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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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 |
 1996 |
Did not qualify |
10 |
5 |
2 |
3 |
13 |
12 |
+1 |
Martin Novoselac |
 1998 |
8 |
4 |
0 |
4 |
13 |
9 |
+4 |
Ivo Šušak |
 2000 |
Group stage |
3 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
6 |
−2 |
10 |
7 |
2 |
1 |
28 |
9 |
+19 |
Ivo Šušak |
 2002 |
Did not qualify |
8 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
10 |
7 |
+3 |
Martin Novoselac |
 2004 |
Group stage |
3 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
−2 |
8 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
11 |
5 |
+6 |
Martin Novoselac |
 2006 |
Did not qualify |
12 |
8 |
1 |
3 |
16 |
11 |
+5 |
Slaven Bilić |
 2007 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
−2 |
Dražen Ladić |
 2009 |
10 |
7 |
1 |
2 |
20 |
12 |
+8 |
Dražen Ladić |
 2011 |
10 |
5 |
2 |
3 |
18 |
15 |
+3 |
Dražen Ladić |
 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 |
|
|
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 |
|
|
| 10 September 2012 |
Spain |
v |
Croatia |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[edit] 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) |
Karlovac |
5
|
0
|
v. Georgia, 3 June 2011 |
|
12
|
Matej Delač |
20 August 1992 (1992-08-20) (age 19) |
 Dynamo České Budějovice |
4
|
0
|
v.  Slovenia, 16 November 2010 |
| N/A |
Marko Vasilj |
6 May 1991 (1991-05-06) (age 20) |
Winterthur |
0
|
0
|
N/A |
| Defenders |
|
6
|
Mateo Pavlović |
9 June 1990 (1990-06-09) (age 21) |
NK Zagreb |
8
|
1
|
v. Slovenia, 16 November 2010 |
|
5
|
Renato Kelić |
31 March 1991 (1991-03-31) (age 20) |
Slovan Liberec |
7
|
0
|
v. Slovenia, 9 February 2011 |
|
13
|
Dino Škvorc |
2 February 1990 (1990-02-02) (age 22) |
 KV Mechelen |
4
|
0
|
v. Slovenia, 16 November 2010 |
| N/A |
Domagoj Antolić |
30 June 1990 (1990-06-30) (age 21) |
Lokomotiva |
3
|
0
|
v. Switzerland, 5 September 2011 |
|
3
|
Dino Štiglec |
3 October 1990 (1990-10-03) (age 21) |
NK Zagreb |
0
|
0
|
N/A |
| Midfielders |
|
7
|
Arijan Ademi |
29 May 1991 (1991-05-29) (age 20) |
Lokomotiva |
7
|
1
|
v. Spain, 9 October 2010 |
|
14
|
Filip Ozobić |
8 April 1991 (1991-04-08) (age 20) |
Hajduk Split |
6
|
0
|
v.  Macedonia, 11 February 2009 |
|
18
|
Mario Tičinović |
20 August 1991 (1991-08-20) (age 20) |
Nordsjælland |
6
|
0
|
v. Macedonia, 11 February 2009 |
|
2
|
Antonio Jakoliš |
28 February 1992 (1992-02-28) (age 20) |
 Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih |
5
|
0
|
v. Slovenia, 16 November 2010 |
| N/A |
Mateo Kovačić |
6 May 1994 (1994-05-06) (age 17) |
Dinamo Zagreb |
4
|
0
|
v. Georgia, 3 June 2011 |
|
15
|
Ivan Paurević |
1 July 1991 (1991-07-01) (age 20) |
Borussia Dortmund II |
2
|
0
|
v. Estonia, 10 October 2011 |
|
4
|
Tomislav Šarić |
24 June 1990 (1990-06-24) (age 21) |
Inter Zaprešić |
2
|
0
|
v.  Hungary, 28 March 2011 |
|
8
|
Damir Šovšić |
5 February 1990 (1990-02-05) (age 22) |
NK Zagreb |
2
|
0
|
v. Switzerland, 5 September 2011 |
|
17
|
Dejan Glavica |
20 August 1991 (1991-08-20) (age 20) |
Slaven Belupo |
1
|
0
|
v. Estonia, 14 November 2011 |
| Forwards |
|
9
|
Ante Vukušić (c) |
4 June 1991 (1991-06-04) (age 20) |
Hajduk Split |
10
|
3
|
