Croatia national under-21 football team

Croatia national under-21 football team
Croatia Under-21
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s) Mladi Vatreni ("The Young Blazers")
Association Croatian Football Federation
Head coach Ivo Šušak
Most caps Tomislav Vranjić (26)
Top scorer Tomislav Bušić (13)
Home colours
Away colours
First international
Croatia Croatia 0-0 Italy Italy
13 February 1993, friendly
Biggest win
Croatia Croatia 6-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina
Osijek, 5 September 1997, qual. EC
Biggest defeat
Croatia Croatia 0-4 Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina
Vinkovci, 17 November 2004, friendly
Switzerland Switzerland 4-0 Croatia Croatia
Sion, 5 September 2011, qual. EC
UEFA U-21 Championship
Appearances 2 (First in 2000)
Best result Group stage 2000 & 2004

The Croatia national under-21 football team, also known as Croatia under-21(s) or Croatia U21(s) is a youth association football national team which represents Croatia at this age level and is a feeder team for the Croatia national football team.

This team is for Croatian players aged 21 or under at the start of a two-year European Under-21 Football Championship campaign, so players can be, and often are, up to 23 years old. Also in existence are teams for Under-20s (for non-UEFA tournaments), Under-19s and Under 17s. As long as they are eligible, players can play at any level, making it possible to play for the U21s, senior side and again for the U21s, as Ivan Rakitić and Nikola Kalinić have done recently. It is also possible to play for one country at youth level and another at senior level (providing the player is eligible). For example, Ivan Rakitić is a former Switzerland U21 player who later became a Croatia international.

The under-21 age category came into existence with the realignment of UEFA's youth competitions in 1976. The Croatia U21 team was formed following Croatia's independence from SFR Yugoslavia in 1991 and is controlled by the Croatian Football Federation (from 1976 to 1990 Croatian players played for Yugoslavia U21). A goalless draw in a friendly against Italy played on 13 February 1992 was Croatia U21s' first result.

Contents

Competition history

As a European U21 team, Croatia compete for the European U21 Championship, with the finals held every odd-numbered year, formerly even-numbered years. There is no U21 World Cup, although there is an U20 World Cup. Since the Croatian Football Federation was recognised by UEFA in June 1993, in the middle of the two-year European Championship cycle, Croatia U21s began their first competitive campaign in 1994, in which they tried to qualify for the 1996 finals. They eventually finished 4th in a six-team group, with 5 wins out of 10 games and 4 points behind group winners Italy.

They failed to qualify for the next tournament in 1998, but then managed to win their first qualification for the 2000 tournament. However, they finished bottom of a four-team group in the group stage, losing to Netherlands and Czech Republic and drawing with Spain.

In their next five campaigns Croatia U21 managed to qualify for the finals only one more time (for the 2004 finals), but again they failed to progress past the group stage. They came close to qualifying for the 2002 and 2006 tournaments, as they had reached the qualification playoff round, but were knocked out by Czech Republic U21 and Serbia and Montenegro U21 respectively.

UEFA U-21 Championship record

UEFA U-21 Championship record UEFA U-21 Championship Qualification record Manager
Year Round Pld W D L GF GA GD Pld W D L GF GA GD
Spain 1996 Did not qualify 10 5 2 3 13 12 +1 Martin Novoselac
Romania 1998 8 4 0 4 13 9 +4 Ivo Šušak
Slovakia 2000 Group stage 3 0 1 2 4 6 −2 10 7 2 1 28 9 +19 Ivo Šušak
Switzerland 2002 Did not qualify 8 3 4 1 10 7 +3 Martin Novoselac
Germany 2004 Group stage 3 0 1 2 3 5 −2 8 4 2 2 11 5 +6 Martin Novoselac
Portugal 2006 Did not qualify 12 8 1 3 16 11 +5 Slaven Bilić
Netherlands 2007 2 0 0 2 2 4 −2 Dražen Ladić
Sweden 2009 10 7 1 2 20 12 +8 Dražen Ladić
Denmark 2011 10 5 2 3 18 15 +3 Dražen Ladić
Israel 2013 Qualification in progress 5 2 0 3 5 7 −2 Ivo Šušak
Total 6 0 2 4 7 11 −4 83 45 14 24 136 91 +45

