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Squad Position Pld W D L GF GA Manager
1978 Part of  Yugoslavia
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992 Not a UEFA member
France 1994 Not a UEFA member during qualifiers
Spain 1996 Did not qualify 4/6 10 5 2 3 13 12 Martin Novoselac
Romania 1998 3/5 8 4 0 4 13 9 Ivo Šušak
Slovakia 2000 Group stage 4/4 3 0 1 2 4 6 Squad 1/5 10 7 2 1 28 9 Ivo Šušak
Switzerland 2002 Did not qualify 2/4OFF 8 3 4 1 10 7 Martin Novoselac
Germany 2004 Group stage 4/4 3 0 1 2 3 5 Squad 1/4 8 4 2 2 11 5 Martin Novoselac
Portugal 2006 Did not qualify 1/6OFF 12 8 1 3 16 11 Slaven Bilić
Netherlands 2007 3/3 2 0 0 2 2 4 Dražen Ladić
Sweden 2009 2/6 10 7 1 2 20 12 Dražen Ladić
Denmark 2011 1/5OFF 10 5 2 3 18 15 Dražen Ladić
Israel 2013 4/5 8 2 1 5 7 16 Ivo Šušak
Czech Republic 2015 1/5OFF 10 6 1 3 22 9 Niko Kovač / Nenad Gračan
Poland 2017 3/6 10 6 2 2 24 11 Nenad Gračan
Italy 2019 Group stage 4/4 3 0 1 2 4 8 Squad 1/6 10 8 1 1 31 5 Nenad Gračan
Hungary Slovenia 2021 Quarter-finals 8 4 1 0 3 5 7 Squad 1 / Squad 2 2/6 10 6 2 2 37 7 Nenad Gračan/Igor Bišćan
Romania Georgia (country) 2023 Qualified 1/6 8 6 1 1 19 7 Igor Bišćan/Dragan Skočić
Total Group stage 4/23 13 1 3 9 16 26 134 77 22 35 271 139
Matches
First match  Croatia 1–2 Netherlands 
(Trnava, Slovakia; 27 May 2000)
Biggest win  Croatia 3–2 Switzerland 
(Koper, Slovenia; 28 March 2021)
Biggest defeat  Romania 4–1 Croatia 
(Serravalle, San Marino; 18 June 2019)
Notes

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
Bilić is one of two former U21 managers who later coached Croatia's senior team
Manager Tenure Pld W D L Win % Tournaments
Croatia Martin Novoselac 1994–1996
2000–2004 		54 19 20 15 035.2
Symbol delete vote.svg
1996 European Championship – Failed to qualify
Symbol delete vote.svg
2002 European Championship – Failed to qualify
Symbol confirmed.svg
2004 European Championship – Group stage
Croatia Ivo Šušak 1997–2000
2011–2013 		38 18 6 14 047.4
Symbol delete vote.svg
1998 European Championship – Failed to qualify
Symbol confirmed.svg
2000 European Championship – Group stage
Symbol delete vote.svg
2013 European Championship – Failed to qualify
Croatia Slaven Bilić 2004–2006 20 11 3 6 055.0
Symbol delete vote.svg
2006 European Championship – Play-offs
Croatia Aljoša Asanović (c) 2005 1 0 0 1 000.0
Symbol delete vote.svg
2006 European Championship – Failed to qualify[2]
Croatia Ivica Grnja (c) 2005 1 0 0 1 000.0
Symbol delete vote.svg
2006 European Championship – Failed to qualify[3]
Croatia Marijan Brnčić (c)[4] 2005 1 0 1 0 000.0 —
Croatia Dražen Ladić 2006–2011 32 20 6 6 062.50
Symbol delete vote.svg
2007 European Championship – Failed to qualify
Symbol delete vote.svg
2009 European Championship – Failed to qualify
Symbol delete vote.svg
2011 European Championship – Failed to qualify
Croatia Niko Kovač 2013 7 5 0 2 071.4 —
Croatia Nenad Gračan 2013–2019 41 21 9 11 051.2
Symbol delete vote.svg
2015 European Championship – Failed to qualify
Symbol delete vote.svg
2017 European Championship – Failed to qualify
Symbol confirmed.svg
2019 European Championship – Group stage
Croatia Igor Bišćan 2019–2023 30 18 5 7 060.0
Symbol confirmed.svg
2021 European Championship – Quarter-finals
Croatia Dragan Skočić 2023– 0 0 0 0 !—
Symbol confirmed.svg
2023 European Championship – TBD

Last updated: England vs Croatia, 28 March 2023. Statistics include official FIFA-recognised matches only.

Most capped players

Before joining the senior team Vida played 19 matches for the U21 team
Before joining the senior team Vida 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
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– 1
Mario Carević 2001–2004 0
Luka Vučko 2004–2006 0
Borna Sosa 2017–2020 0

Last updated: England vs Croatia, 28 March 2023

Source: Croatian Football Federation

Top goalscorers

Brozović scored 7 goals for the U21 team before he was promoted to the senior team
Brozović scored 7 goals for the U21 team before he was promoted to the senior team
# Name Career Goals Caps
1 Tomislav Bušić 2005–2008 12 29
2 Tomo Šokota 1997–2000 10 19
Luka Ivanušec 2017–2021 28
4 Josip Brekalo 2016–2019 9 17
5 Eduardo da Silva 2004–2005 8 12
Stipe Perica 2013–2016 12
7 Roko Šimić 2021– 7 11
Marcelo Brozović 2011–2014 13
Nikola Vlašić 2015–2019 19
10 Ante Rukavina 2007–2008 6 9
Mario Pašalić 2014–2016 14
Mihael Mikić 1999–2001 15
Sandro Kulenović 2019–2021 15
Nikola Moro 2017–2021 24

Last updated: England vs Croatia, 28 March 2023

Source: Croatian Football Federation

Record per opponent

Croatia under-21 results
  More wins than losses
  As many wins as losses
  Fewer wins than losses

Correct as of 28 March 2023, after the match against  England.

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 3 2 1 0 8 1 +7 066.67
 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 2 2 0 0 4 1 +3 100.00
 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 10 6 2 2 20 11 +9 060.00
 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 1 0 0 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 7 3 2 2 12 9 +3 042.86
 Slovenia 11 6 1 4 20 13 +7 054.55
 Spain 8 1 1 6 7 18 −11 012.50
 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 6 2 2 2 7 6 +1 033.33
 United Arab Emirates U23 1 1 0 0 3 0 +3 100.00
Total: 54 teams played 227 111 50 66 410 252 +158 048.90

Last updated: England vs Croatia, 28 March 2023

Source: Croatian Football Federation

See also

References

  1. ^ "Croatia U-21". Croatian Football Federation. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  2. ^ 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
  3. ^ 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
  4. ^ 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

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