Croatia national under-21 football team

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Croatia U21
Nickname(s)Mladi Vatreni (The Young Blazers)
AssociationCroatian Football Federation (HNS)
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Head coachIgor Bišćan
CaptainBoško Šutalo
Most capsLuka Ivanušec (28)
Top scorerTomislav Bušić (12)
FIFA codeCRO
First colours
Second colours
First international
 Croatia 0–0 Italy 
13 February 1993
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)

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

Competition[]

UEFA U-21 Championship[]

UEFA U-21 Championship record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Squad Position Pld W D L GF GA Manager
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 To be determined 1/6 6 6 0 0 17 4 Igor Bišćan
Total Group stage 4/14 13 1 3 9 16 26 132 77 21 34 269 136
Notes
  • OFF = Lost in play-offs.

Recent fixtures[]

2021[]

25 March UEFA Under-21 Euro 2021 Portugal  1–0  Croatia Koper, Slovenia
21:00 CET
  • Vieira 68'
 Report Stadium: Bonifika Stadium
Referee: Bartosz Frankowski (Poland)
28 March UEFA Under-21 Euro 2021 Croatia  3–2   Switzerland Koper, Slovenia
18:00 CEST
Report
Stadium: Bonifika Stadium
Referee: Dennis Higler (Netherlands)
31 March UEFA Under-21 Euro 2021 Croatia  1–2  England Koper, Slovenia
18:00 CEST
Report
  • Eze 12' (pen.)
  • Jones 74'
 Stadium: Bonifika Stadium
Referee: Harm Osmers (Germany)
31 May UEFA Under-21 Euro 2021 Spain  2–1 (a.e.t.)  Croatia Maribor, Slovenia
18:00 CEST
Report
Stadium: Stadion Ljudski vrt
Referee: Giorgi Kruashvili (Georgia)
2 September UEFA Under-21 Euro 2023 qualification Croatia  2–0  Azerbaijan Velika Gorica, Croatia
19:00 CEST
Report Stadium: Gradski stadion
Referee: Denys Shurman (Ukraine)
7 September UEFA Under-21 Euro 2023 qualification Finland  0–2  Croatia Oulu, Finland
17:00 CEST Report
Stadium: Raatti Stadium
Referee: Vitor Ferreira (Portugal)
8 October UEFA Under-21 Euro 2023 qualification Croatia  3–2  Norway Varaždin, Croatia
18:00 CEST
Report
Stadium: Gradski stadion Varteks
Referee: Yaroslav Kozyk (Ukraine)
12 October UEFA Under-21 Euro 2023 qualification Azerbaijan  1–5  Croatia Sumgait, Azerbaijan
18:30 CEST
(20:30 AZT)
  • Gurbanli 55' (pen.)
 Report
Stadium: Kapital Bank Arena
Referee: Ondřej Berka (Czech Republic)
11 November UEFA Under-21 Euro 2023 qualification Croatia  2–0  Estonia Pula, Croatia
18:00 CET
Report Stadium: Stadion Aldo Drosina
Referee: Ishmael Barbara (Malta)
16 November UEFA Under-21 Euro 2023 qualification Austria  1–3  Croatia Ried im Innkreis, Austria
20:30 CET
Report
Stadium: Keine Sorgen Arena
Referee: Mohammed Al-Hakim (Sweden)

2022[]

Personnel[]

Technical staff[]

Position Name[1]
Head coach Croatia Igor Bišćan
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
Croatia Neven Golubar
Technical secretary Croatia Josip Tomaško
Kit men Croatia Milan Vincek
Croatia Luka Karlo

Players[]

The following is the list of players for the UEFA Under-21 Euro 2023 qualifying fixtures against  Estonia on 11 November 2021 and  Austria on 16 November 2021.

Caps and goals as of 16 November 2021 after match against  Austria; only matches as FIFA member are included.
No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Dominik Kotarski (2000-02-10) 10 February 2000 (age 21) 6 0 Croatia Gorica
23 1GK (2002-06-02) 2 June 2002 (age 19) 0 0 Croatia Dinamo Zagreb
1GK Renato Josipović (2001-06-12) 12 June 2001 (age 20) 0 0 Slovenia Bravo
2 2DF Hrvoje Smolčić (2000-08-17) 17 August 2000 (age 21) 2 0 Croatia Rijeka
3 2DF David Čolina (2000-07-19) 19 July 2000 (age 21) 11 0 Croatia Hajduk Split
4 2DF Boško Šutalo (captain) (2000-01-01) 1 January 2000 (age 22) 17 1 Italy Hellas Verona
5 2DF Josip Šutalo (2000-02-28) 28 February 2000 (age 21) 5 1 Croatia Dinamo Zagreb
6 2DF Bartol Franjić (2000-01-14) 14 January 2000 (age 22) 8 1 Croatia Dinamo Zagreb
14 2DF Mario Vušković (2001-11-16) 16 November 2001 (age 20) 9 1 Germany Hamburg
21 2DF Nikola Soldo (2001-01-25) 25 January 2001 (age 20) 3 0 Croatia Lokomotiva
2DF Stipe Radić (2000-06-10) 10 June 2000 (age 21) 0 0 Belgium Beerschot
8 3MF (2000-05-29) 29 May 2000 (age 21) 5 1 Croatia Gorica
10 3MF Luka Sučić (2002-09-08) 8 September 2002 (age 19) 4 4 Austria Red Bull Salzburg
15 3MF Ante Palaversa (2000-04-06) 6 April 2000 (age 21) 4 0 Belgium Kortrijk
16 3MF Martin Baturina (2003-02-16) 16 February 2003 (age 18) 4 0 Croatia Dinamo Zagreb
17 3MF Toni Fruk (2001-03-09) 9 March 2001 (age 20) 2 0 Croatia Gorica
19 3MF Marko Bulat (2001-09-26) 26 September 2001 (age 20) 1 0 Croatia Dinamo Zagreb
7 4FW Antonio Marin (2001-01-09) 9 January 2001 (age 21) 11 0 Croatia Šibenik
9 4FW Marin Ljubičić (2002-02-28) 28 February 2002 (age 19) 5 1 Croatia Hajduk Split
11 4FW Lukas Kačavenda (2003-03-02) 2 March 2003 (age 18) 6 1 Croatia Lokomotiva
18 4FW Stipe Biuk (2002-12-26) 26 December 2002 (age 19) 5 0 Croatia Hajduk Split
22 4FW Roko Šimić (2003-09-10) 10 September 2003 (age 18) 6 6 Austria Liefering
4FW (2001-06-26) 26 June 2001 (age 20) 1 0 Croatia Slaven Belupo
4FW Dion Drena Beljo (2002-03-01) 1 March 2002 (age 19) 1 0 Croatia Istra 1961

