| Nickname(s) | Mladi Vatreni (The Young Blazers) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Association | Croatian Football Federation (HNS) | ||
| Confederation | UEFA (Europe) | ||
| Head coach | Dragan Skočić | ||
| Captain | Bartol Franjić | ||
| Most caps | Luka Ivanušec (28) | ||
| Top scorer | Tomislav Bušić (13) | ||
| FIFA code | CRO | ||
| |||
| First international | |||
| Biggest win | |||
| Biggest defeat | |||
| UEFA U-21 Championship | |||
| Appearances | 5 (first in 2000) | ||
| Best result | Quarter-finals (2021) | ||
| Website | hns-cff.hr | ||
The Croatia national under-21 football team represents Croatia in international football matches for players 21 or under. It is governed by the Croatian Football Federation, the governing body for football in Croatia. It is a member of UEFA in Europe and FIFA in global competitions. The team's colours reference two national symbols: the Croatian checkerboard and the country's tricolour. They are colloquially referred to as the Mladi vatreni ('Young Blazers'). So far, the Mladi vatreni qualified for five UEFA European Under-21 Championships, namely in 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.
Recent 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
2023
| 23 March 2023 Friendly | Croatia | 0–0 | | Varaždin, Croatia |
| 18:00 (UTC+02:00) | Report |
|
Stadium: Stadion Varteks Referee: Toni Dadić (Croatia) |
| 28 March 2023 Friendly | England | 1–2 | | London, England |
| 19:45 (UTC+01:00) |
|
Stadium: Craven Cottage |
| 21 June 2023 2023 Euro Gr B | Ukraine | 2–0 | | Bucharest, Romania |
| 19:00 | Report | Stadium: Superbet Arena Referee: Mohammed Al-Hakim (SWE) Assistant referees: Fredrik Klyver (SWE) Max Robin Wilde (SWE) Fourth official: Andrei Chivulete (ROU) |
| 24 June 2023 2023 Euro Gr B | Spain | 1–0 | | Bucharest, Romania |
| 21:45 |
|
Report | Stadium: Superbet Arena Referee: Allard Lindhout (NED) Assistant referees: Rogier Honig (NED) Patrick Inia (NED) Fourth official: João Pinheiro (POR) |
| 27 June 2023 2023 Euro Gr B | Croatia | 0–0 | | Bucharest, Romania |
| 21:45 | Report |
|
Stadium: Stadionul Steaua Referee: João Pinheiro (POR) Assistant referees: Bruno Jesus (POR) Luciano Maia (POR) Fourth official: Allard Lindhout (NED) |
| 12 September 2023 Euro 2025 qualif Gr G | Faroe Islands | 2–4 | | Klaksvík, Faroe Islands |
|
Report | Stadium: Við Djúpumýrar Referee: Jérémy Muller (LUX) Assistant referees: Claude Ries (LUX) Rafael Morim (LUX) Fourth official: Cédric Biever (LUX) |
| 13 October 2023 Euro 2025 qualif Gr G | Greece | 2–2 | | Tripoli, Greece |
| 16:00 | Report | Stadium: Theodoros Kolokotronis Stadium Attendance: 1,250 Referee: Tom Owen (WAL) Assistant referees: Johnathon Bryant (WAL) Ian David Bird (WAL) Fourth official: John Andrew Jones (WAL) |
| 17 October 2023 Euro 2025 qualif Gr G | Croatia | 2–0 | | Velika Gorica, Croatia |
| 17:30 | Report |
|
Stadium: Stadion Radnik Referee: Igor Stojchevski (MKD) Assistant referees: Goce Petreski (MKD) Slagjan Markoski (MKD) Fourth official: Trpchevski Stojancho (MKD) |
| 16 November 2023 Friendly | Slovakia | 2–2 | | Nitra, Slovakia |
| Report | Stadium: Štadión pod Zoborom Referee: Ferenc Karakó (HUN) |
| 20 November 2023 Euro 2025 qualif Gr G | Belarus | 0–1 | | Armavir, Armenia[note 1] |
| 11:00 |
|
Report | Stadium: Armavir City Stadium Attendance: 0[note 1] Referee: Peter Kralović (SVK) Assistant referees: Milan Štrbo (SVK) Matej Zemko (SVK) Fourth official: Peter Ziemba (SVK) |
2024
| 21 March 2024 Euro 2025 qualif Gr G | Andorra | v | |
| 26 March 2024 Euro 2025 qualif Gr G | Portugal | v | |
| 5 September 2024 Euro 2025 qualif Gr G | Croatia | v | |
