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This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Liechtenstein women's national football team.
Liechtenstein
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)The Blues-Reds
AssociationLiechtenstein Football Association
(Liechtensteiner Fussballverband)
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Head coachMartin Stocklasa
CaptainNicolas Hasler
Most capsPeter Jehle (132)
Top scorerMario Frick (16)
Home stadiumRheinpark Stadion
FIFA codeLIE
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 186 Decrease 5 (7 April 2021)[1]
Highest118 (January 2008, July 2011, September 2011)
Lowest191 (July 2017)
First international
 Liechtenstein 1–1 Malta 
(Daejeon, South Korea; 14 June 1981)
Biggest win
 Luxembourg 0–4 Liechtenstein 
(Luxembourg, Luxembourg; 13 October 2004)
Biggest defeat
 Liechtenstein 1–11 Macedonia 
(Eschen, Liechtenstein; 9 November 1996)

The Liechtenstein national football team (German: Liechtensteinische Fußballnationalmannschaft) is the national football team of the Principality of Liechtenstein and is controlled by the Liechtenstein Football Association. The organisation is known as the Liechtensteiner Fussballverband in German. The team's first match was an unofficial match against Malta in Seoul, a 1–1 draw in 1981. Their first official match came two years later, a 0–1 defeat from Switzerland. Liechtenstein's largest win, a 4–0 win over Luxembourg in a 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifier on 13 October 2004, was both its first ever away win and its first win in any FIFA World Cup qualifier. Conversely, Liechtenstein is the only country that lost an official match against San Marino. Liechtenstein suffered its biggest ever loss in 1996, during qualification for the 1998 FIFA World Cup, losing 1–11 to Macedonia, the result also being Macedonia's largest ever win to date.

History[edit]

Liechtenstein are only a relatively recent affiliate to FIFA, and did not participate in any qualifying series until the UEFA Euro 1996 qualifiers. There they managed to surprise the Republic of Ireland by holding them to a 0–0 draw on 3 June 1995. On 14 October 1998, they managed their first victory in a qualifying campaign after winning 2–1 against Azerbaijan in a Euro 2000 qualifying match.

Since then, the presence of Liechtenstein clubs in the Swiss league system and of a handful of professional players (most notably Mario Frick) has seen the side's competitiveness improve slightly. The Euro 2004 qualifiers saw Liechtenstein improve to the extent they restricted England to 2–0 wins. The 2006 World Cup qualifiers, however, brought even better results as two wins over Luxembourg and draws against both Slovakia and Portugal meant that Liechtenstein finished with 8 points.

In the Euro 2008 qualifiers, Liechtenstein beat Latvia through a solitary goal from Mario Frick. The result caused the Latvian manager to resign after the match. They repeated their heroics against Iceland managing to beat them 3–0 on 17 October 2007 for their second qualifying group win. On the 26 March 2008 Liechtenstein had an embarrassing 7–1 loss to fellow small nation in Europe, Malta. This was recorded as Malta's largest win.[3]

The Liechtensteiner Fussballverbund voted Rainer Hasler to be their "Golden Player" — their best player over the last 50 years — to mark UEFA's golden jubilee.

In the 2010 World Cup qualifiers, Liechtenstein secured a scoreless draw against Azerbaijan and a 1–1 draw against Finland, finishing bottom of Group 4 on two points.[4]

In the Euro 2012 qualifiers, Liechtenstein were narrowly beaten 2–1 by Scotland in Hampden Park thanks to a goal by Stephen McManus in the seventh minute of additional time.[5] They produced a shock 2–0 win at home against Lithuania; their goals were scored by Philippe Erne and Michele Polverino.[5] In the following qualifying game, they managed a scoreless draw away to Lithuania.[5]

In 2018, Liechtenstein entered the first ever UEFA Nations League, in group 4 of league D.[6] Their first Nations League match saw Armenia beat them 2–0 away. Liechtenstein were able to claim their first Nations League victory, beating Gibraltar 2–0.[7]

Liechtenstein all-time record against all nations[edit]

