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| Captain = [[Artur Ioniță]]
| Captain = [[Artur Ioniță]]
| Most caps = [[Alexandru Epureanu]] (100)
| Most caps = [[Alexandru Epureanu]] (100)
| Top scorer = [[Serghei Cleșcenco]] (11)
| Top scorer = [[Ion Nicolaescu]] (12)
| Home Stadium = [[Stadionul Zimbru]]
| Home Stadium = [[Stadionul Zimbru]]
| FIFA Trigramme = MDA
| FIFA Trigramme = MDA

Revision as of 20:49, 20 June 2023

Moldova
Nickname(s)Tricolorii (The Tricolours)
AssociationFederația Moldovenească de Fotbal (FMF)
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Head coachSerghei Cleșcenco
CaptainArtur Ioniță
Most capsAlexandru Epureanu (100)
Top scorerIon Nicolaescu (12)
Home stadiumStadionul Zimbru
FIFA codeMDA
First colours
Second colours
Third colours
FIFA ranking
Current 152 Steady (18 July 2024)[1]
Highest37 (April 2008)
Lowest181 (October 2021)
First international
Unofficial
 Moldova 2–4 Georgia 
(Chişinău, Moldavian SSR; 2 July 1991)
Official
 United States 1–1 Moldova 
(Jacksonville, United States; 16 April 1994)
Biggest win
 Pakistan 0–5 Moldova 
(Amman, Jordan; 18 August 1992)
Biggest defeat
 Denmark 8–0 Moldova 
(Herning, Denmark; 28 March 2021)

The Moldova national football team (Romanian: Echipa națională de fotbal a Moldovei) represents Moldova in international football and is controlled by the Moldovan Football Federation, the governing body for football in Moldova. Moldova's home ground is Zimbru Stadium in Chișinău and their head coach is Serghei Cleșcenco. Shortly before the break-up of the Soviet Union, they played their first match against Georgia on 2 July 1991.

Two of their three best results in the 1990s came during the qualifiers for UEFA Euro 1996, with wins over Georgia (1–0) in Tbilisi and Wales (3–2) in Chișinău. In 2007, Moldova obtained a very good result, defeating Hungary 3–0 in Chișinău in Euro 2008 qualifying. Their best recent result was a 5–2 win over Montenegro during 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying. The team has never qualified for the final stages of the UEFA European Championship nor the FIFA World Cup as of present time.

Following Moldova's 4–0 defeat to England in September 1997, British writer and comedian Tony Hawks travelled to Moldova to challenge and beat all 11 Moldovan international footballers at tennis. The feature film version of the book of the same name, Playing the Moldovans at Tennis, was filmed in and around Chișinău in May and June 2010 and was released in the spring of 2012.

History

The Moldovan Football Federation was founded in 1990. However, the national football team of Moldova did not play an official international match until 1991, when Moldova lost to Georgia.

Moldova's first attempt to qualify for the FIFA World Cup was in 1998, but they failed to qualify for the tournament. Moldova has finished either last or second last in all tournament qualifying campaigns entered to date, except UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying, in which they finished fifth in the seven-team Group C with 12 points.

Current sponsorship

German sports company Jako has been Moldova's official kit manufacturer since 2000.

Results and fixtures

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixture

2022

22 September 2022 (2022-09-22) 2022–23 UEFA Nations League Latvia  1–2  Moldova Riga, Latvia
20:45
  • Ikaunieks 55'
Report Stadium: Skonto Stadium
Attendance: 6,711
Referee: António Nobre (Portugal)
25 September 2022 (2022-09-25) 2022–23 UEFA Nations League Moldova  2–0  Liechtenstein Chişinău, Moldova
17:45
Report Stadium: Zimbru Stadium
Attendance: 5,774
Referee: Stéphanie Frappart (France)
16 November 2022 Friendly Moldova  1–2  Azerbaijan Chişinău, Moldova
19:00
Report
Stadium: Zimbru Stadium
Attendance: 3,742
Referee: Denys Shurman (Ukraine)
20 November 2022 Friendly Moldova  0–5  Romania Chişinău, Moldova
20:30
Stadium: Zimbru Stadium
Attendance: 6,145
Referee: Yaşar Kemal Uğurlu (Turkey)

