Luxembourg national football team

The Luxembourg national football team (nicknamed the Red Lions; Luxembourgish: Lëtzebuergesch Foussballnationalequipe, French: Équipe du Luxembourg de football, German: Luxemburgische Fußballnationalmannschaft) is the national football team of Luxembourg, and is controlled by the Luxembourg Football Federation. The team plays most of its home matches at the Stade de Luxembourg in Luxembourg City.

Luxembourg
Nickname(s)D'Roud Léiwen
Les Lions Rouges
Die Roten Löwen
(The Red Lions)
AssociationLuxembourg Football Federation
(Fédération Luxembourgeoise de Football)
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Head coachLuc Holtz
CaptainLaurent Jans
Most capsMario Mutsch (102)
Top scorerLéon Mart (16)
Home stadiumStade de Luxembourg
FIFA codeLUX
First colours
Second colours
Third colours
FIFA ranking
Current 92 1 (6 October 2022)[1]
Highest82 (September 2018)
Lowest195 (August 2006)
First international
 Luxembourg 1–4 France 
(Luxembourg, Luxembourg; 29 October 1911)
Biggest win
 Luxembourg 6–0 Afghanistan 
(Brighton, England; 26 July 1948)
Biggest defeat
 Germany 9–0 Luxembourg 
(Berlin, Germany; 4 August 1936)
 Luxembourg 0–9 England 
(Luxembourg, Luxembourg; 19 October 1960)
 England 9–0 Luxembourg 
(London, England; 15 December 1982)

Luxembourg has participated in every FIFA World Cup qualifiers since those for the 1934 World Cup and in UEFA European Championship qualifiers since those for Euro 1964. As of 2020, they have never qualified for any of these major tournaments. Luxembourg is the nation with the most qualifying campaigns in both of these competitions without ever making it to the finals. However, they did compete in six Olympic football events between 1920 and 1952.[2]

History
The Luxembourg national football team in 1920 (above), and in 2015

Luxembourg played their first ever international match on 29 October 1911, in a friendly match against France; it resulted in a 1–4 defeat.[2] Their first victory came on 8 February 1914, also in a match against France, which they won 5–4.[2]

The national side of Luxembourg competed in six Olympic football events between 1920 and 1952, and survived the preliminary round twice (in 1948 and 1952).[2] In between, Luxembourg started participating at qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup, but as of 2018 they still never qualified.

Starting in 1921, the Luxembourg national A-selection would play 239 unofficial international matches until 1981, mostly against other countries' B-teams like those of Belgium, France, Switzerland and West Germany, as well as a team representing South-Netherlands.[3]

The Luxembourg team in 1969, before a World Cup qualifier

After their last Olympic tournament in 1952, the national team also started playing in qualifying groups for UEFA European Championships, but could not reach the major European tournament end stages. The only time that the team was close to qualify was for a European or World Championship was for the Euro 1964. In the first qualification round they defeated the Netherlands with a score of 3–2 on aggregate after two matches. A Dutch newspaper commented this stunt after the second match with "David Luxembourg won with 2–1 [against Goliath Netherlands]".[4] In the round of eight, Luxembourg and Denmark fought for a spot in the final tournament. The winner was decided after three matches; Denmark was the winner with a total aggregate score of 6–5.

When the national team does win a competitive match, they are often celebrated by national media and fans, as was the case after a 2–1 win against Switzerland in 2008.[5]

On 3 September 2017, Luxembourg held France to a 0–0 draw at Stadium Municipal in Toulouse, France.[6] It was the first time France had failed to win against Luxembourg since 1914, when Luxembourg won, 5–4.[7][8] On 10 November 2017, Luxembourg pulled off an upset by defeating Hungary 2–1 in a friendly.[9] On 28 March 2021, Luxembourg beat the Republic of Ireland in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification match with a goal from Gerson Rodrigues in the 85th minute.[10]

Kit

Traditionally, the badge on Luxembourg's team outfit displays a shield very similar to Luxembourg's lesser coat of arms, a red lion on a white-blue striped background – hence the team's nickname Red Lions. In modern times, the team played home games in entirely red strips, in accordance with their nickname, and wore white as away colour.

