From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Estonia national football team is controlled by the Estonian Football Association. They played their first match in 1920. In 1940 Estonia was occupied by the Soviet Union and did not regain independence (and the possibility of a national football team) until 1991. As a newly independent nation, they played their first match against Lithuania in the Baltic Cup on November 15, 1991, and their first FIFA-recognized match against Slovenia on June 3, 1992, a 1-1 draw at Tallinn. Home matches are played at the A. Le Coq Arena in Tallinn.
[edit] Modern History
After Estonia gained independence, the national team was initially the weakest of the three Baltic teams, suffering defeats such as a 7-1 loss to Croatia in the Euro 96 qualifiers. In the 1998 World Cup qualifiers, Estonia achieved notoriety when a home game against Scotland would be called off in bizarre circumstances.[1] The replay in Monaco finished 0-0; goalkeeper Mart Poom earned a move to Derby County soon afterwards.
Estonia's fortunes have improved since. In the Euro 2004 qualifiers, Estonia proved remarkably obdurate with 8 points from as many games, only 4 goals scored and 6 conceded. The 2006 World Cup qualifiers saw further improvement with 5 wins, 2 draws and 5 defeats. Estonia have a number of players who have amassed an astonishing number of caps, including Mart Poom, Andres Oper, Marko Kristal and Martin Reim.
[edit] Stadium
The main stadium for home matches is A. Le Coq Arena, the stadium named after a beer made in Estonia. The stadium was opened in 2001 and the first match was against Netherlands which Estonia lost 4-2. Even though A. Le Coq Arena was opened in 2001, it still isn't complete. In the future there will be built two more stories and complete the roof.
The Estonian team also play's some of their matches at Kuressaare Linnastaadion. In the near future, Linnastaadion will be replaced by a new stadium to host the games of FC Kuressaare and to be the back-up stadium for the Estonian team. When the stadium is complete, Estonia hopes to host the 2011 and 2013 European Championships for different age class youth national teams.
Nike, Inc. has been the kit provider for the national team from the year 2000 and the current contract will last until the year 2011. Before Nike, the team was sponsored by Italy-based Lotto. Their sponsorship lasted from 1992 to the year 2000.
The national team's home dress has always been a blue jersey with black shorts and white socks, although a few kits have had white shorts and white socks. The blue-black-white colors are derived from the flag of Estonia. The away kit has changed several times but it has usually been a white jersey, black shorts and blue socks, occasionally it has been with white socks. The goalie usually wears a yellow jersey, black shorts and yellow socks.
[edit] Supporters
Jalgpallihaigla in Riga, Latvia
One of the biggest group of Estonian fans are collectively known as the Jalgpallihaigla, meaning "Football hospital" in translation. When joined, each member is given a "diagnosis" for staying in the "hospital." Each member can also buy a members card which allows to get fan goods cheaper from the shop.
Estonia fans are know as relatively calm but loud. They are probably best know for their good singing abilities and using old Estonian songs. Jalgpallihaigla is usually seated at the south tribune of A. Le Coq Arena while the visitors fans are seated at the north tribune. There isn't much history of violence, for example, when Estonia won against Russia 2-1 in 2001, Russian fans started rioting but Jalgpallihaigla stayed calm. The incident lead to the creation of riot police in Estonia. Another incident took place on 4th of June, after a friendly game against Faroe Islands which Estonia won 4-3. Before the game, the anthem of Estonia was sung by Ewert Sundja, an Estonian singer. After the anthem, many Estonians felt that the Estonian pop-star had ruined it. After the game, two Estonian fans beat up the singer,[2] although it is not known if the fans were members of Jalgpallihaigla.
[edit] World Cup record
[edit] European Championship record
[edit] Olympic games
-
The Estonia national football team played once so far in the big tournament.It was on 1924 Summer Olympic Games. They played only one game in Preliminary round versus USA and lost 0-1 to a penalty scored by Andy Straden (United States) after ten minutes.
[edit] Most caps for Estonia
- Correct as of November 22, 2008[3]
- Players who are still active and available for selection are in bold.
[edit] Top Estonia goalscorers
- Correct as of November 22, 2008[4]
- Players who are still active and available for selection are in bold.