| 10 September 2024 Euro 2025 qualif Gr G | Croatia | v | |
| 11 October 2024 Euro 2025 qualif Gr G | Croatia | v | |
| 15 October 2024 Euro 2025 qualif Gr G | Croatia | v | |
Coaching staff
Current coaching staff
| Position | Name[2] |
|---|---|
| Head coach | |
| Assistant coaches | |
| Goalkeeping coach | |
| Fitness coaches | |
| Analyst | |
| Doctors | |
| Physiotherapists | |
| Technical secretary | |
| Kit men |
Players
Current squad
The following players were called up for a friendly match against Slovakia to be played on 16 November 2023 and the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification match against Belarus to be played on 20 November 2023.[3]
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | Franko Kolić | 7 February 2003 | 0 | 0 | |
| 12 | GK | Toni Silić | 7 May 2004 | 1 | 0 | |
| 23 | GK | Nikola Čavlina | 2 June 2002 | 5 | 0 | |
| 3 | DF | Antonio Tikvić | 21 April 2004 | 4 | 0 | |
| 4 | DF | Maro Katinić | 13 April 2004 | 5 | 0 | |
| 5 | DF | Dino Grozdanić | 27 December 2002 | 4 | 0 | |
| 18 | DF | Mateo Lisica | 9 July 2003 | 4 | 0 | |
| 14 | DF | Moreno Živković | 22 May 2004 | 1 | 0 | |
| 15 | DF | Luka Škaričić | 28 January 2002 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2 | MF | Moris Valinčić | 17 November 2002 | 2 | 0 | |
| 19 | MF | Domagoj Bukvić | 22 February 2004 | 5 | 0 | |
| 6 | MF | Veldin Hodža | 15 October 2002 | 14 | 2 | |
| 10 | MF | Gabriel Vidović | 1 December 2003 | 14 | 2 | |
| 7 | MF | Stipe Biuk | 26 December 2002 | 15 | 2 | |
| 8 | MF | Marko Soldo | 22 November 2003 | 2 | 0 | |
| 17 | MF | Lovro Zvonarek | 8 May 2005 | 1 | 0 | |
| 22 | MF | Antonio Maurić | 4 November 2003 | 2 | 0 | |
| 13 | MF | Niko Rak | 26 July 2003 | 2 | 0 | |
| 9 | FW | Matija Frigan | 11 February 2003 | 8 | 0 | |
| 20 | FW | Franjo Ivanović | 1 October 2003 | 5 | 1 | |
| 21 | FW | Marin Ljubičić | 28 February 2002 | 11 | 6 | |
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 | Tin Sajko | 7 March 2004 | 0 | 0 | v. | |
| DF | Mauro Perković INJ | 22 March 2003 | 9 | 0 | v. | |
| DF | Juraj Badelj INJ | 24 August 2003 | 0 | 0 | v. | |
| DF | Niko Sigur INJ | 9 September 2003 | 0 | 0 | v. | |
| MF | Martin Baturina SEN | 16 February 2003 | 14 | 2 | v. | |
| MF | Luka Sučić SEN | 8 September 2002 | 11 | 6 | v. | |
| MF | Leon Belcar | 4 January 2002 | 0 | 0 | v. | |
| MF | Marko Capan | 24 February 2004 | 0 | 0 | v. | |
| MF | Luka Stojković INJ | 28 October 2003 | 5 | 0 | v. | |
| MF | Lukas Kačavenda INJ | 2 March 2003 | 12 | 1 | v. | |
| MF | Marin Šotiček INJ | 18 September 2004 | 0 | 0 | v. | |
| FW | Dion Drena Beljo | 1 March 2002 | 12 | 3 | v. | |
| FW | Ante Crnac | 17 December 2003 | 1 | 0 | v. | |
| FW | Roko Šimić INJ | 10 September 2003 | 19 | 8 | v. | |
| ||||||
Competitive record
Champions
Runners-up
Third place
Fourth place
Tournament played fully or partially on home soil
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 |
||||||||||||||||||
| 1980 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1982 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1984 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1986 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1988 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1990 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1992 | Not a UEFA member | ||||||||||||||||||
| Not a UEFA member during qualifiers | |||||||||||||||||||
| Did not qualify | 4/6 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 12 | Martin Novoselac | |||||||||||
| 3/5 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 9 | Ivo Šušak | ||||||||||||
