Greece national under-21 football team

Greece Under-21
Nickname(s)Εθνική Ελπίδων
("National team of Hopes")
AssociationHellenic Football Federation
Head coachGiannis Taousianis
CaptainGeorgios Koutsias
Most capsGiorgos Karagounis (39)
Top scorerNikos Liberopoulos &
Lampros Choutos (15)
First colours
Second colours
Biggest win
Greece 6–0 Luxembourg
(Greece; 1993)
Greece 6–0 Latvia
(Greece; 1999)
Biggest defeat
Hungary 7–0 Greece
(Hungary; 1976)
UEFA U-21 Championship
Appearances4 (first in 1988)
Best resultRunners-up, 1988, 1998

The Greece national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Greece and is controlled by the Hellenic Football Federation, the governing body for football in Greece. The team competes in the European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years.

The under-21 competition rules stipulate that players must be 21 or under at the start of a two-year competition, so technically it is up to an U-23 competition. To be eligible for the Greece National Team, all the football players must hold Hellenic (Greek) nationality and comply with the provisions of Article 15 of the regulations governing the Application of FIFA Statutes. A list of 35 football players must be submitted to the UEFA administration 30 days before the European Under-21 Football Championship opening match. Only 22 of the 35 players listed are authorised to take part in the final tournament and 3 of them must be goalkeepers.

As long as they are eligible, players can play at any level, making it possible to play for the U-21s, senior side and again for the U-21s, as Sotiris Ninis has done recently. It is also possible to play more than one country at youth level or different at youth level and different at senior level (provided the player is eligible). But a football player can represent only the senior national team that capped him first.

Also in existence are national teams for Under-20s (for non-UEFA tournaments), Under-19s and Under-17s. Greece also has a women's national team.

History

The first time that Greece's national team of hopes were formed was in 1968, with the aim of participating in the first Balkan Youth Championship that took place at the Kaftanzoglio Stadium in Thessaloniki.

In their maiden match she played with the corresponding team in Turkey; the match ended in a goalless draw.

The first eleven were the following: Tourkomenis, B. Intzoglou (59' Dimitriou), Chaliambalias, Kyriazis, Athanasopoulos, Karafeskos, Filakouris, Sarafis (46' Stoligas), K. Papaioannou, Koudas, Kritikopoulos (70' Alexiadis).

In the following years, Greece won twice the Balkan Youth Championship (1969 and 1971), and they fought twice (1988 and 1998) in the final of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship.

Competition Record

As of 23 September 2022

Competition Pld W D L
UEFA U-23 Championship 14 6 0 8
UEFA U-21 Championship 212 100 35 77

UEFA European U23 Championship record

UEFA European U21 Championship record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA GD Pld W D L GF GA GD
1972 Semi-finals 3rd/4th 4 2 0 2 7 5 +2 2 2 0 0 3 0 +3
1974 Did not qualify 4 1 0 3 4 7 −3
1976 4 1 0 3 4 9 −5
Total 0 titles 1/3 4 2 0 2 7 5 +2 10 4 0 6 11 16 −5

