Georgia national under-21 football team
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The Georgia national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Georgia and is controlled by the Georgian Football Federation. It is considered to be the feeder team for the senior Georgian national football team. The team competes in the European Under-21 Championship, held every two years.
Jvarosnebi (Crusaders)
| Nickname(s) | ჯვაროსნები Jvarosnebi (Crusaders) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Association | Georgian Football Federation | |||
| Confederation | UEFA | |||
| Head coach | Ramaz Svanadze | |||
| Captain | Gabriel Sigua | |||
| Most caps | Saba Khvadagiani (31 games) | |||
| Top scorer | Giorgi Guliashvili (8 goals) | |||
| FIFA code | GEO | |||
| ||||
| First international | ||||
 Georgia 3–0 Moldova  (Tbilisi, 27 May 1994) | ||||
| Biggest win | ||||
 Georgia 7–1 Malaysia  (Vienna, 26 March 2013) | ||||
| Biggest defeat | ||||
 Ukraine 6–0 Georgia (Chervonohrad, 12 October 2004) | ||||
| UEFA U-21 Championship | ||||
| Appearances | 2 (first in 2023) | |||
| Best result | Quarter-finals (2023) | |||
| Website | nakrebi.ge | |||
The current team is for Georgian players aged under 21 at the start of the calendar year in which a two-year European Championship campaign begins, so some players can remain with the squad until the age of 23. As long as they are eligible, players can play for Georgia at any level, making it possible to play for the U21s, senior side, and again for the U21s. This has been the case for several senior team players like Jano Ananidze and Levan Kakubava.
Although the breakup of the Soviet Union occurred officially on 25 December 1991, the under-21 team continued as Soviet Union until the 1992 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship. After that, Georgia and the other countries who split from the Soviet Union like Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova and Ukraine became separate footballing entities.
Georgia held its first official game in a 1996 UEFA European U21 Championship qualification campaign against Moldova. They made a debut in the final tournament of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship in 2023 for which they automatically qualified as a co-host nation.
Despite the lowest rating points among the 2023 Championship teams, Georgia produced a main surprise on the tournament. They finished the group on top of the table and remained unbeaten after 120 minutes of a quarter-final clash with Israel as well, before eventually losing on penalties.[1]
Georgia fought hard to qualify for the 2025 Championship. As runners-up of Group C, they beat Croatia after a dramatic penalty shoot-out in play-offs.[2]
Georgia U21s do not have a permanent home ground and play in stadiums of Erovnuli Liga clubs across the country. The record attendance for their match was set on 1 July 2023 when Georgia played Israel in quarter-final of the European Championship in front of 44,338 spectators.[3]
Competitive record
UEFA European U-21 Championship
Note:
- *Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
Qualification
Runners-up Third place Tournament held on home soil
| Year | Group | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 1996 |
Group 7 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 17 | |
 1998 |
Group 2 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 10 | |
 2000 |
Group 2 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 11 | 13 | |
 2002 |
Group 8 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 9 | 17 | |
 2004 |
Group 10 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 16 | |
 2006 |
Group 2 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 22 | |
 2007 |
Group 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | |
 2009 |
Group 4 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 22 | |
 2011 |
Group 2 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 9 | |
 2013 |
Group 5 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 18 | |
 2015 |
Group 3 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 15 | |
 2017 |
Group 6 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 17 | 17 | |
  2019 |
Group 3 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 19 | |
  2021 |
Group 2 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 17 | 14 | |
| 2023 | Qualified as hosts | |||||||
| 2025 |
Group C | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 10 | |
  2027 |
Group F | |||||||
Results and fixtures
Win Draw Loss
2024
| 6 June 2024 Friendly | Georgia | 0–0 |  Kazakhstan | Tbilisi |