| Group stage | 7/8 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | Squad | 1/5 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 28 | 9 | Ivo Šušak | |||
| Did not qualify | 2/4OFF | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 7 | Martin Novoselac | |||||||||||
| Group stage | 7/8 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | Squad | 1/4 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 5 | Martin Novoselac | |||
| Did not qualify | 1/6OFF | 12 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 11 | Slaven Bilić | |||||||||||
| 3/3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | Dražen Ladić | ||||||||||||
| 2/6 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 20 | 12 | Dražen Ladić | ||||||||||||
| 1/5OFF | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 18 | 15 | Dražen Ladić | ||||||||||||
| 4/5 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 16 | Ivo Šušak | ||||||||||||
| 1/5OFF | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 22 | 9 | Niko Kovač / Nenad Gračan | ||||||||||||
| 3/6 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 24 | 11 | Nenad Gračan | ||||||||||||
| Group stage | 10/12 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 | Squad | 1/6 | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 31 | 5 | Nenad Gračan | |||
| Quarter-finals | 7/16 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 7 | Squad 1 / Squad 2 | 2/6 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 37 | 7 | Nenad Gračan/Igor Bišćan | |||
| Group stage | 14/16 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | Squad | 1/6 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 7 | Igor Bišćan/Dragan Skočić | |||
| To be determined | 3/6 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 4 | Dragan Skočić | |||||||||||
| Total | Quarter-finals | 5/24 | 16 | 1 | 4 | 11 | 16 | 29 | 137 | 79 | 23 | 35 | 276 | 141 | |||||
Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out; correct as of 20 November 2023 after the match against
Belarus.
| Matches | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First match | (Trnava, Slovakia; 27 May 2000) | ||||
| Biggest win | (Koper, Slovenia; 28 March 2021) | ||||
| Biggest defeat | (Serravalle, San Marino; 18 June 2019) | ||||
- Notes
- OFF = Lost in play-offs.
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

| Manager | Tenure | Pld | W | D | L | Win % | Tournaments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994–1996 2000–2004 |
54 | 19 | 20 | 15 | 35.2 | ||
| 1997–2000 2011–2013 |
38 | 18 | 6 | 14 | 47.4 | ||
| 2004–2006 | 20 | 11 | 3 | 6 | 55.0 | ||
| 2005 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | ||
| 2005 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | ||
| 2005 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | — | |
| 2006–2011 | 32 | 20 | 6 | 6 | 62.50 | ||
| 2013 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 71.4 | — | |
| 2013–2019 | 41 | 21 | 9 | 11 | 51.2 | ||
| 2019–2023 | 30 | 18 | 5 | 7 | 60.0 | ||
| 2023– | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 37.5 | ||
Last updated: Croatia vs Belarus, 20 November 2023. Statistics include official FIFA-recognised matches only.
Most capped players
- Players in bold are still active with Croatia.


| # | 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 |
| Roko Šimić | 2021– | 8 | ||
| 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 | 2019–2022 | 1 | ||
| Mario Carević | 2001–2004 | 0 | ||
| Luka Vučko | 2004–2006 | 0 | ||
| Borna Sosa | 2017–2020 | 0 | ||
Last updated: Belarus vs Croatia, 20 November 2023
Source: Croatian Football Federation
Top goalscorers
- Players in bold are still active with Croatia.