Home stadium
Stade de Luxembourg

As of 1 September 2021, the Luxembourg national team adopted Luxembourg City's, Stade de Luxembourg the country's national stadium, as its home venue. Formerly, the team played at the Stade Josy Barthel, where, at counting in August 2015, it had played 235 games, including unofficial matches.[11] It is also used for rugby union and athletics.

Results and forthcoming fixtures

As of 25 September 2022 after the match against Lithuania, the Luxembourg national team playing record is as follows:[2]

PlayedWonDrawnLostForAgainst
43145533332771148

Recent results and fixtures are as follows:

2021
11 November 2021 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification Azerbaijan  1–3  Luxembourg Baku, Azerbaijan
18:00 CET (UTC+01:00)
  • Salahli 82'
 Report
  • Rodrigues 67', 90+1'
  • S. Thill 78'
 Stadium: Bakı Olimpiya Stadionu
Referee: Manuel Schüttengruber (Austria)
14 November 2021 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification Luxembourg  0–3  Republic of Ireland Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
20:45 Report
  • Duffy 67'
  • Ogbene 75'
  • Robinson 88'
 Stadium: Stade de Luxembourg
Referee: Tamás Bognár (Hungary)

2022
25 March 2022 Friendly Luxembourg  1–3  Northern Ireland Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
20:15
  • Da Graça 58'
 Report
  • Magennis 16'
  • Davis 83'
  • Whyte 85'
 Stadium: Stade de Luxembourg
Referee: Daniel Schlager (Germany)
29 March 2022 Friendly Bosnia and Herzegovina  1–0  Luxembourg Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina
20:45
Report Stadium: Bilino Polje Stadium
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: David Šmajc (Slovenia)
4 June 2022 2022–23 UEFA Nations League Lithuania  0–2  Luxembourg Vilnius, Lithuania
18:00 (19:00 UTC+3) Report
  • Sinani 44', 87'
 Stadium: LFF Stadium
Attendance: 3,009
Referee: David Fuxman (Israel)
7 June 2022 2022–23 UEFA Nations League Faroe Islands  0–1  Luxembourg Tórshavn, Faroe Islands
20:45 (19:45 UTC+1) Report
  • Rodrigues 74' (pen.)
 Stadium: Tórsvøllur
Attendance: 2,313
Referee: Rob Hennessy (Republic of Ireland)
11 June 2022 2022–23 UEFA Nations League Luxembourg  0–2  Turkey Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
20:45 Report
  • Çalhanoğlu 37' (pen.)
  • Dursun 76'
 Stadium: Stade de Luxembourg
Attendance: 9,374
Referee: António Nobre (Portugal)
14 June 2022 2022–23 UEFA Nations League Luxembourg  2–2  Faroe Islands Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
20:45
  • Rodrigues 12' (pen.)
  • Barreiro 49'
 Report
  • Bjartalíð 56', 59'
 Stadium: Stade de Luxembourg
Attendance: 5,325
Referee: Michael Fabbri (Italy)
22 September 2022 2022–23 UEFA Nations League Turkey  3–3  Luxembourg Istanbul, Turkey
20:45 (21:45 UTC+3)
  • Ünder 16' (pen.)
  • Chanot 39' (o.g.)
  • Yüksek 87'
 Report
  • Da Graça 8'
  • Sinani 37'
  • Rodrigues 69'
 Stadium: Başakşehir Fatih Terim Stadium
Attendance: 12,708
Referee: Tobias Stieler (Germany)
25 September 2022 2022–23 UEFA Nations League Luxembourg  1–0  Lithuania Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
20:45
  • Rodrigues 89'
 Report Stadium: Stade de Luxembourg
Attendance: 5,340
Referee: Giorgi Kruashvili (Georgia)
17 November 2022 (2022-11-17) Friendly Luxembourg  v  Hungary Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
Stadium: Stade de Luxembourg
20 November 2022 (2022-11-20) Friendly Luxembourg  v  Bulgaria Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
Stadium: Stade de Luxembourg