v.  Norway, 11 August 2010 |
| N/A |
Ivan Lendrić |
8 August 1991 (1991-08-08) (age 20) |
Hajduk Split |
7
|
2
|
v. Slovenia, 16 November 2010 |
|
16
|
Petar Slišković |
21 February 1991 (1991-02-21) (age 21) |
St. Pauli |
7
|
0
|
v. Slovenia, 16 November 2010 |
|
19
|
Duje Čop |
1 February 1990 (1990-02-01) (age 22) |
RNK Split |
5
|
1
|
v. Georgia, 3 June 2011 |
|
10
|
Mario Šitum |
4 April 1992 (1992-04-04) (age 19) |
Lokomotiva |
4
|
0
|
v. Switzerland, 5 September 2011 |
[edit] 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 20) |
Lokomotiva |
2
|
0
|
v. Slovenia, 16 November 2010 |
v. Georgia, 3 June 2011 |
| Ante Topić |
|
Solin |
0
|
0
|
N/A |
v. Georgia, 3 June 2011 |
| Defenders |
| Tonći Kukoč |
25 September 1990 (1990-09-25) (age 21) |
Hajduk Split |
3
|
0
|
v. Switzerland, 5 September 2011 |
v. Estonia, 10 October 2011 |
| Dario Župarić |
5 March 1992 (1992-03-05) (age 19) |
Cibalia |
1
|
0
|
v. Spain, 6 October 2011 |
v. Estonia, 10 October 2011 |
| Karlo Bručić |
17 April 1992 (1992-04-17) (age 19) |
Lokomotiva |
0
|
0
|
N/A |
v. Estonia, 10 October 2011 |
| Tomislav Glumac |
14 May 1991 (1991-05-14) (age 20) |
RNK Split |
1
|
0
|
v. Switzerland, 5 September 2011 |
v. Switzerland, 5 September 2011 |
| Goran Jozinović |
27 August 1990 (1990-08-27) (age 21) |
Hajduk Split |
14
|
0
|
v.  Togo, 18 May 2008 |
v. Georgia, 3 June 2011 |
| Vedran Celjak |
13 August 1991 (1991-08-13) (age 20) |
 Pergocrema |
5
|
0
|
v. Slovenia, 16 November 2010 |
v. Georgia, 3 June 2011 |
| Dario Rugašević |
29 January 1991 (1991-01-29) (age 21) |
Cibalia |
3
|
0
|
v. Slovenia, 16 November 2010 |
v. Georgia, 3 June 2011 |
| Midfielders |
| Dario Vujičević |
1 April 1990 (1990-04-01) (age 21) |
Unattached |
8
|
0
|
v. Slovenia, 16 November 2010 |
v. Estonia, 10 October 2011 |
| Roberto Punčec |
27 October 1991 (1991-10-27) (age 20) |
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) |
Lokomotiva |
3
|
0
|
v. Switzerland, 5 September 2011 |
v. Estonia, 10 October 2011 |
| Antonini Čulina |
27 January 1992 (1992-01-27) (age 20) |
Rijeka |
0
|
0
|
N/A |
v. Spain, 6 October 2011 |
| Zvonko Pamić |
4 February 1991 (1991-02-04) (age 21) |
Duisburg |
5
|
1
|
v. France, 2 March 2010 |
v. Switzerland, 5 September 2011 |
| Dinko Trebotić |
30 July 1990 (1990-07-30) (age 21) |
NK Zagreb |
5
|
0
|
v. Slovenia, 16 November 2010 |
v. Switzerland, 5 September 2011 |
| Franko Andrijašević |
22 June 1991 (1991-06-22) (age 20) |
Hajduk Split |
3
|
0
|
v. Slovenia, 16 November 2010 |
v. Georgia, 3 June 2011 |
| Forwards |
| Andrej Kramarić |
19 June 1991 (1991-06-19) (age 20) |
Lokomotiva |
6
|
3
|
v. Norway, 5 September 2009 |
v. Georgia, 3 June 2011 |
| Filip Škvorc |
22 July 1991 (1991-07-22) (age 20) |
Lokomotiva |
1
|
1
|
v. Hungary, 28 March 2011 |
v. Georgia, 3 June 2011 |
[edit] Past squads
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
|
|
|
| Tournaments |
|
|
| Qualification |
|
|
| Squads |
|
|
Croatia 0-0 Italy 
Switzerland 4-0 Croatia 
1996
1998
2000
2004
2006
2007
2009
2011
2013
Georgia
5'
Dynamo České Budějovice
Slovenia, 16 November 2010
KV Mechelen
Macedonia, 11 February 2009
Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih
Hungary, 28 March 2011
Norway, 11 August 2010
Togo, 18 May 2008
France, 2 March 2010