UEFA European U21 Championship record

UEFA European U21 Championship record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA GD Pld W D L GF GA GD
1978 Did not qualify 4 0 1 3 1 13 −12
1980 4 2 0 2 5 6 −1
1982 4 0 1 3 2 7 −5
1984 6 3 2 1 6 4 +2
1986 4 2 0 2 6 8 −2
1988 Final Runners-up 6 1 3 2 8 8 0 6 4 1 1 15 5 +10
1990 Did not qualify 6 1 1 4 3 11 −8
1992 6 1 1 4 6 13 −7
1994 Quarter-finals 6th 2 0 1 1 2 4 −2 8 6 2 0 23 6 +17
1996 Did not qualify 8 3 0 5 12 12 0
1998 Final Runners-up 3 2 0 1 4 1 +3 10 6 1 3 16 11 +5
2000 Did not qualify 12 8 2 2 33 13 +20
2002 Group stage 8th 3 0 1 2 3 6 −3 10 6 1 3 18 8 +10
2004 Did not qualify 8 3 3 2 10 7 +3
2006 12 6 2 4 18 9 +9
2007 2 0 0 2 1 4 −3
2009 10 5 3 2 20 13 +7
2011 10 6 1 3 13 12 +1
2013 10 4 1 5 14 15 −1
2015 8 5 0 3 20 10 +10
2017 10 4 1 5 13 14 −1
2019 12 8 1 3 26 7 +19
2021 10 5 1 4 10 11 −1
2023 10 5 2 3 16 10 +6
2025 10 7 1 2 20 14 +6
Total 0 titles 4/24 14 3 5 6 17 19 −2 198 97 30 71 319 236 +83

Honours

Winners (2): 1969, 1971
Third place (2):, 2015, 2018

Results and schedule

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

2024

10 September 2024 (2024-09-10) 2025 UEFA European U21 Championship Qualification Group G Faroe Islands  0–4   Klaksvík, Faroe Islands
17:30 (19:30 EEST) Report
Stadium: Við Djúpumýrar
Attendance: 253
Referee: Jasper Vergoote (Belgium)
11 October 2024 (2024-10-11) Friendly Slovakia  2–1   Nitra, Slovakia
15:30 (16:30 EEST)
Report Stadium: Štadión pod Zoborom
Referee: Balázs Berke (Hungary)
15 October 2024 (2024-10-15) 2025 UEFA European U21 Championship Qualification Group G Croatia  3–2   Koprivnica, Croatia
18:00 (19:00 EEST) Report
Stadium: Ivan Kušek-Apaš City Stadium
Referee: Sandi Putros (Denmark)
19 November 2024 (2024-11-19) Friendly   1–1  Hungary Serres, Greece
16:00 EEST
Report
  • Klausz 32'
Stadium: Serres Municipal Stadium

2025

21 March 2025 (2025-03-21) Friendly   0–0  Albania Serres, Greece
17:00 Report Stadium: Serres Municipal Stadium
25 March 2025 (2025-03-25) Friendly  Bulgaria 1–1   Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria
18:00 Report
Stadium: Stadio Hristo Botev
4 June 2025 (2025-06-04) Friendly  Serbia 2–3   Loznica, Serbia
19:00
Report
  • Kyriopoulos 7'
  • Koutsias 21'
  • Papakanellos 90+4'
Stadium: Lagator Stadium

2026

Euro 2025 Under-21 Championship qualification

2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Portugal 10 9 0 1 33 6 +27 27 Final tournament 5–1 2–0 4–0 6–1 3–0
2  Croatia 10 7 1 2 20 14 +6 22 Play-offs 0–2 3–2 2–1 2–0 2–0
3   10 5 2 3 16 10 +6 17 2–1 2–2 3–0 1–1 1–0
4  Faroe Islands 10 3 1 6 11 24 −13 10 1–3 2–4 0–4 1–0 2–2
5  Belarus 10 1 3 6 6 20 −14 6 0–5 0–1 1–0 2–3 0–0
6  Andorra 10 0 3 7 4 16 −12 3 1–2 0–3 0–1 0–1 1–1
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Coaching staff

Managers

The following table provides a summary of the complete record of each Greece team 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 Greece tenure Pld W D L Win % Major competitions
Stelios Aposporis 2004–2007 18 9 1 8 050.0 2006 European Championship – Failed to qualify
2007 European Championship – Failed to qualify
Nikos Nioplias 2007–2009 19 9 5 5 047.4 2009 European Championship – Failed to qualify
Georgios Georgiadis 2010–2012 19 10 2 7 052.6 2011 European Championship – Play-offs
2013 European Championship – Failed to qualify
Kostas Tsanas 2012–2015 18 9 2 7 050.0 2015 European Championship – Failed to qualify
Michalis Iordanidis 2015 1 1 0 0 100.0
Antonis Nikopolidis 2015–2019 33 16 5 12 048.5 2017 European Championship – Failed to qualify
2019 European Championship – Play-offs
Giannis Goumas 2019–2021 12 4 2 6 033.3 2021 European Championship – Failed to qualify
Georgios Simos 2021–2022 10 5 2 3 050.0 2023 European Championship – Failed to qualify
Nikos Papadopoulos 2022–2024 10 5 2 3 050.0
Giannis Taousianis 2024– 7 2 3 2 028.6
Totals