2023
23 March 2023 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Slovakia  v  Luxembourg Trnava, Slovakia
20:45 Report Stadium: Štadión Antona Malatinského
26 March 2023 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Luxembourg  v  Portugal Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
20:45 Report Stadium: Stade de Luxembourg
17 June 2023 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Luxembourg  v  Liechtenstein Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
15:00 Report Stadium: Stade de Luxembourg
20 June 2023 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Bosnia and Herzegovina  v  Luxembourg Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina
20:45 Report Stadium: Bilino Polje
8 September 2023 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Luxembourg  v  Iceland Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
20:45 Report Stadium: Stade de Luxembourg
11 September 2023 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Portugal  v  Luxembourg TBD, Portugal
19:45 Report Stadium: TBD
13 October 2023 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Iceland  v  Luxembourg Reykjavík, Iceland
18:45 Report Stadium: Laugardalsvöllur
16 October 2023 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Luxembourg  v  Slovakia Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
20:45 Report Stadium: Stade de Luxembourg
16 November 2023 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Luxembourg  v  Bosnia and Herzegovina Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
20:45 Report Stadium: Stade de Luxembourg
19 November 2023 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Liechtenstein  v  Luxembourg Vaduz, Liechtenstein
20:45 Report Stadium: Rheinpark Stadion

Current staff
Current Luxembourg manager Luc Holtz

The crew that guides the Luxembourg national team includes following members:[12]

Position Name
ManagerLuc Holtz
Goalkeeping coachRené Kirchner
Physical coachPhilippe Mayrisch
Technical directorWëllem Kersch
Team doctorsGauthier Trausch
Heinz Schanen
PhysiotherapistsPit Bausch
Jean-Guillaume Haupert

Coaching history

The following managers have been in charge of Luxembourg's national squad:

Players

In 2004, the Luxembourg Football Federation selected Louis Pilot as their Golden Player, Luxembourg's greatest player of the past 50 years.[14]

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2022–23 UEFA Nations League matches against Turkey on 22 September and Lithuania on 25 September 2022.[15]

Caps and goals as of 25 September 2022 after the match against Lithuania.[16][17]

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Anthony Moris (1990-04-29) 29 April 1990 52 0 Union SG
12 1GK Ralph Schon (1990-01-20) 20 January 1990 15 0 Wiltz 71
23 1GK Eldin Latik (2002-12-22) 22 December 2002 0 0 Progrès Niederkorn
7 2DF Lars Krogh Gerson (1990-02-05) 5 February 1990 90 4 Kongsvinger
18 2DF Laurent Jans (Captain) (1992-08-05) 5 August 1992 88 1 Waldhof Mannheim
2 2DF Maxime Chanot (1989-11-21) 21 November 1989 56 3 New York City FC
22 2DF Marvin da Graça (1995-02-17) 17 February 1995 25 3 Austria Wien
17 2DF Mica Pinto (1993-06-04) 4 June 1993 24 1 Sparta Rotterdam
3 2DF Enes Mahmutovic (1997-05-22) 22 May 1997 21 0 CSKA Sofia
8 2DF Eric Veiga (1997-02-18) 18 February 1997 6 0 Vilafranquense
9 3MF Danel Sinani (1997-04-05) 5 April 1997 49 9 Norwich City
11 3MF Vincent Thill (2000-02-04) 4 February 2000 44 3 AIK Solna
16 3MF Leandro Barreiro (2000-01-03) 3 January 2000 41 2 Mainz 05
4 3MF Florian Bohnert (1997-11-09) 9 November 1997 32 1 Progrès Niederkorn
21 3MF Sébastien Thill (1993-12-29) 29 December 1993 28 2 Hansa Rostock
19 3MF Aldin Skenderovic (1997-06-28) 28 June 1997 27 0 F91 Dudelange
20 3MF Timothé Rupil (2003-06-12) 12 June 2003 4 0 Mainz 05
15 3MF Diogo Pimentel (1997-07-16) 16 July 1997 1 0 Fola Esch
14 4FW Maurice Deville (1992-07-31) 31 July 1992 61 3 SV Sandhausen
10 4FW Gerson Rodrigues (1995-06-20) 20 June 1995 49 14 Al Wehda
6 4FW Yvandro Borges Sanches (2004-05-24) 24 May 2004 14 1 Borussia Mönchengladbach
13 4FW Michael Omosanya (1999-12-15) 15 December 1999 2 0 Fola Esch
5 4FW Alessio Curci (2002-02-16) 16 February 2002 0 0 Mainz 05