AgainstPlayedWonDrawnLostGFGAGD
 Albania300306−6
 Andorra2101110
 Armenia502349-5
 Australia100113−2
 Austria9009136−35
 Azerbaijan511328−6
 Belarus100115−4
 Bosnia and Herzegovina8017231−29
 Croatia200228−6
 Czech Republic200204−4
 Denmark3003013−13
 England200204−4
 Estonia5014210−8
 Faroe Islands5005311−8
 Finland502339−6
 Georgia100102−2
 Germany4004327−24
 Gibraltar4112330
 Greece501418−7
 Hungary3012010−10
 Iceland8125620−14
 Israel400418−7
 Italy4004020−20
 Latvia9117415−11
 Lithuania611438−5
 Luxembourg4310124+8
 Malta4004213−11
 Moldova211021+1
 Montenegro201102−2
 Netherlands100103−3
 North Macedonia10019538−33
 Northern Ireland4004617−11
 Poland100102−2
 Portugal7016335−32
 Qatar110021+1
 Republic of Ireland4013014−14
 Romania4004126−25
 Russia5005115−14
 San Marino632163+3
 Saudi Arabia110010+1
 Scotland200213−2
 Slovakia9027126−25
 Spain8008039−39
 Sweden4004110−9
  Switzerland8008121−20
 Turkey200208−8
 United States100114−3
 Wales300308−8
Total194132415781560−474

Competitive record[edit]

World Cup record[edit]

YearRoundPositionWDLGFGA
1930 to 1994Did not enter
1998Did not qualify6th, last (qualifying)0010352
20025th, last (qualifying)008023
20066th out of 7 (qualifying)2281323
20106th, last (qualifying)028223
20146th, last (qualifying)028425
20186th, last (qualifying)0010139
2022To be determinedTo be determined–––––
2026To be determinedTo be determined–––––
Total0/21265223185

European Championship record[edit]

YearRoundPositionWDLGFGA
1960 to 1992Did not enter
1996Did not qualify6th, last (qualifying)019140
20006th, last (qualifying)118239
20045th, last (qualifying)017222
20087th, last (qualifying)219932
20125th, last (qualifying)116317
20165th out of 6 (qualifying)127226
20206th, last (qualifying)028231
Total0/16595420190

Nations League record[edit]

UEFA Nations League record
SeasonDivisionGroupPldWDLGFGAP/RRK
2018–19D46114712Same position52nd
2020–21D2412132Same position51st
2022–23DTBATo be determined
Total10235101451st

Recent results and forthcoming fixtures[edit]

Main article: Liechtenstein national football team results (2020–present)

2020[edit]

8 September 2020 2020–21 UEFA Nations League San Marino  0–2  Liechtenstein Rimini, Italy
20:45 CET (UTC+01:00)ReportHasler Goal 3' (pen.)
Y. Frick Goal 14'		Stadium: Stadio Romeo Neri
Attendance: 0
Referee: Enea Jorgji (Albania)
7 October 2020 (2020-10-07) Friendly Luxembourg  1–2  Liechtenstein Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
20:15
  • Rodrigues Goal 72' (pen.)
Report
  • F. Wolfinger Goal 23'
  • Hasler Goal 62' (pen.)
Stadium: Stade Josy Barthel
Attendance: 0
Referee: Alexandre Boucaut (Belgium)
10 October 2020 2020–21 UEFA Nations League Liechtenstein  0–1  Gibraltar Vaduz, Liechtenstein
18:00 CET (UTC+01:00)ReportDe Barr Goal 10'Stadium: Rheinpark Stadion
Referee: Kirill Levnikov (Russia)
13 October 2020 2020–21 UEFA Nations League Liechtenstein  0–0  San Marino Vaduz, Liechtenstein
20:45 CEST (UTC+02:00)ReportStadium: Rheinpark Stadion
Referee: Jørgen Daugbjberg Burchardt (Denmark)
11 November 2020 (2020-11-11) Friendly Malta  3–0  Liechtenstein Ta' Qali, Malta
19:45
  • Mifsud Goal 5'
  • Borg Goal 20'
  • Farrugia Goal 84' (pen.)
ReportStadium: National Stadium, Ta' Qali
Attendance: 0
Referee: Manfredas Lukjančukas (Lithuania)
17 November 2020 2020–21 UEFA Nations League Gibraltar  1–1  Liechtenstein Gibraltar
20:45 CET (UTC+01:00)Frommelt Goal 17' (o.g.)ReportN. Frick Goal 44'Stadium: Victoria Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann (Malta)

2021[edit]