Last updated: 4 June 2025. Statistics include official FIFA-recognised matches only.

Players

Current squad

As of 4 June 2025

The following 23 players were called up for a friendly match against Serbia on 4 June 2025.[1]

Names in italics denote players who have been capped for the senior team.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Nikolaos Botis (2004-03-31) 31 March 2004 3 0 Olympiacos
1GK Spyros Angelidis (2005-01-28) 28 January 2005 2 0 Werder Bremen II
1GK Alexandros Tsompanidis (2004-08-05) 5 August 2004 0 0 Panserraikos

2DF Alexis Kalogeropoulos (captain) (2004-07-26) 26 July 2004 5 0 Volos
2DF Christos Alexiou (2005-06-30) 30 June 2005 3 1 Inter Milan Primavera
2DF Dimitrios Keramitsis (2004-07-01) 1 July 2004 1 0 Pogoń Szczecin
2DF Konstantinos Kostoulas (2005-02-08) 8 February 2005 4 0 Rio Ave
2DF Lefteris Tasiouras (2004-03-01) 1 March 2004 4 0 Volos
2DF Athanasios Koutsogoulas (2004-04-03) 3 April 2004 8 0 Panserraikos
2DF Marios Sinanaj (2004-01-16) 16 January 2004 4 0 PAOK B
2DF Konstantinos Polykratis (2006-07-02) 2 July 2006 1 0 PAOK B

3MF Theofanis Bakoulas (2005-01-04) 4 January 2005 8 1 Rio Ave
3MF Dimitris Kaloskamis (2005-03-01) 1 March 2005 6 0 AEK Athens
3MF Argyrios Liatsikouras (2006-12-20) 20 December 2006 1 0 Olympiacos U19
3MF Vangelis Nikolaou (2004-06-03) 3 June 2004 4 0 Panetolikos
3MF Viktor Rumyantsev (2004-07-10) 10 July 2004 2 0 PAOK B

4FW Dimitrios Chatsidis (2006-06-14) 14 June 2006 1 0 PAOK B
4FW Georgios Koutsias (2004-02-08) 8 February 2004 19 5 Lugano
4FW Dimitris Rallis (2005-03-26) 26 March 2005 4 1 Heerenveen
4FW Lampros Smyrlis (2004-07-12) 12 July 2004 4 0 PAOK B
4FW Antonis Papakanellos (2005-08-11) 11 August 2005 4 1 Olympiacos
4FW Giannis Theodosoulakis (2004-09-11) 11 September 2004 3 0 OFI
4FW Georgios Kyriopoulos (2004-08-24) 24 August 2004 2 1 Kifisia

Recent call-ups

Following are listed players called up in the previous twelve months who are still eligible to represent the under-21 team.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Georgios Karakasidis (2005-01-31) 31 January 2005 2 0 Panathinaikos v. Bulgaria, 25 March 2025
GK Dimitrios Monastirlis (2004-03-22) 22 March 2004 1 0 PAOK v. Hungary, 19 November 2024
GK Konstantinos Balomenos (2002-03-11) 11 March 2002 6 0 PAOK v. Croatia, 15 October 2024
GK Nikos Grammatikakis (2003-05-26) 26 May 2003 1 0 Volos v. Croatia, 15 October 2024
GK Angelos Angelopoulos (2003-02-19) 19 February 2003 1 0 AEK v. Croatia, 15 October 2024
GK Fotis Sgouris (2002-04-29) 29 April 2002 0 0 Asteras Tripolis v. Faroe Islands, 10 September 2024