Recent call-ups

The following players have also been called up to the Luxembourg squad during last 12 months and are still eligible for selection.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Tim Kips (2000-11-01) 1 November 2000 0 0 Erzgebirge Aue v.  Republic of Ireland, 14 November 2021
GK Timothy Martin (2001-03-27) 27 March 2001 0 0 Virton v.  Republic of Ireland, 14 November 2021
DF Dirk Carlson (1998-04-01) 1 April 1998 44 0 Den Haag v.  Faroe Islands, 14 June 2022
DF Sofiane Ikene (2005-02-27) 27 February 2005 1 0 F91 Dudelange v.  Faroe Islands, 14 June 2022
DF Fabio Lohei (2005-04-12) 12 April 2005 0 0 Metz v.  Faroe Islands, 14 June 2022
DF Vahid Selimović (1997-04-03) 3 April 1997 11 1 OFI v.  Bosnia and Herzegovina, 29 March 2022
DF Kevin Malget (1991-01-15) 15 January 1991 36 2 Swift Hesperange v.  Republic of Ireland, 14 November 2021
DF Eldin Dzogovic (2003-06-08) 8 June 2003 1 0 1. FC Magdeburg v.  Portugal, 12 October 2021
MF Christopher Martins (1997-02-19) 19 February 1997 55 1 Spartak Moscow v.  Faroe Islands, 14 June 2022
MF Olivier Thill (1996-12-17) 17 December 1996 40 3 Vorskla Poltava v.  Faroe Islands, 14 June 2022
MF Mathias Olesen (2001-03-21) 21 March 2001 6 0 1. FC Köln v.  Faroe Islands, 14 June 2022
FW Edvin Muratović (1997-02-15) 15 February 1997 11 1 F91 Dudelange v.  Faroe Islands, 14 June 2022

RET Player retired from the national team.

Player records
As of 25 September 2022[18]
Players in bold are still active with Luxembourg.

N.B: François Konter earned 77 caps for Luxembourg however 48 of these caps were either against 'B' sides, amateur teams or during Olympic Games qualification and are therefore not included in this list.

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
1930 Did not enter Did not enter
1934 Did not qualify 2 0 0 2 2 15
1938 2 0 0 2 2 7
1950 2 0 0 2 4 8
1954 4 0 0 4 1 19
1958 4 0 0 4 3 19
1962 4 1 0 3 5 21
1966 6 0 0 6 6 20
1970 6 0 0 6 4 24
1974 6 1 0 5 2 14
1978 6 0 0 6 2 22
1982 8 0 0 8 1 23
1986 8 0 0 8 2 27
1990 8 0 1 7 3 22
1994 8 0 1 7 2 17
1998 8 0 0 8 2 22
2002 10 0 0 10 4 28
2006 12 0 0 12 5 48
2010 10 1 2 7 4 25
2014 10 1 3 6 7 26
2018 10 1 3 6 8 26
2022 8 3 0 5 8 18
2026 To be determined To be determined
Total — 0/22 — — — — — — 142 8 10 124 78 451

UEFA European Championship
UEFA European Championship record Qualifying record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
1960 Did not enter Declined participation
1964 Did not qualify 5 1 3 1 8 8
1968 6 0 1 5 1 18
1972 6 0 1 5 1 23
1976 6 0 0 6 7 28
1980 6 0 1 5 2 17
1984 8 0 0 8 5 36
1988 8 0 1 7 2 23
1992 6 0 0 6 2 14
1996 10 3 1 6 3 21
2000 8 0 0 8 2 23
2004 8 0 0 8 0 21
2008 12 1 0 11 2 23
2012 10 1 1 8 3 21
2016 10 1 1 8 6 27
2020 8 1 1 6 7 16
2024 To be determined To be determined
Total — 0/16 — — — — — — 111 8 11 98 51 319

UEFA Nations League
UEFA Nations League record
Year Division Group Pos Pld W D L GF GA P/R RK
2018–19 D 2 2nd631211444th
2020–21 C 1 2nd63127539th
2022–23 C 1 2nd63219737th
2024–25 C To be determined
Total18945271637th

Olympic Games
Hectic phase during the goal-rich Olympic defeat against Belgium in 1928 (5–3)
Olympic Games record[2]
Year Round Pld W D L GF GA Squad
1920Round 1100103Squad
1924Round 2100102Squad
1928Round 1100135Squad
1936100109Squad
1948210176Squad
1952210165Squad
Total82061630—

Head to head record

As of 25 September 2022 after the match against Lithuania.