25 March 2021 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification Liechtenstein  0–1  Armenia Vaduz, Liechtenstein
20:45 CEST (UTC+2)Report
  • Frommelt Goal 83' (o.g.)
Stadium: Rheinpark Stadion
Referee: Julian Weinberger (Austria)
28 March 2021 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification North Macedonia  5–0  Liechtenstein Skopje, North Macedonia
20:45 CEST (UTC+2)
  • Bardhi Goal 7'
  • Trajkovski Goal 51', 54'
  • Elmas Goal 62'
  • Nestorovski Goal 82' (pen.)
ReportStadium: Toše Proeski Arena
Referee: Mykola Balakin (Ukraine)
31 March 2021 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification Liechtenstein  1–4  Iceland Vaduz, Liechtenstein
20:45 CEST (UTC+2)
  • Frick Goal 79'
Report
  • Sævarsson Goal 12'
  • Bjarnason Goal 45+1'
  • Pálsson Goal 77'
  • Sigurjónsson Goal 90+4' (pen.)
Stadium: Rheinpark Stadion
Referee: Mohammed Al-Hakim (Sweden)
3 June 2021 Friendly Switzerland   v  Liechtenstein Switzerland
Stadium: TBD
7 June 2021 Friendly Faroe Islands  v  Liechtenstein Tórshavn, Faroe Islands
Stadium: Tórsvøllur
2 September 2021 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification Liechtenstein  v  Germany St. Gallen, Switzerland
20:45 CEST (UTC+02:00)ReportStadium: Kybunpark
5 September 2021 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification Romania  v  Liechtenstein TBD
20:45 (21:45 UTC+3)Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)
8 September 2021 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification Armenia  v  Liechtenstein TBD
18:00 CEST (UTC+2)
8 October 2021 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification Liechtenstein  v  North Macedonia Vaduz, Liechtenstein
20:45 CEST (UTC+2)Stadium: Rheinpark Stadion
11 October 2021 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification Iceland  v  Liechtenstein Reykjavík, Iceland
20:45 CET (UTC+01:00)Stadium: Laugardalsvöllur
11 November 2021 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification Germany  v  Liechtenstein TBD
20:45 CET (UTC+01:00)Report
14 November 2021 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification Liechtenstein  v  Romania Vaduz, Liechtenstein
18:00Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)		Stadium: Rheinpark Stadion

Manager history[edit]

Martin Stocklasa, the team manager since 2020.
  • Erich Bürzle (1990)
  • Dietrich Weise (1990–1996)
  • Alfred Riedl (1997–1998)
  • Erich Bürzle (1998)
  • Ralf Loose (1998–2003)
  • Walter Hörmann (2003–2004)
  • Martin Andermatt (2004–2006)
  • Urs Meier (2006)
  • Hans-Peter Zaugg (2006–2012)
  • Rene Pauritsch (2013–2018)
  • Helgi Kolviðsson (2018–2020)
  • Martin Stocklasa (2020–)

Players[edit]

Current squad[edit]

The following players were called up for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Armenia on 25 March 2021, North Macedonia on 28 March 2021 and Iceland on 31 March 2021.[8]

Caps and goals are current as of 31 March 2021 after the match against Iceland.[9]

No.Pos.PlayerDate of birth (age)CapsGoalsClub
1GKBenjamin Büchel (1989-07-04) 4 July 1989 (age 31)340 Vaduz
1GKThomas Hobi (1993-06-20) 20 June 1993 (age 27)40 Balzers
1GKJustin Ospelt (1999-09-07) 7 September 1999 (age 21)20 Vaduz
2DFDaniel Kaufmann (1990-12-22) 22 December 1990 (age 30)611 Eschen/Mauren
2DFSeyhan Yildiz (1989-04-30) 30 April 1989 (age 32)451 Balzers
2DFSandro Wolfinger (1991-08-24) 24 August 1991 (age 29)402 Eschen/Mauren
2DFMaximilian Göppel (1997-08-31) 31 August 1997 (age 23)391 Eschen/Mauren
2DFDaniel Brändle (1992-01-23) 23 January 1992 (age 29)350 Pullach
2DFAndreas Malin (1994-01-31) 31 January 1994 (age 27)270 Dornbirn
2DFJens Hofer (1997-10-01) 1 October 1997 (age 23)130 Biel-Bienne
2DFAlexander Marxer (1994-04-04) 4 April 1994 (age 27)30 Eschen/Mauren
2DFRafael Grünenfelder (1999-03-20) March 20, 1999 (age 22)10 Balzers
2DFMartin Marxer (1999-10-04) October 4, 1999 (age 21)10 Ostermundigen
3MFMartin Büchel (1987-02-19) 19 February 1987 (age 34)882 Ruggell
3MFNicolas Hasler (Captain) (1991-05-04) 4 May 1991 (age 30)755 Thun
3MFAron Sele (1996-09-02) 2 September 1996 (age 24)270 Chur 97
3MFLivio Meier (1998-01-10) 10 January 1998 (age 23)160 Eschen/Mauren
3MFFabio Wolfinger (1996-11-05) 5 November 1996 (age 24)81 Eschen/Mauren
3MFNoah Frommelt (2000-12-18) 18 December 2000 (age 20)80 Eschen/Mauren
3MFNoah Frick (2001-10-16) 16 October 2001 (age 19)61 Neuchâtel Xamax
3MFNiklas Beck (2001-03-25) March 25, 2001 (age 20)10 Ruggell
4FWSimon Kühne (1994-04-30) April 30, 1994 (age 27)250 Eschen/Mauren
4FWYanik Frick (1998-05-27) 27 May 1998 (age 22)173 Energie Cottbus
4FWPhilipp Ospelt (1992-10-07) 7 October 1992 (age 28)120 Eschen/Mauren
4FWBenjamin Vogt (1999-06-28) June 28, 1999 (age 21)10 Balzers