[edit] Results and Fixtures
[edit] Recent results
| Date |
Competition |
Venue |
Home Team |
Result |
Away Team |
Scorers |
|
November 22, 2008
|
Mayors Cup
|
Linnastaadion, Kuressaare |
 Estonia |
1 – 1
|
 Lithuania |
Puri  6'
|
|
November 18, 2008
|
Mayors Cup
|
A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn |
Estonia |
1 – 0
|
 Moldova |
Voskoboinikov 56'
|
|
November 12, 2008
|
Friendly
|
A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn |
Estonia |
1 – 1
|
 Latvia |
Kink 52'
|
|
October 15, 2008
|
FIFA World Cup 2010 qualifying
|
A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn |
Estonia |
0 – 0
|
 Turkey |
|
|
October 11, 2008
|
FIFA World Cup 2010 qualifying
|
A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn |
Estonia |
0 – 3
|
 Spain |
|
|
September 10, 2008
|
FIFA World Cup 2010 qualifying
|
Bilino Polje, Zenica |
 Bosnia and Herzegovina |
7 – 0
|
Estonia |
|
|
September 6, 2008
|
FIFA World Cup 2010 qualifying
|
Stade Maurice Dufrasne, Liege |
 Belgium |
3 – 2
|
Estonia |
Zenjov 57', Oper 90+2'
|
|
August 20, 2008
|
Friendly
|
A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn |
Estonia |
2 – 1
|
 Malta |
Purje 23', Oper 52'
|
|
June 4, 2008
|
Friendly
|
A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn |
Estonia |
4 – 3
|
 Faroe Islands |
Zahovaiko 9' 14', Kink 28', Novikov 75'
|
|
May 31, 2008
|
Baltic Cup
|
Slokas Stadium, Jūrmala |
Estonia |
0 – 1
|
Lithuania |
|
|
May 30, 2008
|
Baltic Cup
|
Skonto stadions, Riga |
Latvia |
1 – 0
|
Estonia |
|
|
May 27, 2008
|
Friendly
|
A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn |
Estonia |
1 – 1
|
 Georgia |
Kink 64' (pen.)
|
|
March 26, 2008
|
Friendly
|
A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn |
Estonia |
2 – 0
|
 Canada |
Stalteri 59' (o.g.), Zahovaiko 90'
|
[edit] Forthcoming fixtures
| Date |
Competition |
Venue |
Home Team |
Away Team |
|
March 28, 2009
|
FIFA World Cup 2010 qualifying
|
Hanrapetakan Stadium, Yerevan |
 Armenia |
Estonia |
|
April 1, 2009
|
FIFA World Cup 2010 qualifying
|
A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn |
Estonia |
Armenia |
|
September 5, 2009
|
FIFA World Cup 2010 qualifying
|
Istanbul |
Turkey |
Estonia |
|
September 5, 2009
|
FIFA World Cup 2010 qualifying
|
|
Spain |
Estonia |
|
October 10, 2009
|
FIFA World Cup 2010 qualifying
|
A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn |
Estonia |
Bosnia and Herzegovina |
|
October 14, 2009
|
FIFA World Cup 2010 qualifying
|
A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn |
Estonia |
Belgium |
[edit] Current squad
Squad called up for the Mayors Cup match against Lithuania on November 22, 2008. [5]
| No. |
Pos. |
Player |
DoB (Age) |
Caps |
Goals |
Club |
| 12 |
GK |
Mihkel Aksalu |
November 7, 1984 (1984-11-07) (age 24) |
5 |
0 |
FC Flora |
| 1 |
GK |
Artur Kotenko |
August 20, 1981 (1981-08-20) (age 27) |
16 |
0 |
 Sandnes Ulf |
|
| 3 |
DF |
Alo Bärengrub |
February 12, 1984 (1984-02-12) (age 24) |
20 |
0 |
FK Bodø/Glimt |
| 17 |
DF |
Enar Jääger |
November 18, 1984 (1984-11-18) (age 24) |
59 |
0 |
Aalesunds FK |
| 14 |
DF |
Gert Kams |
May 25, 1985 (1985-05-25) (age 23) |
7 |
0 |
FC Flora |
| 4 |
DF |
Raio Piiroja  |
July 11, 1979 (1979-07-11) (age 29) |
82 |
6 |
Fredrikstad FK |
| 15 |
DF |
Taavi Rähn |
May 16, 1981 (1981-05-16) (age 27) |
41 |
0 |
FK Ekranas |
| 2 |
DF |
Tihhon Šišov |
February 11, 1983 (1983-02-11) (age 25) |
14 |
0 |
 Győri ETO |
|
| 11 |
MF |
Aivar Anniste |
February 18, 1980 (1980-02-18) (age 28) |
45 |
3 |
FC Flora |