Footnotes
  1. Mario Mutsch also played in Luxembourg's match against Belgium in 2014 however Belgium used 7 substitutions rendering the match unofficial according to FIFA regulations
  2. Daniel da Mota also played in Luxembourg's match against Belgium in 2014 however Belgium used 7 substitutions rendering the match unofficial according to FIFA regulations
  3. René Peters also played and scored against Faroe Islands in 2004 however this was not recognised as a full A-international by FIFA
  4. Lars Gerson also played in Luxembourg's match against Belgium in 2014 however Belgium used 7 substitutions rendering the match unofficial according to FIFA regulations
  5. Eric Hoffmann also played and scored against Faroe Islands in 2004 however this was not recognised as a full A-international by FIFA
  6. Laurent Jans also played in Luxembourg's match against Belgium in 2014 however Belgium used 7 substitutions rendering the match unofficial according to FIFA regulations
  7. Carlo Weis also played in three matches against France Amateur, West Germany B and France B however these are not recognised as full A-internationals by FIFA
  8. Aurélien Joachim also played and scored in Luxembourg's match against Belgium in 2014 however Belgium used 7 substitutions rendering the match unofficial according to FIFA regulations
  9. Gustave Kemp also played a match at the 1936 Summer Olympics however this is not recognised as a full A-international by FIFA
  10. Nicolas Kettel also played and scored at the 1948 Summer Olympics however these matches are not recognised as full A-internationals by FIFA
  11. François Müller also played at the 1952 Summer Olympics however these matches are not recognised as full A-internationals by FIFA

    See also
    • Luxembourg national under-21 football team
    • Luxembourg national under-19 football team
    • Luxembourg national under-17 football team
    • Luxembourg women's national football team

    References
    1. "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 6 October 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
    2. Barrie Courney (4 Dec 2014). "Luxembourg – List of International Matches". RSSSF. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
    3. Barrie Courtney (8 Mar 2005). "Luxembourg – List of Unofficial International matches". RSSSF. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
    4. "Schwartz' droombeeld werd nachtmerrie voor publiek". Nieuwsblad van het Noorden (in Dutch). 31 Oct 1963. Retrieved 23 Aug 2015.
    5. "RTL Lëtzebuerg". De Journal. 7 September 2008.
    6. "World Cup qualifying recap as France are held by Luxembourg and Belgium qualify for Russia 2018". Mirror. 3 September 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
    7. Luxembourg vs. France 5–4, date 08/02/1914
    8. "France coach Didier Deschamps was left "infuriated" by his side's failures in front of goal in their goalless draw with Luxembourg, a result labelled "historic" by his opposite number". BBC Sport. 4 September 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
    9. "Nikolic scores as Hungary falls 2-1 to Luxembourg in international friendly | Chicago Fire FC".
    10. "Awful Ireland embarrassed in defeat at home to Luxembourg". The 42. 27 March 2021. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
    11. "Stade Josy Barthel, Lëtzebuerg". eu-football.info. Retrieved 23 Aug 2015.
    12. "Cadre". Fédération Luxembourgeoise de Football. Retrieved 12 Sep 2015.
    13. "Les entraîneurs nationaux du Luxembourg" (in French). profootball.lu. Archived from the original on 25 June 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
    14. "Golden Players take centre stage". UEFA. Archived from the original on 2008-05-19. Retrieved 2008-05-24.
    15. "Joueurs sélectionnés" [Selected players]. FLF.lu (in French). Luxembourg Football Federation. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
    16. "Luxembourg-Lithuania | UEFA Nations League 2023 | UEFA.com". UEFA.
    17. "Most Luxembourg Caps - EU-Football.info". eu-football.info.
    18. Mamrud, Roberto. "Luxembourg - Record International Players". RSSSF. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
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