| 19:00 GEO | Report | Stadium: Mikheil Meskhi Stadium |
| 5 September 2024 UEFA Euro QR | Georgia | 3–0 | Moldova | Batumi |
| 20:00 GEO Time |
|
Report | Stadium: Batumi Stadium Attendance: 5,250 Referee: Radoslav Gidzhenov (Bulgaria) |
| 9 September 2024 UEFA Euro QR | Netherlands | 3–1 | Georgia | Venlo |
| 22:00 GEO Time | Report |
|
Stadium: Covebo Stadion – De Koel Attendance: 3,458 Referee: Robert Schröder (Germany) |
| 10 October 2024 UEFA Euro QR | Sweden | 3–2 | Georgia | Jönköping |
| 20:00 GEO Time | Report | Stadium: Stadsparksvallen Attendance: 1,620 Referee: Iwan Arwel Griffith (Wales) |
| 15 October 2024 UEFA Euro QR | Georgia | 2–1 |  North Macedonia | Kutaisi |
| 20:00 GEO Time |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Ramaz Shengelia Stadium Referee: Viktor Shimusik (Belarus) |
| 15 November 2024 UEFA Euro play-off 1st leg | Georgia | 1–0 |  Croatia | Tbilisi |
| 19:00 GEO Time | Soldo  4' (o.g.) |
Report | Stadium: Mikheil Meskhi Stadium Attendance: 9,372 Referee: Adam Ladebäck (Sweden) |
2025
| 22 March 2025 Friendly | Finland  | 2–4 | Georgia | Belek |
| 18:00 GEO Time |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Gloria Sports Arena |
| 25 March 2025 Friendly | Serbia | 1–3 | Georgia | Antalya |
| 17:00 GEO Time | Mitrovic 28' (pen.) |
|
| 11 June 2025 UEFA Euro | Poland | 1–2 | Georgia | Žilina |
| 21:00 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Štadión pod Dubňom Attendance: 2,218 Referee: Alessandro Dudic (Switzerland) |
| 14 June 2025 UEFA Euro | France  | 3–2 | Georgia | Žilina |
| 21:00 | Report |
|
Stadium: Štadión pod Dubňom Attendance: 3,687 Referee: Jakob Sundberg (Denmark) |
| 17 June 2025 UEFA Euro | Georgia | 0–4 | Portugal | Trenčín |
| 18:00 | Report | Stadium: Štadión Sihoť Referee: Elchin Masiyev (Azerbaijan) |
| 9 September 2025 2027 UEFA Euro QR | Georgia | 1–1 |  Northern Ireland | Kutaisi |
| 20:00 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Ramaz Shengelia Stadium Attendance: 3,260 Referee: Kamal Umudlu (Azerbaijan) |
| 10 October 2025 2027 UEFA Euro QR | Latvia  | 1–1 | Georgia | Riga |
| 19:00 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: LNK Sporta Parks Attendance: 312 Referee: Jérémy Muller (Luxembourg) |
| 14 October 2025 2027 UEFA Euro QR | Malta  | 0–5 | Georgia | Ta'Qali |
| 21:00 | Report |
|
Stadium: Centenary Stadium Attendance: 203 Referee: Johann Ingi Jonsson (Iceland) |
| 14 November 2025 2027 UEFA Euro QR | Greece  | 3–0 | Georgia | Athens |
| 19:00 |
|
Report | Stadium: Leoforos Alexandras Stadium Attendance: 4,000 Referee: Viktor Kopiievskyi (Ukraine) |
2026
| 27 March 2026 2027 UEFA Euro QR | Georgia | 1–1 | Latvia | Kutaisi |
| 19:00 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Ramaz Shengelia Stadium Attendance: 1,390 Referee: Konstantinos Fellas (Cyprus) |
| 31 March 2026 2027 UEFA Euro QR | Georgia | 4–1 | Malta | Kutaisi |
| 18:00 |
|
Report | Ellul 2' |
Stadium: Ramaz Shengelia Stadium Attendance: 3,125 Referee: Seth Galia (Gibraltar) |
2027 European Championship
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | |
|
|
|
|
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Germany |
7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 22 | 4 | +18 | 18 | Final tournament | — | 2–3 | 3–0 | 6 Oct | 5–0 | 6–0 | |
| 2 | Greece |
7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 21 | 4 | +17 | 18 | Final tournament or Play-offs | 0–2 | — | 4–0 | 3–0 | 1 Oct | 5–0 | |
| 3 | Northern Ireland |
7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 11 | −3 | 10 | 1–2 | 6 Oct | — | 1 Oct | 1–0 | 2–0 | ||
| 4 | Georgia |
7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 9 | +3 | 9 | 0–2 | 26 Sep | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 4–1 | ||
| 5 | Latvia (E) |
7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 12 | −8 | 5 | 26 Sep | 0–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | — | 6 Oct | ||
| 6 | Malta (E) |
7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 28 | −27 | 0 | 30 Sep | 0–5 | 26 Sep | 0–5 | 0–1 | — |
Current team
Coaching staff
As of 15 March 2025[4]
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Head Coach | Ramaz Svanadze |
| Assistant coach | Giorgi Adamia Zaur Svanadze Giorgi Dekanosidze |
| Goalkeeper coach | Temur Charkviani |
| Fitness coach | Bondo Gotsiridze |
| Video analyst | Jumber Burjanadze |
Players
The following players born in or after 2004 were called up for 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification matches against Latvia and Malta, played on 27 and 31 March 2026.[5]
Note: Names in italics denote players that have been called up to the senior team.