Recent call-ups[edit]

The following players were called up in the last 12 months.

Pos.PlayerDate of birth (age)CapsGoalsClubLatest call-up
GKLorenzo Lo Russo (1993-07-08) 8 July 1993 (age 27)00 Linth 04v.  Gibraltar, 17 November 2020
GKGabriel Foser (2002-09-02) September 2, 2002 (age 18)00 Vaduzv.  Gibraltar, 17 November 2020
MFMarcel Büchel (1991-03-18) 18 March 1991 (age 30)171 Ascoliv.  Malta, 11 November 2020
MFNicola Kollmann (1994-11-23) 23 November 1994 (age 26)10 Ruggellv.  Malta, 11 November 2020
MFNoah Graber (2001-05-03) May 3, 2001 (age 20)10 Eschen/Maurenv.  Malta, 11 November 2020
MFAndrin Netzer (2002-01-11) January 11, 2002 (age 19)10 Vaduzv.  Malta, 11 November 2020
MFFabian Eberle (1992-07-27) 27 July 1992 (age 28)70 Konolfingenv.  San Marino, 8 September 2020
MFDario Kaiser (1995-03-15) 15 March 1995 (age 26)00 Konolfingenv.  San Marino, 8 September 2020
FWRidvan Kardesoglu (1996-10-12) 12 October 1996 (age 24)30 Balzersv.  Armenia, 25 March 2021
FWDennis Salanović (INJ) (1996-02-26) 26 February 1996 (age 25)454 Thunv.  Malta, 11 November 2020
FWPhilippe Erne (1986-12-14) 14 December 1986 (age 34)351 Balzersv.  San Marino, 13 October 2020

Notes:

  • PRE = Preliminary squad
  • INJ = Injured

Player history[edit]

As of 31 March 2021[10]
Players in bold are still active and available for selection.

In literature[edit]

Prompted by the team's poor record in competitive games, British writer Charlie Connelly followed the entire qualifying campaign for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. As recorded in the subsequent book Stamping Grounds: Liechtenstein's Quest for the World Cup, Liechtenstein lost all eight games without scoring a goal.[11]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 7 April 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  2. ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 31 March 2021. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  3. ^ Ltd, Allied Newspapers. "Malta beat Liechtenstein 7-1". Times of Malta. Retrieved 2018-11-07.
  4. ^ "Liechtenstein and Finland football teams played to a 1:1 draw, 9 September 2009". eu-football.info. Retrieved 2018-11-07.
  5. ^ a b c "Liechtenstein missing goal hero Philippe Erne". BBC Sport. BBC. 27 September 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  6. ^ UEFA.com. "UEFA Nations League - Standings". UEFA.com. Retrieved 2018-11-07.
  7. ^ "UEFA league D4".
  8. ^ https://www.lfv.li/fileadmin/user_upload/Dateien/Nationalmannschaften/A-Nationalmannschaft/Aufgebote-Nationalmannschaft/Aufgebot_Maerz2021.pdf
  9. ^ https://www.uefa.com/uefanationsleague/match/2030120/
  10. ^ Garin, Erik. "Liechtenstein - Record International Players". RSSSF.
  11. ^ Stamping Grounds : Exploring Liechtenstein and its World Cup Dream. 2014-06-11. ISBN 9780349141121.

External links[edit]

  • Liechtensteiner Fussballverbund
  • RSSSF archive of most capped players and highest goalscorers
  • Die Elf, documentary film about Liechtenstein national team