Sweden national under-21 football team
| Nickname(s) | Blågult (The Blue-Yellow) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Association | Svenska Fotbollförbundet (SvFF) | ||
| Confederation | UEFA (Europe) | ||
| Head coach | Daniel Bäckström | ||
| Captain | Lukas Björklund | ||
| Most caps | Oscar Hiljemark (37) | ||
| Top scorer | Carlos Strandberg Ola Toivonen (13) | ||
| |||
| First international | |||
| Denmark 3–2 Sweden (Esbjerg, Denmark; 22 June 1952) | |||
| Biggest win | |||
| Sweden 10–0 Armenia (Lublin, Poland; 13 October 2020) | |||
| Biggest defeat | |||
| Ukraine 6–0 Sweden (Kyiv, Ukraine; 31 May 2012) | |||
| UEFA U-21 Championship | |||
| Appearances | 9 (first in 1972) | ||
| Best result | Champions (2015) | ||
The Sweden national under-21 football team is the football team representing Sweden in competitions for under-21 year old players and is controlled by the Swedish Football Association. Primarily, it competes to qualify for the biennial UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
Sweden made their first European Under-21 Championship appearance in 1986. In 2015, Sweden became champions for the first time.[1] They finished second in 1992 and they also reached the semi-finals in 1990 and 2009.[2] Oscar Hiljemark is the most capped player for the Swedish U21 team, having played 37 caps between 2011 and 2015. Ola Toivonen and Carlos Strandberg are the top goalscorers for the Swedish U21 team, having scored 13 goals each.
Competitive record
Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place Tournament held on home soil
UEFA European U-21 Championship
| UEFA European Under-21 Championship record | UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification record | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
| 1972 | Quarter-finals | 6th | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 2 | |
| 1974 | Did not qualify | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | ||||||||
| 1976 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6 | |||||||||
| 1978 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 8 | |||||||||
| 1980 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | |||||||||
| 1982 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | |||||||||
| 1984 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 4 | |||||||||
| 1986 | Quarter-finals | 6th | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 3 | |
| 1988 | Did not qualify | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 6 | ||||||||
| 1990 | Semi-finals | 3rd | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 2 | |
| 1992 | Runners-up | 2nd | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 3 | |
| 1994 | Did not qualify | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 21 | 8 | ||||||||
| 1996 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 4 | |||||||||
| 1998 | Quarter-finals | 6th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 30 | 6 | |
| 2000 | Did not qualify | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 15 | ||||||||
| 2002 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 22 | 10 | |||||||||
| 2004 | Fourth place | 4th | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 7 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 20 | 14 | |
| 2006 | Did not qualify | 10 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 16 | 12 | ||||||||
| 2007 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 6 | |||||||||
| 2009 | Semi-finals | 3rd | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 7 | Qualified as hosts | ||||||
| 2011 | Did not qualify | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 10 | ||||||||
| 2013 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 20 | 14 | |||||||||
| 2015 | Champions | 1st | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 24 | 17 | |
| 2017 | Group stage | 9th | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 24 | 7 | |
| 2019 | Did not qualify | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 8 | ||||||||
| 2021 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 28 | 12 | |||||||||
| 2023 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 22 | 8 | |||||||||
| 2025 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 25 | 10 | |||||||||
| 2027 | To be determined | To be determined | |||||||||||||
| Total | 1 title | 9/28 | 34 | 14 | 9 | 11 | 50 | 40 | 205 | 111 | 41 | 53 | 398 | 210 | |
Players
Current squad
The following 23 players were called up for the friendly matches against Qatar and Croatia on 6 and 10 June 2025, respectively.[3]
Caps and goals updated as of 10 June 2025.