Caps and goals correct as of 31 March 2026, after the match against Malta.[6]
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | Mikheil Makatsaria | 11 June 2004 | 5 | 0 | Dinamo Tbilisi |
| 23 | GK | Papuna Beruashvili | 21 March 2004 | 4 | 0 | Rustavi |
| GK | Revaz Kurtanidze | 11 January 2005 | 0 | 0 | Iberia 1999 | |
| 2 | DF | Giorgi Gvasalia | 28 June 2005 | 3 | 0 | Dinamo Tbilisi |
| 3 | DF | Aleksandre Amisulashvili | 9 March 2007 | 2 | 0 | Iberia 1999 |
| 4 | DF | Aleksandre Narimanidze | 3 June 2005 | 5 | 2 | Žilina |
| 5 | DF | Saba Kharebashvili | 3 September 2008 | 7 | 1 | Dinamo Tbilisi |
| 15 | DF | Luka Latsabidze | 18 March 2004 | 6 | 0 | Vejle |
| 17 | DF | Akaki Giunashvili | 1 March 2005 | 4 | 0 | Kolkheti 1913 |
| 21 | DF | Giorgi Tabatadze | 29 October 2005 | 6 | 1 | Vejle |
| 6 | MF | Gia Nadareishvili | 3 March 2005 | 0 | 0 | Trencin |
| 7 | MF | Luka Tsulukidze | 8 February 2004 | 6 | 1 | Dinamo Batumi |
| 8 | MF | Irakli Yegoian | 19 March 2004 | 18 | 1 | Excelsior |
| 10 | MF | Gabriel Sigua | 30 June 2005 | 15 | 4 | Lausanne Sport |
| 16 | MF | Niko Tsetskhladze | 29 October 2005 | 2 | 0 | Samgurali |
| 18 | MF | Tsotne Berelidze | 24 March 2006 | 1 | 0 | Dinamo Tbilisi |
| 19 | MF | Guram Japaridze | 15 August 2005 | 5 | 0 | Dinamo Batumi |
| 20 | MF | Nikoloz Dadiani | 8 December 2004 | 7 | 1 | Iberia 1999 |
| 9 | FW | Diego Deisadze | 15 October 2004 | 7 | 0 | Torpedo |
| 11 | FW | Nikoloz Chikovani | 21 June 2007 | 2 | 0 |  Watford |
| 14 | FW | Andria Bartishvili | 30 March 2009 | 2 | 0 | Iberia 1999 |
| 21 | FW | Saba Gegiadze | 21 January 2004 | 1 | 0 | Spaeri |
| 22 | FW | Luka Parkadze | 6 April 2005 | 6 | 0 |  Austria Salzburg |
Recent call-up
The following players have been called up within the last twelve months and are still eligible for selection.
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Giorgi Kavlashvili | 24 January 2007 | 0 | 0 |  Union SG |
v. Malta, 14 October 2025 |
| GK | Saba Kajaia | 23 August 2005 | 0 | 0 | Real Murcia |
v. Germany, 18 November 2025 |
| DF | Davit Bukia | 27 July 2005 | 5 | 1 | Torpedo |
v. Latvia, 27 March 2026, INJ |
| DF | Otar Chochia | 18 November 2006 | 0 | 0 | Gagra |
v. Germany, 18 November 2025 |
| DF | George Karseladze | 18 May 2005 | 4 | 0 | Académica de Coimbra |
v. Germany, 18 November 2025 |
| DF | Gela Sadgobelashvili | 19 January 2005 | 0 | 0 | Dinamo Tbilisi |
v. Malta, 14 October 2025 |
| DF | Saba Goglichidze | 25 June 2004 | 7 | 0 | Empoli |
v. Romania, 4 June 2025 |
| DF | Mate Shatirishvili | 25 May 2008 | 0 | 0 | Dinamo Tbilisi |
v. Northern Ireland, 9 September 2025 |
| MF | Giorgi Kharebava | 26 February 2004 | 1 | 0 | Kolkheti 1913 |
v. Germany, 18 November 2025 |
| MF | Dachi Lortkipanidze | 3 August 2005 | 5 | 0 | Cremonese |
v. Germany, 18 November 2025 |
| FW | Dimitri Gurtskaia | 4 February 2004 | 1 | 0 | Meshakhte |
v. Latvia, 27 March 2026 INJ |
| FW | Teimuraz Odikadze | 28 March 2006 | 1 | 0 | Dinamo Tbilisi |
v. Malta, 14 October 2025 |
| FW | Davit Gotsiridze | 6 September 2004 | 7 | 0 | Dila |
v. Germany, 18 November 2025 |
Past squads
Statistics
Most capped players
Last updated: 24 April 2026
| # | Name | Career | Caps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saba Khvadagiani | 2023–2025 | 31 | 3 |
| 2 | Giorgi Kvernadze | 2022–2025 | 24 | 2 |
| Otar Mamageishvili | 2022–2025 | 3 | ||
| 4 | Luka Gagnidze | 2021–2025 | 23 | 1 |
| 5 | Nodar Lominadze | 2022–2025 | 21 | 4 |
Leading goalscorers
Last updated: 24 April 2026
| # | Player | Career | Goals | Caps | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Giorgi Guliashvili | 2020–2023 | 8 | 20 | 2.5 |
| 2 | Nika Kacharava | 2013–2016 | 7 | 11 | 1.57 |
| 3 | Giorgi Arabidze | 2017–2019 | 6 | 13 | 2.17 |
Record against opponent
Last update: 17 June 2025[7]
Note: Includes friendly matches
| Opponent | Matches | Wins | Draws | Losses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albania |
8 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
 Armenia |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
 Azerbaijan |
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
 Belarus |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Belgium |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
 Bulgaria |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Croatia |
6 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
 Cyprus |
3 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Denmark |
5 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| England |
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
 Estonia |
7 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
