Moldova national football team

Moldova
AssociationFederația Moldovenească de Fotbal (FMF)
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Head coachSerghei Cleșcenco
CaptainIgor Armaș
Most capsAlexandru Epureanu (100)
Top scorerSerghei Cleșcenco (11)
Home stadiumZimbru Stadium, Chișinău
FIFA codeMDA
First colours
Second colours
Third colours
FIFA ranking
Current 174 3 (6 October 2022)[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 Roberto Bordin. 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.

  • Official sponsors: Bere Chișinău, Jako, Rusnac, Infront Sports & Media (Moldova), Bemol, iTicket (Moldova), Vizită, Orange (Moldova)

Results and fixtures

  Win   Draw   Loss

2021

12 November 2021 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification Moldova  0–2  Scotland Chișinău, Moldova
20:45 (21:45 UTC+3) Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)
  • Patterson 38'
  • Adams 65'
Stadium: Stadionul Zimbru
Referee: Srđan Jovanović (Serbia)
15 November 2021 (2021-11-15) 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification Austria  4–1  Moldova Klagenfurt, Austria
20:45 (21:45 UTC+2)
  • Arnautović 4', 55' (pen.)
  • Trimmel 22'
  • Ljubicic 83'
Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)
  • Nicolaescu 60'
Stadium: Wörthersee Stadion
Referee: Aleksandar Stavrev (North Macedonia)

2022

18 January 2022 Friendly Moldova  2–3  Uganda Belek, Turkey
17:00 UTC+3 Mandrîcenco 10'
M. Plătică 13'
Report Kaddu 34' (pen.), 74' (pen.)
Karisa 64'
Stadium: Titanic Deluxe Belek Football Center
Referee: Melis Özçiğdem (Turkey)
21 January 2022 Friendly Moldova  0–4  South Korea Antalya, Turkey
14:00 UTC+3 Report
  • Kim Jin-kyu 20'
  • Paik Seung-ho 33'
  • Kwon Chang-hoon 48'
  • Cho Young-wook 90+3' (pen.)
Stadium: Mardan Sports Complex
Referee: Abdulkadir Bitigen (Turkey)
24 March 2022 (2022-03-24) 2020–21 UEFA Nations League Moldova  1–2  Kazakhstan Chișinău, Moldova
18:00 (19:00 UTC+2)
  • Nicolaescu 45+1'
Report
  • Malyi 63'
  • Posmac 79' (o.g.)
Stadium: Zimbru Stadium
Referee: Anastasios Sidiropoulos (Greece)
29 March 2022 (2022-03-29) 2020–21 UEFA Nations League Kazakhstan  0–1 (a.e.t.)
(5–4 p)
 Moldova Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
16:00 (20:00 UTC+6) Report
  • Armaș 13'
Stadium: Astana Arena
Referee: Ivan Kružliak (Slovakia)
Penalties
  • Abiken
  • Beysebekov
  • Dosmagambetov
  • Zaynutdinov
  • Zhaksylykov
  • Zhukov
  • Caimacov
  • Armaș
  • Mandrîcenco
  • Crăciun
  • Nicolaescu
  • Revenco
Note: 2–2 on aggregate. Kazakhstan won 5–4 on penalties
3 June 2022 (2022-06-03) 2022–23 UEFA Nations League Liechtenstein  0–2  Moldova Vaduz, Liechtenstein
20:45 Report
  • Nicolaescu 5' (pen.)
  • Bolohan 90+1'
Stadium: Rheinpark Stadion
Attendance: 903
Referee: Giorgi Kruashvili (Georgia)
6 June 2022 (2022-06-06) 2022–23 UEFA Nations League Andorra  0–0  Moldova Andorra la Vella, Andorra
20:45 Report Stadium: Estadi Nacional
Attendance: 756
Referee: Lionel Tschudi (Switzerland)
10 June 2022 (2022-06-10) 2022–23 UEFA Nations League Moldova  2–4  Latvia Chișinău, Moldova
20:45
  • Nicolaescu 5' (pen.)
  • Moțpan 64'
Report
  • Gutkovskis 19', 60'
  • J. Ikaunieks 26', 75'
Stadium: Zimbru Stadium
Attendance: 4,842
Referee: Andrew Madley (England)
14 June 2022 (2022-06-14) 2022–23 UEFA Nations League Moldova  2–1  Andorra Chișinău, Moldova
20:45
  • Caimacov 26' (pen.)
  • Nicolaescu 50' (pen.)
Report
  • M. Vieira 45+4'
Stadium: Zimbru Stadium
Attendance: 4,275
Referee: Peter Kjaesgaard (Denmark)
22 September 2022 (2022-09-22) 2022–23 UEFA Nations League Latvia  1–2  Moldova Riga, Latvia
20:45
  • Ikaunieks 55'
Report
  • Revenco 26'
  • Nicolaescu 45'
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
  • Stînă 90+2', 90+4'
Report Stadium: Zimbru Stadium
Attendance: 5,774
Referee: Stéphanie Frappart (France)