2023

24 March 2023 (2023-03-24) UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Moldova  1–1  Faroe Islands Chișinău, Moldova
20:45 Report Stadium: Zimbru Stadium
Attendance: 4,732
Referee: Nick Walsh (Scotland)
27 March 2023 (2023-03-27) UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Moldova  0–0  Czech Republic Chișinău, Moldova
20:45 Report Stadium: Zimbru Stadium
Attendance: 5,120
Referee: Daniel Schlager (Germany)
17 June 2023 (2023-06-17) UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Albania  2–0  Moldova Tirana, Albania
20:45
Report Stadium: Arena Kombëtare
Attendance: 20,944
Referee: Dennis Higler (Netherlands)
20 June 2023 (2023-06-20) UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Moldova  v  Poland Chișinău, Moldova
20:45 Report Stadium: Zimbru Stadium
Referee: Filip Glova (Slovakia)
10 September 2023 (2023-09-10) UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Faroe Islands  v  Moldova Tórshavn, Faroe Islands
20:45 Report Stadium: Tórsvøllur
12 October 2023 (2023-10-12) Friendly Sweden  v  Moldova Solna, Sweden
Stadium: Friends Arena
15 October 2023 (2023-10-15) UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Poland  v  Moldova TBD, Poland
20:45 Report Stadium: TBD
17 November 2023 (2023-11-17) UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Moldova  v  Albania Chișinău, Moldova
20:45 Report Stadium: Zimbru Stadium
20 November 2023 (2023-11-20) UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Czech Republic  v  Moldova Olomouc, Czech Republic
20:45 Report Stadium: Andrův Stadion

Coaching staff

Current coaching staff

Position Staff
Head coach Moldova Serghei Cleșcenco
Assistant coaches Moldova Vitalie Culibaba
Moldova Sergiu Secu
Goalkeeping coach Moldova Denis Romanenco
Fitness coach Moldova Alexei Scorpan

Last updated: 30 March 2021
Source: FMF

Manager history

Former forward and all-time top goalscorer of Moldova is the current head coach of Moldova national team since December 2021.[3]

Statistics correct as of match played on 25 September 2022[4]
Coach Nat. Period Played Win Drawn Loss % Won
Ion Caras Moldova 1991–1992 2 0 1 1 000.00
Eugen Piunovschi Russia 1992 5 3 0 2 060.00
Ion Caras Moldova 1992–1997 27 5 3 19 018.52
Alexandru Mațiura (interim) Moldova 1998 1 0 0 1 000.00
Ivan Daniliants Moldova 1998–1999 14 2 7 5 014.29
Alexandru Mațiura Moldova 1999–2001 16 4 4 8 025.00
Alexandru Spiridon Moldova 2001 4 1 0 3 025.00
Viktor Pasulko Ukraine 2002–2005 35 7 8 20 020.00
Anatol Teslev Moldova 2006 6 1 2 3 016.67
Igor Dobrovolski Russia 2007–2009 30 7 9 14 023.33
Gavril Balint Romania 2010–2011 18 5 2 11 027.78
Ion Caras Moldova 2012–2014 27 6 7 14 022.22
Alexandru Curtianu Moldova 2014–2015 10 0 4 6 000.00
Ștefan Stoica (interim) Romania 2015 3 0 0 3 000.00
Igor Dobrovolski Russia 2016–2017 18 2 5 11 011.11
Alexandru Spiridon Moldova 2018–2019 16 3 5 8 018.75
Semen Altman Ukraine 2019 4 0 0 4 000.00
Engin Fırat Turkey 2019–2020 11 0 2 9 000.00
Roberto Bordin Italy 2021 12 1 1 10 008.33
Serghei Cleșcenco Moldova 2022– 10 5 1 4 050.00

Players

Current squad

The following 23 players were selected for the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying matches on 17 and 20 June 2023 against  Albania and  Poland, respectively.[5]

Caps and goals updated as of 27 March 2023, after the match against Czech Republic.[6]

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Dumitru Celeadnic (1992-04-23) 23 April 1992 (age 32) 6 0 Moldova Sheriff Tiraspol
12 1GK Cristian Avram (1994-07-27) 27 July 1994 (age 30) 9 0 Moldova Petrocub Hîncești
23 1GK Dorian Răilean (1993-10-13) 13 October 1993 (age 30) 8 0 Romania Unirea Dej
1GK Alexei Koșelev (1993-11-19) 19 November 1993 (age 30) 25 0 Greece Lamia
1GK Victor Străistari (1999-06-21) 21 June 1999 (age 25) 0 0 Moldova Bălți

