Moldova U21
Drawn against the might of Germany and Belgium along with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Cymru in Group 9, qualification for UEFA U21 EURO 2021 was always likely to be a difficult test for Moldova and former coaches Alexandru Guzun and later Serghei Clescenco, and a heavy 4-0 defeat away to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the opening match back in March 2019 did little to suggest otherwise.
However, the side responded in style in their second game as two goals from Alexandr Belousov earned Moldova a surprise 2-1 win over Cymru in Orhei, with Nathan Broadhead scoring the consolation goal. Despite the confidence from the victory, a 4-1 defeat to Belgium followed in Leuven a few days later.
The pandemic brought the campaign to a pause before the action resumed in September 2020, and Moldova would play their remaining five games in the space of three months. Another 4-1 defeat to Germany in Wiesbaden said more about the quality of the home side and eventual group winners, and Moldova responded with a credible 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina later that week, with Artur Crăciun equalising from the penalty spot in the final minutes. A 5-0 defeat to Germany followed in Chișinău in October, but once again their character shone through as Denis Furtună scored the only goal in a famous 1-0 victory over Belgium a few days later. However, the campaign would end in defeat as Cymru claimed a comfortable 3-0 win in Wrexham to leave Moldova bottom of the group in the final standings.