2023

24 March 2023 (2023-03-24) UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Moldova  v  Faroe Islands Chișinău, Moldova
20:45 Report Stadium: Zimbru Stadium
27 March 2023 (2023-03-27) UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Moldova  v  Czech Republic Chișinău, Moldova
20:45 Report Stadium: Zimbru Stadium
17 June 2023 (2023-06-17) UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Albania  v  Moldova Tirana, Albania
20:45 Report Stadium: Arena Kombëtare
20 June 2023 (2023-06-20) UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Moldova  v  Poland Chișinău, Moldova
20:45 Report Stadium: Zimbru Stadium
10 September 2023 (2023-09-10) UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Faroe Islands  v  Moldova Tórshavn, Faroe Islands
20:45 Report Stadium: Tórsvøllur
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 Prague, Czech Republic
20:45 Report Stadium: Sinobo Stadium

Players

Current squad

  • The following players were called up for the 2022–23 UEFA Nations League.[2]
  • Match dates: 22 and 25 September 2022
  • Opposition:  Latvia and  Liechtenstein
  • Caps and goals correct as of: 26 September 2022, after the match against  Liechtenstein
No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
12 1GK Cristian Avram (1994-07-27) 27 July 1994 8 0 Petrocub Hîncești
1 1GK Dumitru Celeadnic (1992-04-23) 23 April 1992 4 0 Sheriff Tiraspol
23 1GK Dorian Răilean (1993-10-13) 13 October 1993 6 0 Unirea Dej
1GK Victor Străistari (1999-06-21) 21 June 1999 0 0 Bălți

4 2DF Igor Armaș (1987-07-14) 14 July 1987 81 6 Voluntari
3 2DF Vadim Bolohan (1986-08-15) 15 August 1986 39 1 Milsami Orhei
14 2DF Artur Crăciun (1998-06-29) 29 June 1998 12 0 Hapoel Kfar Saba
17 2DF Daniel Dumbravanu (2001-07-22) 22 July 2001 3 0 APOEL
2 2DF Iurie Iovu (2002-07-06) 6 July 2002 1 0 Istra 1961
15 2DF Ion Jardan (1990-01-10) 10 January 1990 49 0 Petrocub Hîncești
5 2DF Veaceslav Posmac (1990-11-07) 7 November 1990 59 2 Boluspor
2DF Oleg Reabciuk (1998-01-16) 16 January 1998 37 0 Olympiacos
2DF Ioan-Călin Revenco (2000-06-26) 26 June 2000 11 1 Petrocub Hîncești

13 3MF Alexandr Belousov (1998-05-14) 14 May 1998 5 0 Milsami Orhei
3MF Mihail Caimacov (1998-07-22) 22 July 1998 16 1 Torpedo Moscow
10 3MF Eugeniu Cociuc (1993-05-11) 11 May 1993 28 0 Pyunik Yerevan
6 3MF Cristian Dros (1998-04-15) 15 April 1998 14 0 Slavia Mozyr
7 3MF Artur Ioniță (1990-08-17) 17 August 1990 65 3 Pisa
8 3MF Nichita Moțpan (2001-07-17) 17 July 2001 4 1 Hapoel Haifa
20 3MF Sergiu Plătică (1991-06-09) 9 June 1991 36 0 Petrocub Hîncești
22 3MF Vadim Rață (1993-05-05) 5 May 1993 32 1 Voluntari
21 3MF Victor Stînă (1998-03-20) 20 March 1998 3 2 Panserraikos

16 4FW Maxim Cojocaru (1998-01-13) 13 January 1998 10 0 Petrocub Hîncești
11 4FW Vitalie Damașcan (1999-01-24) 24 January 1999 22 2 Voluntari
18 4FW Marius Iosipoi (2000-04-28) 28 April 2000 6 0 Petrocub Hîncești
9 4FW Ion Nicolaescu (1998-09-07) 7 September 1998 31 9 Beitar Jerusalem
19 4FW Virgiliu Postolachi (2000-03-17) 17 March 2000 5 0 UTA Arad

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up for the team within the last 12 months.[3]

