Bulgaria national under-21 football team

The Bulgarian U-21 national football team is a national team of Bulgarian football player. It is subject to the New Bulgarian futbolen Soyuz and represents him on the U-21 level, in friendly matches against the national teams of other national associations, but also at the European Championships of the continental federation UEFA.

Be eligible, players who have not yet completed their 21 years and have Bulgarian citizenship. In tournaments, the age at first qualifier is relevant.

History

The Bulgarian U- 21 was established in 1976. This was due to the reorganization and regulation of the UEFA this year, which lowered the age limit from 23 to 21 down. Previously, there was already an U- 23, in which lie the origins of today's U- 21 team. In January 1967, he created an idea of the " Cup for U-23 national teams ." A total of 17 U-23 national teams participated in this competition. At that time the tournament was not built like today and looked more like the format of boxing world championships. On June 7, 1967, came to the first game of this new Cup. After a draw for the Bulgarian team of the team of the GDR had to confront. In domestic Stara Zagora, the East Europeans set by 3-2 and were the first U-23 European Championship. Four times in a row, the team was able to defend the title, but eventually lost it against Yugoslavia. The U -23 qualified for the European Championships in 1972, 1974 and 1976. Twice the team reached the quarter-finals, in 1972 only one difference from the semi-finals.

For the first U-21 European Championship in 1978, the Lavovete could qualify. There, the team met the selection Denmark. In the first leg, there was a 1:4 defeat for the Eastern Europeans. But thanks to a 3-0 second-leg success and the gate away goals pulled the white-green - red nor the semi-finals of the competition. In this round, it came to meeting with the juniors of the GDR. After the first comparison on home turf 2-1 could be obtained, was the second game 1:3 from the view of the Bulgarians. Thus, the opportunity was missed to a finals.

From then on had to wait for the Bulgarian Association long until their U- 21 team has qualified for the European Championship again. Only for the European Championships in 1990 made it the young players again. In the quarter- finals of the finals it came to the match between the Bulgarians and Yugoslavia. Towards the later finalist both games were lost. After the team's first away defeated with 0:2, it did not come with a 0-1 defeat on home soil addition.

Meanwhile, the Bulgarian team failed to qualify again over the qualifying round of the European Championship.

To participate in the European Championship in 2006 Bulgaria was solved with Croatia, Hungary, Sweden, Iceland and Malta in Group 8. Although remained of great opponent, but the quality was a big disappointment. Two victories were offset by a draw and seven defeats. The team earned a goal ratio of 9:17 and conceded the most goals this group. Only against the bottom club Malta could be spotted twice. Before home fans managed a 2-1 win, away team scored a 1-1 draw. The second victory there against the eventual First Table Croatia. On 3 June 2005, the team was able to prevail 2-1 and missed the Croats the only defeat in qualifying.

Since the next European Championship not only the usual two years later, but in 2007 took place after the 2006 European Championships, the appropriate qualification was played in a summary trial. Starting with a preliminary round, over a short group stage with three teams and the play-off games. Bulgaria needed only to go into the group stage. They were randomly assigned in section 12, the Ukraine. Also, it came to re- encounter with Croatia. There was only one game against each team, so that the teams away and once had home advantage once each. In the first game, the Bulgarians won 3-0 against the Ukrainian U -21. On 3 September 2006, the team met again on Croatia. Again, you could prevail 2-1 and then the White-Red -Green qualified for the play-offs. Here, it came in the return game for comparison with Belgium. After the Bulgarians the Belgians in the first leg could wrest a 1:1, the return game was clearly lost with 1:4 and missed the finals appearance.

In qualifying for the 2009 European Championship, the U-21 Junior of Bulgaria with the teams from England, Portugal, Montenegro and Ireland had to deal with. After minor success in the qualification in 2007, 2009, there were again a disappointment. Only two wins and a draw go. A total of five times was the team as losers from the square. Points were against Portugal, Ireland (one win) brought and Montenegro. With only four goals scored, the team was just as bad as the last table from Ireland. Five of the eight games ended without their own scoring. The scorers in qualifying were Valeri Domowtschijski, Atanas Kurdow, Momchil Zvetanow and plays for Montenegro Janko Simovic with an own goal.