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 Ivor Pandur INJ (2000-03-25) 25 March 2000 (age 21) 4 0 Italy Hellas Verona v.  Estonia, 11 November 2021
DF Krešimir Krizmanić INJ (2000-07-03) 3 July 2000 (age 21) 5 0 Croatia Gorica v.  Estonia, 11 November 2021
DF Josip Stanišić SEN (2000-04-02) 2 April 2000 (age 21) 0 0 Germany Bayern Munich v.  Finland, 7 September 2021
DF Joško Gvardiol SEN (2002-01-23) 23 January 2002 (age 20) 6 1 Germany RB Leipzig Euro 2021 knockout stage
MF Jakov-Anton Vasilj (2002-06-02) 2 June 2002 (age 19) 1 0 Croatia Dinamo Zagreb v.  Azerbaijan, 12 October 2021
MF (2003-12-01) 1 December 2003 (age 18) 2 0 Germany Bayern Munich II v.  Azerbaijan, 12 October 2021
MF Niko Rak (2003-07-26) 26 July 2003 (age 18) 0 0 Croatia Šibenik v.  Azerbaijan, 12 October 2021
MF (2000-06-11) 11 June 2000 (age 21) 1 0 Croatia Gorica v.  Finland, 7 September 2021
MF Mario Čuić (2001-04-22) 22 April 2001 (age 20) 1 0 Croatia Hajduk Split v.  Finland, 7 September 2021
MF Adrian Liber (2001-01-09) 9 January 2001 (age 21) 2 0 Croatia Rijeka v.  Finland, 7 September 2021
FW Denis Bušnja (2000-04-14) 14 April 2000 (age 21) 3 0 Croatia Rijeka v.  Azerbaijan, 12 October 2021
FW Ivan Dolček (2000-04-24) 24 April 2000 (age 21) 6 0 Croatia Hajduk Split v.  Finland, 7 September 2021
FW Marco Pašalić INJ (2000-09-14) 14 September 2000 (age 21) 0 0 Germany Borussia Dortmund II v.  Azerbaijan, 2 September 2021
FW Matej Vuk (2000-06-10) 10 June 2000 (age 21) 1 0 Croatia Rijeka Euro 2021 knockout stage
Key
  • SEN = Joined the senior team.
  • INJ = Injured or ill.
  • WD = Withdrew from the squad.
  • SUS = Suspended from participating.

Past squads[]

  • 2000 UEFA European Under-21 Championship squad
  • 2004 UEFA European Under-21 Championship squad
  • 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship squad
  • 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship squads
    • Group stage squad
    • Knockout stage squad

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 U-21 managers who later coached Croatia's senior team
Manager Tenure Pld W D L Win % Tournaments
Croatia Martin Novoselac 1994–1996
2000–2004 		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 		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– 20 14 2 4 070.0 Symbol confirmed.svg 2021 European Championship – Quarter-finals

Last updated: Austria vs Croatia, 16 November 2021. Statistics include official FIFA-recognised matches only.

Most capped players[]

Before joining the senior team Vida played 19 matches for the U-21 team
# Name Career Caps Goals
1 Tomislav Bušić 2005–2008 29 12
2 Luka Ivanušec 2017–2021 28 10
3 Tomislav Vranjić 2002–2005 26 0
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 21 4
8 Borna Sosa 2017–2020 19 0
Tomo Šokota 1997–2000 19 10
Nikola Vlašić 2015–2019 19 7
Dejan Lovren 2007–2010 19 3
Davor Vugrinec 1994–1997 19 3
Mario Lučić 2002–2004 19 2
Domagoj Vida 2007–2010 19 2
Dario Smoje 1997–2000 19 1
Mario Carević 2001–2004 19 0
Luka Vučko 2004–2006 19 0

Last updated: Spain vs. Croatia, 31 May 2021

Source: Croatian Football Federation

Top goalscorers[]

Brozović scored 7 goals for the U-21 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 10 28
4 Josip Brekalo 2016–2019 9 17
5 Stipe Perica 2013–2016 8 12
Eduardo da Silva 2004–2005 8 12
7 Marcelo Brozović 2011–2014 7 13
Nikola Vlašić 2015–2019 7 19
9
Sandro Kulenović 2019–2021 6 15
Ante Rukavina 2007–2008 6 9
Mario Pašalić 2014–2016 6 14
Mihael Mikić 1999–2001 6 15

Last updated: Spain vs. Croatia, 31 May 2021

Source: Croatian Football Federation

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Croatia U-21". Croatian Football Federation. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  2. ^ He coached the U-21 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 U-21 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 U-21 team during the friendly 1:1 draw against Italy HNS: Croatia-Italy 1:1, 2005

External links[]

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