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Stanislav Namașco (1986-11-10) 10 November 1986 57 0 Bălți v.  Andorra, 14 June 2022
GK Nicolai Cebotari (1997-05-24) 24 May 1997 0 0 Petrocub Hîncești v.  Kazakhstan, 29 March 2022
GK Emil Tîmbur (1997-07-21) 21 July 1997 1 0 Milsami Orhei v.  South Korea, 21 January 2022

DF Denis Marandici (1996-09-18) 18 September 1996 7 0 Zrinjski Mostar v.  Andorra, 14 June 2022
DF Denis Furtună (1999-10-13) 13 October 1999 0 0 Bălți v.  Kazakhstan, 29 March 2022
DF Artiom Litveacov (1996-10-23) 23 October 1996 2 0 Sfîntul Gheorghe v.  South Korea, 21 January 2022
DF Maxim Potîrniche (1989-06-13) 13 June 1989 14 0 Petrocub Hîncești v.  Uganda, 18 January 2022
DF Artiom Rozgoniuc (1995-10-01) 1 October 1995 13 0 Maktaaral v.  Austria, 15 November 2021

MF Radu Gînsari (1991-12-10) 10 December 1991 47 7 Milsami Orhei v.  Andorra, 14 June 2022
MF Dmitri Mandrîcenco (1997-05-13) 13 May 1997 5 1 Inhulets Petrove v.  Andorra, 14 June 2022
MF Mihai Plătică (1990-03-15) 15 March 1990 7 1 Petrocub Hîncești v.  Andorra, 14 June 2022
MF Iaser Țurcan (1998-01-07) 7 January 1998 7 0 Petrocub Hîncești v.  Andorra, 14 June 2022
MF Corneliu Cotogoi (2001-06-23) 23 June 2001 5 0 Petrocub Hîncești v.  Kazakhstan, 29 March 2022
MF Alexandru Antoniuc (1989-05-23) 23 May 1989 48 3 Milsami Orhei v.  South Korea, 21 January 2022
MF Victor Bogaciuc (1999-10-17) 17 October 1999 3 0 Petrocub Hîncești v.  South Korea, 21 January 2022

FW Andrei Cobeț (1997-01-03) 3 January 1997 2 0 Slavia Mozyr v.  Andorra, 14 June 2022
FW Danu Spătaru (1994-05-24) 24 May 1994 22 0 AGMK v.  Uganda, 18 January 2022
FW Vladimir Ambros (1993-12-30) 30 December 1993 12 1 Petrocub Hîncești v.  Uganda, 18 January 2022 PRE
FW Artiom Puntus (1995-05-31) 31 May 1995 4 0 Kukësi v.  Uganda, 18 January 2022 PRE
FW Mihail Ghecev (1997-11-05) 5 November 1997 4 0 Zimbru Chișinău v.  Scotland, 12 October 2021

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 25 September 2022[4][5]
Players in bold are still active with Moldova.

Coaching staff

Current coaching staff

Position Staff
Head coach Serghei Cleșcenco
Assistant coaches Vitalie Culibaba
Sergiu Secu
Goalkeeping coach Denis Romanenco
Fitness coach 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.[6]

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

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
1994 Not a FIFA member Not a FIFA member[8]
1998 Did not qualify 5th8008221
2002 5th10136620
2006 6th10127516
2010 6th10037618
2014 5th103251217
2018 6th10028423
2022 6th10019530
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
1996 Did not qualify 4th103071127
2000 5th8044717
2004 4th8206519
2008 5th123361219
2012 5th103071216
2016 6th10028416
2020 6th10109426
2024 To be determined To be determined
Total 0/7 68 12 9 47 55 140

UEFA Nations League

UEFA Nations League record
Season Division Pld W D L GF GA P/R RK
2018–19 D 62314548th
2020–21 C 802631348th
2022–23 D 641110651st
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 685135040145–1057.3573.53
UEFA European qualification 681294755140–8517.6569.12
UEFA Nations League 185581323–1027.7844.44
Total1542227105108308–20014.2968.18

Head-to-head record

Last match updated was against  Liechtenstein on 25 September 2022.[9]

References

  1. "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 6 October 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  2. "Lotul final al Naționalei pentru meciurile din Liga Națiunilor" (in Romanian). Federația Moldovenească de Fotbal. 8 September 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  3. 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.
  4. "Most Moldova caps". EU Football. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  5. "Top Moldova Goal Scorers". EU Football. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  6. 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.
  7. "Moldova national team managers". eu-football.info. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  8. FIFA member since 16 June 1994.
  9. Courtney, Barrie. "Moldova - International results". RSSSF. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
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