2013 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship

Group 5

Teamv · d · e
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Spain 5 5 0 0 20 2 +18 15
 Switzerland 5 3 1 1 10 3 +7 10
 Croatia 5 2 0 3 5 7 −2 6
 Georgia 5 1 0 4 3 15 −12 3
 Estonia 4 0 1 3 0 11 −11 1
  Croatia Estonia Georgia (country) Spain Switzerland
Croatia  4–0 0–1 0–2 2 Jun
Estonia  0–1 5 Jun 31 May 0–0
Georgia  15 Aug 6 Sep 2–7 0–1
Spain  10 Sep 6–0 2–0 3–0
Switzerland  4–0 10 Sep 5–0 6 Sep



Current squad

The following is the list of players called up to the squad by manager Ivo Šušak for the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification match against Estonia played on 14 November 2011.[1]
Caps and goals listed refer to Croatia U21 team only, and are correct as of the last competitive match against Estonia U21 held on 14 November 2011. Sorted by caps.

# Name Date of Birth (Age) Club Caps Goals Debut
Goalkeepers
1
Lovre Kalinić 3 April 1990 (1990-04-03) (age 21) Croatia Hajduk Split
5
0
v.  Georgia, 3 June 2011
12
Matej Delač 20 August 1992 (1992-08-20) (age 19) Czech Republic Dynamo České Budějovice
4
0
v.  Slovenia, 16 November 2010
N/A Marko Vasilj 6 May 1991 (1991-05-06) (age 20) Switzerland Winterthur
0
0
N/A
Defenders
6
Mateo Pavlović 9 June 1990 (1990-06-09) (age 21) Croatia NK Zagreb
8
1
v.  Slovenia, 16 November 2010
5
Renato Kelić 31 March 1991 (1991-03-31) (age 20) Czech Republic Slovan Liberec
7
0
v.  Slovenia, 9 February 2011
13
Dino Škvorc 2 September 1990 (1990-09-02) (age 21) Croatia Lokomotiva
4
0
v.  Slovenia, 16 November 2010
N/A Domagoj Antolić 30 June 1990 (1990-06-30) (age 21) Croatia Lokomotiva
3
0
v.  Switzerland, 5 September 2011
3
Dino Štiglec 3 October 1990 (1990-10-03) (age 21) Croatia NK Zagreb
0
0
N/A
Midfielders
7
Arijan Ademi 29 May 1991 (1991-05-29) (age 20) Croatia Dinamo Zagreb
7
1
v.  Spain, 9 October 2010
14
Filip Ozobić 8 April 1991 (1991-04-08) (age 20) Russia Spartak Moscow
6
0
v.  Macedonia, 11 February 2009
18
Mario Tičinović 20 August 1991 (1991-08-20) (age 20) Croatia Hajduk Split
6
0
v.  Macedonia, 11 February 2009
2
Antonio Jakoliš 28 February 1992 (1992-02-28) (age 19) Croatia Šibenik
5
0
v.  Slovenia, 16 November 2010
N/A Mateo Kovačić 6 May 1994 (1994-05-06) (age 17) Croatia Dinamo Zagreb
4
0
v.  Georgia, 3 June 2011
15
Ivan Paurević 1 July 1991 (1991-07-01) (age 20) Germany Borussia Dortmund II
2
0
v.  Estonia, 10 October 2011
4
Tomislav Šarić 24 June 1990 (1990-06-24) (age 21) Croatia Inter Zaprešić
2
0
v.  Hungary, 28 March 2011
8
Damir Šovšić 5 February 1990 (1990-02-05) (age 21) Croatia NK Zagreb
2
0
v.  Switzerland, 5 September 2011
17
Dejan Glavica 20 August 1991 (1991-08-20) (age 20) Croatia Slaven Belupo
1
0
v.  Estonia, 14 November 2011
Forwards
9
Ante Vukušić (c) 4 June 1991 (1991-06-04) (age 20) Croatia Hajduk Split
10
3
v.  Norway, 11 August 2010
N/A Ivan Lendrić 8 August 1991 (1991-08-08) (age 20) Croatia Hajduk Split
7
2
v.  Slovenia, 16 November 2010
16
Petar Slišković 21 February 1991 (1991-02-21) (age 20) Germany St. Pauli
7
0
v.  Slovenia, 16 November 2010
19
Duje Čop 1 February 1990 (1990-02-01) (age 21) Croatia RNK Split
5
1
v.  Georgia, 3 June 2011
10
Mario Šitum 4 April 1992 (1992-04-04) (age 19) Croatia Dinamo Zagreb
4
0
v.  Switzerland, 5 September 2011

Recent callups

The following players have also been called up to the Croatia U21 squad during the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualifications and were not named in the above squad list for various reasons, but are still eligible for selection.
Sorted by most recent callup.