3 2DF Mihail Ștefan (2001-08-07) 7 August 2001 (age 23) 0 0 Moldova Sfîntul Gheorghe
4 2DF Victor Mudrac (1994-03-03) 3 March 1994 (age 30) 10 0 Moldova Petrocub Hîncești
5 2DF Veaceslav Posmac (1990-11-07) 7 November 1990 (age 33) 61 2 Turkey Boluspor
14 2DF Artur Crăciun (1998-06-29) 29 June 1998 (age 26) 14 0 Israel Hapoel Kfar Saba
15 2DF Ion Jardan (1990-01-10) 10 January 1990 (age 34) 49 0 Moldova Petrocub Hîncești
20 2DF Sergiu Plătică (1991-06-09) 9 June 1991 (age 33) 39 0 Moldova Petrocub Hîncești
21 2DF Ioan-Călin Revenco (2000-06-26) 26 June 2000 (age 24) 15 1 Moldova Petrocub Hîncești
2DF Oleg Reabciuk (1998-01-16) 16 January 1998 (age 26) 39 0 Greece Olympiacos
2DF Denis Marandici (1996-09-18) 18 September 1996 (age 27) 7 0 Azerbaijan Turan Tovuz
2DF Daniel Dumbrăvanu (2001-07-22) 22 July 2001 (age 23) 5 0 Italy SPAL
2DF Vladislav Baboglo (1998-11-14) 14 November 1998 (age 25) 0 0 Ukraine Oleksandriya

2 3MF Alexandr Belousov (1998-05-14) 14 May 1998 (age 26) 5 0 Bulgaria Spartak Varna
6 3MF Cristian Dros (1998-04-15) 15 April 1998 (age 26) 14 0 Belarus Slavia Mozyr
7 3MF Serafim Cojocari (2001-01-07) 7 January 2001 (age 23) 2 0 Moldova Bălți
8 3MF Nichita Moțpan (2001-07-17) 17 July 2001 (age 23) 8 2 Moldova Bălți
11 3MF Mihail Caimacov (1998-07-22) 22 July 1998 (age 26) 20 1 Russia Torpedo Moscow
16 3MF Victor Stînă (1998-03-20) 20 March 1998 (age 26) 7 2 Greece Panserraikos
17 3MF Victor Bogaciuc (1999-10-17) 17 October 1999 (age 24) 3 0 Moldova Petrocub Hîncești
22 3MF Vadim Rață (captain) (1993-05-05) 5 May 1993 (age 31) 36 1 Romania Voluntari
3MF Artur Ioniță (1990-08-17) 17 August 1990 (age 34) 67 3 Italy Modena

9 4FW Ion Nicolaescu (1998-09-07) 7 September 1998 (age 25) 32 10 Israel Beitar Jerusalem
10 4FW Vitalie Damașcan (1999-01-24) 24 January 1999 (age 25) 26 2 Romania Voluntari
13 4FW Maxim Cojocaru (1998-01-13) 13 January 1998 (age 26) 11 0 Moldova Petrocub Hîncești
18 4FW Marius Iosipoi (2000-04-28) 28 April 2000 (age 24) 6 0 Moldova Petrocub Hîncești
19 4FW Virgiliu Postolachi (2000-03-17) 17 March 2000 (age 24) 9 0 Romania UTA Arad

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up for the team within the last 12 months.[7]

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up

DF Igor Armaș (1987-07-14) 14 July 1987 (age 37) 83 6 Romania Voluntari v.  Romania, 20 November 2022
DF Iurie Iovu (2002-07-06) 6 July 2002 (age 22) 3 0 Croatia Istra 1961 v.  Romania, 20 November 2022
DF Vadim Bolohan (1986-08-15) 15 August 1986 (age 38) 40 1 Moldova Milsami Orhei v.  Romania, 20 November 2022

MF Mihai Plătică (1990-03-15) 15 March 1990 (age 34) 9 1 Moldova Petrocub Hîncești v.  Romania, 20 November 2022
MF Eugeniu Cociuc (1993-05-11) 11 May 1993 (age 31) 29 0 Armenia Pyunik v.  Azerbaijan, 16 November 2022

FW Nicky Cleșcenco (2001-07-23) 23 July 2001 (age 23) 4 0 Switzerland Sion v.  Azerbaijan, 16 November 2022

INJ Withdrew due to injury
PRE Preliminary squad / standby
RET Retired from the national team
SUS Serving suspension
WD Player withdrew from the squad due to non-injury issue.

Player records

As of match played 27 March 2023[8][9]
Players in bold are still active with Moldova.