 Faroe Islands |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Finland |
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| France |
4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Germany |
4 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
 Gibraltar |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Greece |
6 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Hungary |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
 Iceland |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
 Republic of Ireland |
4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Israel |
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Italy |
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Kazakhstan |
5 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Latvia |
6 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
 Liechtenstein |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
 Lithuania |
6 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
 Luxembourg |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1* |
| Malta |
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Moldova |
8 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
 Montenegro |
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Netherlands |
5 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Northern Ireland |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| North Macedonia |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
 Norway |
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Poland |
7 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Portugal |
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Romania |
6 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
 Russia |
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| San Marino |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
 Scotland |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Serbia |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Slovakia |
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Slovenia |
4 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Spain |
6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Switzerland |
8 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| Sweden |
4 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
 Turkey |
6 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Ukraine |
5 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
 Wales |
4 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Total | 193 | 62 | 44 | 87 |
- Luxemburg were awarded a 3–0 win[8]
Notable results
| Date | Tournament | Venue | Team | Result | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 September 1997 | Euro 1998 | Rustavi | Georgia |
2–0 | Italy |
| 10 October 1997 | Euro 1998 | Tbilisi | Georgia |
5–1 | Poland |
| 20 November 2007 | Euro 2009 | Tbilisi | Georgia |
2–0 | Russia |
| 9 September 2009 | Euro 2011 | Zestaponi | Georgia |
4–0 | Turkey |
| 3 June 2011 | Euro 2013 | Dugopolje | Croatia |
0–1 | Georgia |
| 4 September 2014 | Euro 2015 | Deventer | Netherlands |
0–1 | Georgia |
| 16 November 2021 | Friendly | Batumi | Georgia |
3–2 | England |
| 21 June 2023 | Euro 2023 | Tbilisi | Georgia |
2–0 | Portugal |
Notable former players
- Akaki Khubutia
- Aleksandre Amisulashvili
- Alexander Guruli
- Alexander Kobakhidze
- Davit Devdariani
- Dato Kvirkvelia
- David Targamadze
- George Popkhadze
- Giorgi Loria
- Giorgi Makaridze
- Gogita Gogua
- Gulverd Tomashvili
- Guram Kashia
- Jaba Kankava
- Jaba Lipartia
- Jano Ananidze
- Kakha Kaladze
- Levan Kakubava
- Levan Kenia
- Levan Mchedlidze
- Mate Vatsadze
- Murtaz Daushvili
- Nika Dzalamidze
- Nukri Revishvili
- Otar Martsvaladze
- Roin Kvaskhvadze
- Shota Grigalashvili
- Solomon Kvirkvelia
- Tornike Okriashvili
- Ucha Lobjanidze
- Valeri Kazaishvili
- Vladimir Dvalishvili
- Zurab Khizanishvili
Managerial history
Shota Cheishvili (1994–97)- Vladimir Gutsaev (1997–1998)
- Gigla Imnadze (1998–1999)
- Murtaz Khurtsilava (1999–2001)
- Vakhtang Kopaleishvili (2001–2003)
- Revaz Arveladze (2003–2004)
- Gocha Tkebuchava (2004–2005)
- Koba Zhorzhikashvili (2005–2006)
Ralf Minge (2006–2007)
Petar Segrt (2007–2009)- Kakha Tskhadadze (2009)
- Otar Gabelia (2009–2011)
- Soso Chedia (2011–2012)
- Aleksandre Chivadze (2012–2016)
- Gia Geguchadze (2016–2017)
- Giorgi Tsetsadze (2017–2019)
- Vasil Maisuradze (2020)
- Ramaz Svanadze (2021–present)
Source[9]
Media coverage
Georgia Euro qualifiers and international friendlies are usually shown by the Public Broadcaster. The 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship will be broadcast by the Setanta Sports.[10]