| 6 |
MF |
Aleksandr Dmitrijev |
February 18, 1982 (1982-02-18) (age 26) |
41 |
0 |
Hønefoss BK |
| 9 |
MF |
Tarmo Kink |
October 6, 1985 (1985-10-06) (age 23) |
29 |
3 |
Győri ETO |
| 16 |
MF |
Oliver Konsa |
March 4, 1985 (1985-03-04) (age 23) |
11 |
0 |
FC Flora |
| 7 |
MF |
Sander Puri |
May 7, 1988 (1988-05-07) (age 20) |
9 |
1 |
FC Levadia |
| 13 |
MF |
Martin Vunk |
August 21, 1984 (1984-08-21) (age 24) |
14 |
0 |
FC Flora |
|
| 10 |
FW |
Kaimar Saag |
August 5, 1988 (1988-08-05) (age 20) |
14 |
0 |
 Silkeborg IF |
| 18 |
FW |
Kristen Viikmäe |
February 10, 1979 (1979-02-10) (age 29) |
109 |
14 |
 Södra IF |
| 8 |
FW |
Vladimir Voskoboinikov |
February 2, 1983 (1983-02-02) (age 25) |
12 |
1 |
 FC Torpedo |
|
[edit] Recent call-ups
| No. |
Pos. |
Player |
DoB (Age) |
Caps |
Goals |
Club |
|
GK |
Pavel Londak |
May 14, 1980 (1980-05-14) (age 28) |
15 |
0 |
FK Bodø/Glimt (World Cup qualification match v. Turkey, October 15, 2008) |
|
GK |
Sergei Pareiko |
January 31, 1977 (1977-01-31) (age 31) |
6 |
0 |
FC Tom (Friendly match v. Latvia, November 12, 2008) |
|
GK |
Mart Poom  |
February 3, 1972 (1972-02-03) (age 36) |
119 |
0 |
 Watford F.C. (Friendly match v. Malta, August 20, 2008) |
|
DF |
Teet Allas |
June 2, 1977 (1977-06-02) (age 31) |
73 |
2 |
FC Flora (Friendly match v. Poland, February 27, 2008) |
|
DF |
Igor Morozov |
May 27, 1989 (1989-05-27) (age 19) |
2 |
0 |
FC Levadia (Friendly match v. Faroe Islands, June 4, 2008) |
|
DF |
Dmitri Kruglov |
May 24, 1984 (1984-05-24) (age 24) |
38 |
1 |
 Neftchi Baku (World Cup qualification match v. Turkey, October 15, 2008) |
|
DF |
Urmas Rooba |
July 8, 1978 (1978-07-08) (age 30) |
70 |
1 |
 TPS (Friendly match v. Faroe Islands, June 4, 2008) |
|
DF |
Andrei Sidorenkov |
February 12, 1984 (1984-02-12) (age 24) |
11 |
0 |
SønderjyskE (Mayors Cup match v. Moldova, November 18, 2008) |
|
DF |
Andrei Stepanov |
March 16, 1979 (1979-03-16) (age 29) |
79 |
1 |
FC Khimki (World Cup qualification match v. Bosnia and Herzegovina, September 10, 2008) |
|
DF |
Taijo Teniste |
January 31, 1988 (1988-01-31) (age 20) |
3 |
0 |
FC Levadia (Mayors Cup match v. Moldova, November 18, 2008) |
|
MF |
Ragnar Klavan |
October 30, 1985 (1985-10-30) (age 23) |
52 |
1 |
 Heracles Almelo (Mayors Cup match v. Moldova, November 18, 2008) |
|
MF |
Joel Lindpere |
October 5, 1981 (1981-10-05) (age 27) |
65 |
5 |
Tromsø IL (Mayors Cup match v. Moldova, November 18, 2008) |
|
MF |
Jevgeni Novikov |
June 28, 1980 (1980-06-28) (age 28) |
13 |
2 |
Dynamo Barnaul (Friendly match v. Faroe Islands, June 4, 2008) |
|
MF |
Ats Purje |
August 3, 1985 (1985-08-03) (age 23) |
10 |
1 |
FC Inter (World Cup qualification match v. Bosnia and Herzegovina, September 10, 2008) |
|
MF |
Konstantin Vassiljev |
August 16, 1984 (1984-08-16) (age 24) |
14 |
0 |
 NK Nafta (Mayors Cup match v. Moldova, November 18, 2008) |
|
FW |
Andres Oper |
November 7, 1977 (1977-11-07) (age 31) |
112 |
35 |
Roda JC (World Cup qualification match v. Turkey, October 15, 2008) |
|
FW |
Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko |
December 29, 1981 (1981-12-29) (age 27) |
37 |
7 |
FC Flora (Mayors Cup match v. Moldova, November 18, 2008) |
|
FW |
Sergei Zenjov |
April 20, 1989 (1989-04-20) (age 19) |
3 |
1 |
 FC Karpaty (World Cup qualification match v. Turkey, October 15, 2008) |
|
[edit] Coaching staff
[edit] Managers
[edit] References
[edit] External links
Tarmo Rüütli
Armenia
Turkey
Spain
Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg){kind=small}
Belgium