Most appearances

Alexandru Epureanu is Moldova's most capped player with 100 appearances.
Rank Player Caps Goals Career
1 Alexandru Epureanu 100 7 2006–2021
2 Igor Armaș 83 6 2008–present
3 Victor Golovatenco 79 3 2004–2017
4 Radu Rebeja 74 2 1991–2008
5 Serghei Cleșcenco 69 11 1991–2006
6 Eugeniu Cebotaru 68 1 2007–2020
7 Artur Ioniță 67 3 2009–present
8 Alexandru Gațcan 63 5 2005–2018
9 Veaceslav Posmac 61 2 2013–present
10 Alexandru Suvorov 59 5 2006–2020

Top goalscorers

Rank Player Goals Caps Average Career
1 Serghei Cleșcenco 11 69 0.16 1991–2006
2 Ion Nicolaescu 10 32 0.31 2018–present
3 Serghei Rogaciov 9 52 0.17 1996–2007
4 Sergiu Dadu 8 30 0.27 2002–2013
Iurie Miterev 8 36 0.22 1992–2006
Igor Bugaiov 8 54 0.15 2007–2017
7 Eugen Sidorenco 7 35 0.2 2010–2019
Viorel Frunză 7 37 0.19 2002–2015
Radu Gînsari 7 47 0.15 2012–present
Alexandru Epureanu 7 100 0.07 2006–2021

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup record Qualification record
Year Result Position Pld W D L GF GA Squad Pos Pld W D L GF GA
1930 to 1938 Part of  Romania Part of  Romania
1950 to 1990 Part of  Soviet Union Part of  Soviet Union
United States 1994 Not a FIFA member Not a FIFA member[10]
France 1998 Did not qualify 5th 8 0 0 8 2 21
South Korea Japan 2002 5th 10 1 3 6 6 20
Germany 2006 6th 10 1 2 7 5 16
South Africa 2010 6th 10 0 3 7 6 18
Brazil 2014 5th 10 3 2 5 12 17
Russia 2018 6th 10 0 2 8 4 23
Qatar 2022 6th 10 0 1 9 5 30
Canada Mexico United States 2026 To be determined To be determined
Total 0/7 68 5 13 50 40 145

UEFA European Championship

UEFA European Championship record Qualifying record
Year Result Position Pld W D L GF GA Squad Pos Pld W D L GF GA
1960 to 1992 Part of  Soviet Union and  CIS Part of  Soviet Union and  CIS
England 1996 Did not qualify 4th 10 3 0 7 11 27
Belgium Netherlands 2000 5th 8 0 4 4 7 17
Portugal 2004 4th 8 2 0 6 5 19
Austria Switzerland 2008 5th 12 3 3 6 12 19
Poland Ukraine 2012 5th 10 3 0 7 12 16
France 2016 6th 10 0 2 8 4 16
Europe 2020 6th 10 1 0 9 4 26
Germany 2024 To be determined To be determined
Total 0/7 68 12 9 47 55 140

UEFA Nations League

UEFA Nations League record
Year Division Group Pld W D L GF GA P/R RK
Portugal 2018–19 D 2 6 2 3 1 4 5 Rise 48th
Italy 2020–21 C 3 8 0 2 6 3 13 Fall 48th
Netherlands 2022–23 D 1 6 4 1 1 10 6 Same position 51st
2024–25 D To be determined
Total 20 6 6 8 17 24 48th

By competition

Competition P W D L GF GA GD Win % Loss %
FIFA World Cup qualification 68 5 13 50 40 145 –105 7.35 73.53
UEFA European qualification 70 12 11 47 56 141 –85 17.14 67.14
UEFA Nations League 20 7 5 8 17 24 –7 35.00 40.00
Total 158 24 29 105 113 310 –197 15.19 66.46

Head-to-head record

Last match updated was against  Liechtenstein on 25 September 2022.[11]

References

  1. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking". FIFA. 18 July 2024. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  2. ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 15 July 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  3. ^ Daghi, Victor (3 December 2021). "Serghei Cleșcenco, noul selecționer al Moldovei" [Serghei Cleșcenco, the new manager of Moldova]. fmf.md (in Romanian). Moldovan Football Federation.
  4. ^ "Moldova national team managers". eu-football.info. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  5. ^ "Lotul lărgit al Naționalei Moldovei pentru meciurile cu Albania și Polonia". FMF (in Romanian). 29 May 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  6. ^ "Moldova – Feroe 1-1". FMF (in Romanian). 24 March 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  7. ^ Grecu, Sandu (9 March 2021). "Lotul lărgit al Naționalei pentru startul campaniei de calificare la World Cup 2022" (in Romanian). FMF. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  8. ^ "Most Moldova caps". EU Football. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  9. ^ "Top Moldova Goal Scorers". EU Football. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  10. ^ FIFA member since 16 June 1994.
  11. ^ a b Courtney, Barrie. "Moldova - International results". RSSSF. Retrieved 3 October 2022.