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | Elis Bishesari | 19 May 2005 | 5 | 0 | IFK Göteborg |
| 12 | GK | André Picornell | 3 April 2004 | 2 | 0 | Unattached |
| 23 | GK | Simon Eriksson | 24 April 2006 | 0 | 0 | IF Elfsborg |
| 2 | DF | Hampus Skoglund | 1 March 2004 | 9 | 1 | Hammarby IF |
| 3 | DF | Bleon Kurtulus | 24 June 2007 | 1 | 0 | Halmstads BK |
| 4 | DF | Nils Zätterström | 29 March 2005 | 3 | 0 | Malmö FF |
| 5 | DF | Jonas Rouhi | 7 January 2004 | 13 | 1 | Juventus |
| 13 | DF | Peter Amoran | 22 May 2004 | 4 | 1 | Parma |
| 14 | DF | Malcolm Jeng | 9 March 2005 | 3 | 0 | Reims |
| 16 | DF | Noah Tolf | 13 August 2005 | 2 | 0 | IFK Göteborg |
| 22 | DF | Moutaz Neffati | 4 September 2004 | 1 | 0 | IFK Norrköping |
| 6 | MF | Markus Karlsson | 20 January 2004 | 6 | 0 | Hammarby IF |
| 8 | MF | Lukas Björklund (captain) | 16 February 2004 | 6 | 2 | Sønderjyske |
| 10 | MF | Amin Boudri | 29 September 2004 | 4 | 0 | GAIS |
| 15 | MF | Wilmer Odefalk | 21 November 2004 | 6 | 0 | IF Brommapojkarna |
| 18 | MF | Isak Alemayehu | 11 October 2006 | 1 | 0 | Djurgårdens IF |
| 20 | MF | Ludwig Małachowski Thorell | 25 February 2005 | 1 | 0 | Mjällby AIF |
| 7 | FW | Pontus Dahbo | 11 October 2005 | 6 | 0 | BK Häcken |
| 9 | FW | Jonah Kusi-Asare | 4 July 2007 | 4 | 0 | Bayern Munich |
| 11 | FW | Amar Fatah | 19 February 2004 | 6 | 0 | Troyes |
| 17 | FW | Jeremy Agbonifo | 24 October 2005 | 6 | 1 | Lens |
| 19 | FW | Richie Omorowa | 30 March 2004 | 6 | 3 | Excelsior |
| 21 | FW | Kenan Bilalović | 22 June 2005 | 2 | 0 | IFK Värnamo |
Recent call-ups
The following 22 players are still eligible for the U21 team (i.e. born in 2004 or later) and have previously been called up to the squad.
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Viktor Andersson | 30 March 2004 | 2 | 0 | IFK Värnamo | v. Wales, 23 March 2025 |
| GK | Filip Sidklev | 12 March 2005 | 2 | 0 | Aris | v. Republic of Ireland, 17 November 2024 |
| DF | Matteo Pérez Vinlöf | 18 December 2005 | 6 | 2 | Dinamo Zagreb | v. Croatia, 10 June 2025 WD |
| DF | John Mellberg | 30 July 2006 | 1 | 0 | Red Bull Salzburg | v. Croatia, 10 June 2025 WD |
| DF | Elison Makolli | 10 January 2005 | 3 | 0 | AaB | v. Wales, 23 March 2025 |
| DF | Felix Eriksson | 21 May 2004 | 1 | 0 | IFK Göteborg | v. Wales, 23 March 2025 |
| DF | Adrian Skogmar | 23 November 2005 | 2 | 0 | Malmö FF | v. Republic of Ireland, 17 November 2024 |
| MF | Williot Swedberg | 1 February 2004 | 7 | 2 | Celta Vigo | v. Croatia, 10 June 2025 WD |
| MF | Marcus Rafferty | 1 October 2004 | 2 | 0 | Degerfors IF | v. Croatia, 10 June 2025 WD |
| MF | Lukas Kjellnäs | 20 June 2004 | 2 | 0 | Helsingborgs IF | v. Wales, 23 March 2025 |
| MF | Zakaria Loukili | 25 January 2006 | 2 | 0 | Malmö FF | v. Wales, 23 March 2025 |
| MF | Demirel Hodžić | 8 March 2005 | 2 | 0 | AC Milan | v. Republic of Ireland, 17 November 2024 |
| MF | Lucas Bergvall | 2 February 2006 | 5 | 1 | Tottenham Hotspur | v. Croatia, 11 June 2024 WD |
| MF | Hugo Larsson | 27 June 2004 | 3 | 1 | Eintracht Frankfurt | v. North Macedonia, 8 September 2023 |