.jpg.webp)
| # | Name | Goals | Caps | Ratio | Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tomislav Bušić | 12 | 29 | 0.41 | 2005–2008 |
| 2 | Tomo Šokota | 10 | 19 | 0.53 | 1997–2000 |
| Luka Ivanušec | 28 | 0.36 | 2017–2021 | ||
| 4 | Josip Brekalo | 9 | 17 | 0.53 | 2016–2019 |
| 5 | Eduardo da Silva | 8 | 12 | 0.67 | 2004–2005 |
| Stipe Perica | 12 | 0.67 | 2013–2016 | ||
| Roko Šimić | 19 | 0.42 | 2021– | ||
| 8 | Marcelo Brozović | 7 | 13 | 0.54 | 2011–2014 |
| Nikola Vlašić | 19 | 0.37 | 2015–2019 | ||
| 10 | Ante Rukavina | 6 | 9 | 0.67 | 2007–2008 |
| Marin Ljubičić | 11 | 0.55 | 2021– | ||
| Mario Pašalić | 14 | 0.43 | 2014–2016 | ||
| Mihael Mikić | 15 | 0.4 | 1999–2001 | ||
| Sandro Kulenović | 15 | 0.4 | 2019–2021 | ||
| Nikola Moro | 24 | 0.25 | 2017–2021 | ||
Last updated: Belarus vs Croatia, 20 November 2023
Source: Croatian Football Federation
Record per opponent
![]() |
| Croatia under-21 results |
Correct as of 20 November 2023, after the match against
Belarus.
| Opponent | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 50.00 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | −3 | 0.00 | |
| 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 25.00 | |
| 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 3 | +8 | 100.00 | |
| 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 1 | +10 | 80.00 | |
| 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 50.00 | |
| 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 19 | 14 | +5 | 44.44 | |
| 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 6 | +0 | 33.33 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 0.00 | |
| 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 10 | +1 | 14.29 | |
| 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 50.00 | |
| 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 5 | +3 | 66.67 | |
| 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 10 | +2 | 42.86 | |
| 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 3 | +20 | 90.00 | |
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 3 | +5 | 100.00 | |
| 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 50.00 | |
| 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 8 | −5 | 0.00 | |
| 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | +0 | 25.00 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 100.00 | |
| 11 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 22 | 13 | +9 | 54.55 | |
| 12 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 30 | 14 | +16 | 58.33 | |
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 100.00 | |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 3 | +4 | 50.00 | |
| 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5 | −5 | 0.00 | |
| 8 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 10 | −3 | 12.50 | |
| 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | +0 | 0.00 | |
| 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 4 | +5 | 75.00 | |
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | +9 | 100.00 | |
| 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 | +12 | 100.00 | |
| 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 | +7 | 75.00 | |
| 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | +6 | 100.00 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 0.00 | |
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | +7 | 100.00 | |
| 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 33.33 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | −4 | 0.00 | |
| 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | +0 | 50.00 | |
| 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 7 | +8 | 80.00 | |
| 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 33.33 | |
| 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 5 | −2 | 25.00 | |
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | −3 | 0.00 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −1 | 0.00 | |
| 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 0 | +33 | 100.00 | |
| 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 7 | +2 | 33.33 | |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 50.00 | |
| 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 12 | +0 | 20.00 | |
| 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 11 | +3 | 37.50 | |
| 11 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 20 | 13 | +7 | 54.55 | |
| 9 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 19 | −12 | 11.11 | |
| 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 7 | +2 | 50.00 | |
| 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 10 | −4 | 40.00 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 100.00 | |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | 0.00 | |
| 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 8 | −1 | 28.57 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 100.00 | |
| Total: 54 teams played | 235 | 114 | 53 | 68 | 421 | 261 | +160 | 48.51 |
Source: Croatian Football Federation
See also
- Croatia national football team
- Croatia national football B team
- Croatia national under-23 football team
- Croatia national under-20 football team
- Croatia national under-19 football team
- Croatia national under-18 football team
- Croatia national under-17 football team
- Croatia national under-16 football team
- Croatia national under-15 football team
- Croatia women's national football team
- Croatia women's national under-19 football team
- Croatia women's national under-17 football team
- Croatia women's national under-15 football team
Notes
- 1 2 Due to the country's involvement in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Belarusian teams were required to play their home matches at neutral venues and behind closed doors until further notice.[1]
References
- ↑ "Belarus teams to play on neutral ground in UEFA competitions". UEFA. Basel. 3 March 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
- ↑ "Croatia U-21". Croatian Football Federation. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
- ↑ "Dragan Skočić objavio popis igrača za utakmice protiv Slovačke i Bjelorusije" [Dragan Skočić published the list of players for matches against Slovakia and Belarus]. Croatian Football Federation (in Croatian). Zagreb. 30 October 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
- ↑ 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
- ↑ 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
- ↑ 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
- Under-21 at UEFA.com
- U23/U21 Tournaments at the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation website
- Croatia youth teams players' statistics at the Croatian Football Federation website