Name Date of Birth (Age) Club Caps Goals Debut Most Recent Callup
Goalkeepers
Dominik Picak 12 February 1992 (1992-02-12) (age 19) Croatia Lokomotiva
2
0
v.  Slovenia, 16 November 2010 v.  Georgia, 3 June 2011
Ante Topić Croatia Solin
0
0
N/A v.  Georgia, 3 June 2011
Defenders
Tonći Kukoč 25 September 1990 (1990-09-25) (age 21) Croatia Hajduk Split
3
0
v.  Switzerland, 5 September 2011 v.  Estonia, 10 October 2011
Dario Župarić 5 March 1992 (1992-03-05) (age 19) Croatia Cibalia
1
0
v.  Spain, 6 October 2011 v.  Estonia, 10 October 2011
Karlo Bručić 17 April 1992 (1992-04-17) (age 19) Croatia Dinamo Zagreb
0
0
N/A v.  Estonia, 10 October 2011
Tomislav Glumac 14 May 1991 (1991-05-14) (age 20) Croatia Hajduk Split
1
0
v.  Switzerland, 5 September 2011 v.  Switzerland, 5 September 2011
Goran Jozinović 27 August 1990 (1990-08-27) (age 21) Croatia Hajduk Split
14
0
v.  Togo, 18 May 2008 v.  Georgia, 3 June 2011
Vedran Celjak 13 August 1991 (1991-08-13) (age 20) Italy Pergocrema
5
0
v.  Slovenia, 16 November 2010 v.  Georgia, 3 June 2011
Dario Rugašević 29 January 1991 (1991-01-29) (age 20) Croatia Cibalia
3
0
v.  Slovenia, 16 November 2010 v.  Georgia, 3 June 2011
Midfielders
Dario Vujičević 1 April 1990 (1990-04-01) (age 21) Netherlands Twente
8
0
v.  Slovenia, 16 November 2010 v.  Estonia, 10 October 2011
Roberto Punčec 27 October 1991 (1991-10-27) (age 20) Israel Maccabi Tel Aviv
7
0
v.  France, 2 March 2010 v.  Estonia, 10 October 2011
Marcelo Brozović 16 November 1992 (1992-11-16) (age 19) Croatia Lokomotiva
3
0
v.  Switzerland, 5 September 2011 v.  Estonia, 10 October 2011
Antonini Čulina 27 January 1992 (1992-01-27) (age 19) Croatia Rijeka
0
0
N/A v.  Spain, 6 October 2011
Zvonko Pamić 4 February 1991 (1991-02-04) (age 20) Germany Duisburg
5
1
v.  France, 2 March 2010 v.  Switzerland, 5 September 2011
Dinko Trebotić 30 July 1990 (1990-07-30) (age 21) Croatia Hajduk Split
5
0
v.  Slovenia, 16 November 2010 v.  Switzerland, 5 September 2011
Franko Andrijašević 22 June 1991 (1991-06-22) (age 20) Croatia Dugopolje
3
0
v.  Slovenia, 16 November 2010 v.  Georgia, 3 June 2011
Forwards
Andrej Kramarić 19 June 1991 (1991-06-19) (age 20) Croatia Dinamo Zagreb
6
3
v.  Norway, 5 September 2009 v.  Georgia, 3 June 2011
Filip Škvorc 22 July 1991 (1991-07-22) (age 20) Croatia Lokomotiva
1
1
v.  Hungary, 28 March 2011 v.  Georgia, 3 June 2011

Past squads

See also

References

  1. ^ "Ivo Šušak objavio popis kandidata za Estoniju" (in Croatian). HNS-CFF.hr. 2 November 2011. http://www.hns-cff.hr/?ln=hr&w=vijesti&d=mladi_uzrasti&p=1&id=3465. Retrieved 2 November 2011. 

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