| FW | Momodou Sonko | 31 January 2005 | 7 | 1 | Gent | v. Croatia, 10 June 2025 WD |
| FW | Victor Andersson | 22 October 2004 | 2 | 0 | AIK | v. Croatia, 10 June 2025 WD |
| FW | Gottfrid Rapp | 18 August 2005 | 4 | 0 | IF Elfsborg | v. Wales, 23 March 2025 |
| FW | Elias Pihlström | 31 August 2006 | 2 | 0 | Degerfors IF | v. Wales, 23 March 2025 |
| FW | August Ljungberg | 13 May 2005 | 1 | 0 | IK Sirius | v. Republic of Ireland, 17 November 2024 |
| FW | Alieu Njie | 14 May 2005 | 0 | 0 | Torino | v. Republic of Ireland, 17 November 2024 WD |
| FW | Roony Bardghji | 15 November 2005 | 10 | 2 | Copenhagen | v. North Macedonia, 26 March 2024 |
| FW | Taha Ayari | 10 May 2005 | 1 | 0 | AIK | v. North Macedonia, 26 March 2024 |
| ||||||
Previous squads
- 1998 UEFA European Under-21 Championship squad
- 2004 UEFA European Under-21 Championship squad
- 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship squad
- 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championship squad
- 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship squad
Players with most caps and goals
Updated as of 7 June 2018. Note that the matches played by Sweden Olympic football team in 1992 and 2016 are included here, as the Swedish Football Association recognizes them as Under-21 matches.
Top 10 most capped players
| # | Player | Career | Caps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oscar Hiljemark | 2011–2015 | 37 | 4 |
| 2 | Alexander Farnerud | 2002–2006 | 36 | 12 |
| 3 | Jonny Rödlund | 1990–1993 | 35 | 11 |
| 4 | Simon Tibbling | 2012–2017 | 33 | 2 |
| 5 | Magnus Johansson | 1990–1993 | 32 | 0 |
| 6 | Mikael Dorsin | 2000–2004 | 31 | 1 |
| Mattias Bjärsmyr | 2005–2009 | 31 | 0 | |
| 8 | Johan Elmander | 2000–2004 | 30 | 12 |
| Tommy Jönsson | 1995–1998 | 30 | 2 | |
| Sven Andersson | 1981–1986 | 30 | 0 |
Top 10 goalscorers
| # | Player | Career | Goals | Caps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carlos Strandberg | 2015–2018 | 13 | 18 |
| Ola Toivonen | 2006–2009 | 13 | 28 | |
| 3 | Pär-Olof Ohlsson | 1972–1977 | 12 | 19 |
| John Guidetti | 2010–2015 | 12 | 23 | |
| Johan Elmander | 2000–2004 | 12 | 30 | |
| Alexander Farnerud | 2002–2006 | 12 | 36 | |
| 7 | Mikael Ishak | 2012–2016 | 11 | 27 |
| Jonny Rödlund | 1990–1993 | 11 | 35 | |
| 9 | Niklas Skoog | 1994–1995 | 10 | 14 |
| 10 | Tord Grip | 1958–1961 | 9 | 10 |
| Lasse Larsson | 1982–1987 | 9 | 10 |
See also
- Sweden men's national football team
- Sweden Olympic football team
- Sweden men's national under-19 football team
- Sweden men's national under-17 football team
- Sweden national football B team (defunct)
- UEFA European Under-21 Championship
References
- ^ "EM-guld efter straffdrama!" (in Swedish). Svenskfotboll. Archived from the original on 1 July 2015. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
- ^ "EM-sorti på straffar efter mirakelvändning" (in Swedish). Svenskfotboll. Archived from the original on 29 June 2009. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
- ^ "Daniel Bäckströms junitrupp" (in Swedish). Swedish Football Association. 21 May 2025. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sweden national under-21 football team.