DF Georgios Katris (2005-10-14) 14 October 2005 3 0 Levadiakos v. Bulgaria, 25 March 2025
DF Taxiarchis Filon (2005-03-16) 16 March 2005 2 0 PAOK B v. Bulgaria, 25 March 2025
DF Noah Allen (2004-04-28) 28 April 2004 1 0 Inter Miami v. Bulgaria, 25 March 2025
DF Isidoros Koutsidis (2004-12-23) 23 December 2004 1 0 Volos v. Hungary, 19 November 2024
DF Nikos Deligiannis (2005-03-22) 22 March 2005 1 0 PAOK B v. Hungary, 19 November 2024
DF Fotis Kitsos (2003-03-31) 31 March 2003 16 0 Omonia v. Croatia, 15 October 2024
DF Ilias Kostis (2003-02-27) 27 February 2003 8 2 Atlético Madrid B v. Croatia, 15 October 2024
DF Apostolos Konstantopoulos (2002-08-02) 2 August 2002 15 0 Beerschot v. Croatia, 15 October 2024
DF Apostolos Apostolopoulos (2002-12-11) 11 December 2002 7 0 Panetolikos v. Croatia, 15 October 2024
DF Panagiotis Panagiotou (2002-01-16) 16 January 2002 9 0 Ethnikos Achna v. Croatia, 15 October 2024
DF Konstantinos Chrysopoulos (2003-05-21) 21 May 2003 4 0 Anorthosis v. Faroe Islands, 10 September 2024

MF Giannis Apostolakis (2004-09-24) 24 September 2004 6 0 OFI v. Bulgaria, 25 March 2025
MF Christos Papadopoulos (2004-11-01) 1 November 2004 3 0 Juventus Next Gen v. Bulgaria, 25 March 2025
MF Sotiris Kontouris (2005-02-24) 24 February 2005 3 0 Panetolikos v. Bulgaria, 25 March 2025
MF Christos Kourfalidis (2002-11-11) 11 November 2002 15 2 Cosenza v. Croatia, 15 October 2024
MF Dimitrios Metaxas (2003-12-16) 16 December 2003 13 0 Athens Kallithea v. Croatia, 15 October 2024
MF Christos Mouzakitis (2006-12-25) 25 December 2006 4 0 Olympiacos v. Croatia, 15 October 2024
MF Argyris Darelas (2003-10-16) 16 October 2003 10 0 NEC Nijmegen v. Croatia, 15 October 2024

FW Stavros Pnevmonidis (2006-08-07) 7 August 2006 2 0 Olympiacos U19 v. Bulgaria, 25 March 2025
FW Athanasios Dabizas (2004-05-26) 26 May 2004 1 0 Panathinaikos v. Bulgaria, 25 March 2025
FW Nikos Zouglis (2003-11-14) 14 November 2003 11 1 Asteras Tripolis v. Croatia, 15 October 2024
FW Giannis Niarchos (2002-06-26) 26 June 2002 11 2 Košice v. Croatia, 15 October 2024
FW Christos Belevonis (2002-07-29) 29 July 2002 7 0 Panetolikos v. Croatia, 15 October 2024
FW Charalampos Kostoulas (2007-05-30) 30 May 2007 2 2 Brighton & Hove Albion v. Croatia, 15 October 2024
FW Michalis Panagidis (2004-02-11) 11 February 2004 4 1 Aris Thessaloniki v. Faroe Islands, 10 September 2024

INJ Withdrew due to injury
PRE Included in preliminary roster

Player records

Former squads

See also

References

  1. ^ "Εθνική Ελπίδων: φιλικό με την Σερβία". epo.gr. Retrieved 4 June 2025.