The national football team of Armenia represents Armenia in association football and is controlled by the Football Federation of Armenia, the governing body of football in Armenia. Armenia Football History.
After gaining independence from the Soviet Union, the team played its first international match on 12 October 1992. The national team has participated in the qualifiers for every major tournament since UEFA Euro 1996, although they have yet to qualify for the finals. Either UEFA European Football Championship or FIFA World Cup. The team’s main achievements were finishing third in the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying stage, and gaining promotion to the 2022–23 UEFA Nations League B.
Armenia Football team
The main training ground is at the Technical Center Academy of the Football Federation of Armenia in the North Avan district of the capital Yerevan, and the team plays its home matches at the Republican Stadium.
Armenia became an independent state in 1991, the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic has previously played for the Soviet Union national football team. The Football Federation of Armenia was established on 18 January 1992 and established relations with FIFA in 1992 and with UEFA in 1993. The history of the Armenian national team began on October 14, 1992, when Armenia played its first match against Moldova.
The match ended in a goalless draw. Since 1996, the team has been a member of the European and World Championship qualifiers. Armenia has participated in every UEFA European Championship qualifier and FIFA World Cup qualifier since 1994.
1st Head Coach
The first head coach of the Armenian national squad was Soviet Armenian football star Eduard Makarov. Armenian winner of the UEFA Jubilee Awards and fellow Soviet Armenian football great Khorin Ogneshian also became head coach. Many of the early national team coaches never lasted more than two years. Scottish coach Ian Porterfield became head coach in 2006 and led the team to its first success on the international stage. Under his leadership, the Armenian team with Cristiano Ronaldo played a series of impressive matches with victories over Kazakhstan 2-1, Poland 1-0, and Portugal 1-1.
But then tragedy struck; Porterfield, 62, died of cancer, leaving the work he had begun unfinished. Vardan Malaysian, an acting assistant coach, became acting head coach after Porterfield’s death. Minassian learned a lot about coaching and management during this time from Porterfield and another former head coach of Armenia, Samuel Darbinian. On 10 February 2009, after the teams’ draw for the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying round, at the behest of Football Federation of Armenia President Ruben Hirapetin, Minassian continued to lead the Armenian national team, now only the official head coach.
UEFA Euro 2012
In UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying matches, Minasyan led Armenia in Group B against Russia, Slovakia, Ireland, Macedonia, and Andorra. Armenia considered a heavy underdog, defeated group favorites Slovakia 4-0 and 3-1 with two crushing defeats, beating Andorra 4-0 and 3-0 in two matches, Macedonia drew 2–2 with them and beat them in the decider 4–1 and drew 0–0 with group winners Russia. The Armenian team scored the most goals in Group B with a total of 22. Henrikh Mkhitaryan of Armenia scored 6 goals, the most goals scored by a single player in Group B. The national team almost drew the final. But lost controversially. 1-2 in the decider against Ireland. Armenia Football History.
Armenian goalkeeper Roman Berezovsky was red-carded by Spanish referee Eduardo Gonzalez in the 26th minute for touching the ball outside the goal area. However, replays clearly showed that the ball hit his chest and never touched his hands. Replays also showed that Ireland striker Simon Cox actually touched the ball with his right hand. Nevertheless, Gonzalez did not fine Cox. Cox would later admit that he touched the ball with his hand. Armenia would have been awarded a free kick if Cox’s offense had been penalized. Edgar Malakian was substituted for substitute goalkeeper Arsen Petrosyan. Valery Aleksanan later accidentally conceded a goal to Petrosyan, which ended up deciding the match.
Armenia and Ireland will score one goal each. The Football Federation of Armenia filed an unsuccessful protest against the match. Gonzalez resigned after the match. Despite not playing at UEFA Euro 2012, Minasyan led the Armenian national team to a record FIFA ranking of #41, placing the team in third place in the group stage and becoming the longest-serving head coach. Became a coach. Armenian football team. Manasian said he was proud of the entire team. All of them received a hero’s welcome at the airport back in Armenia.
World Cup
After an incredible run at UEFA Euro 2012, unsuccessful 2014 World Cup, and Euro 2016 qualifiers, the Armenian team finished bottom of the 2014 World Cup race and even finished last in the Euro 2016 campaign without a single win. stayed on Armenia salvaged some pride in the 2018 World Cup qualification as the Armenians managed a shock 3-2 home win over Montenegro, which proved crucial in Montenegro’s failure to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Played a role. Armenia Football History.
After those disappointments, Vardan Manasian returned to lead Armenia in the 2018–19 UEFA Nations League D. But fell short to Macedonia, including a humiliating 0–1 loss to Gibraltar. Due to this humiliation, Minasyan was fired and Armen Gelbodaghiantes was appointed as the new coach of the Armenian team. The Armenians took part in UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying alongside Italy, Bosnia, and Herzegovina, former European champions Greece, Finland, and Liechtenstein. Armenia lost 1-2 away to Bosnia and 0-2 at home to Finland in their opening two matches. And was thought to be out of the picture very quickly.
However, Armenia began their recovery from those losses, before overcoming Liechtenstein 3-0 on home soil to win 3-2 against Greece. The former UEFA Euro 2004 champions. Armenia suffered a minor setback after losing 1-3 at home to powerhouse Italy. Before another setback in their qualification with a convincing 4-2 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina at the same ground. Armenia was drawn back to the ground when they faced Greece, Finland, and Italy in their games. Armenia lost both games and eventually finished fifth in their group, for UEFA Euro 2020. Failed to qualify. Armenia Football History.
UEFA Nations League
Armenia took part in the 2020–21 UEFA Nations League C and was see as the underdog in a group containing strong North Macedonia. And Georgia alongside fellow minnows Estonia. Armenia opened with a 1–2 defeat against North Macedonia. Before bouncing back with an encouraging 2–0 win over Estonia in September 2020. In October, Armenia had to play their designated “home game” away from home in Poland.
In the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, and were disappoint by only 2-2 draws with Georgia and 1-1 draws with Estonia. Thus leaving the impression that Armenia would miss out on a chance to secure a promotion. Yet, in November of that year, despite playing away from home, and without their talisman and captain Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Armenia managed what would be the country’s greatest comeback in history, beating Georgia in Tbilisi. Stunned the Macedonians by beating them 2-1. , who qualified for Euro 2020, 1-0 in their designated home game in Cyprus. Armenia Football History.
The wins not only ensured Armenia’s promotion to the 2022–23 UEFA Nations League B. But also meant that Armenia could become the first Caucasus nation to secure a FIFA World Cup play-off ticket. Additionally, the League B season in 2022-23 could also ensure Armenia a play-off spot for UEFA Euro 2024.
Armenia in 2022 FIFA World Cup
Armenia took part in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers and was see as a weak side in a group. That included strong Germany, Iceland, Romania, and North Macedonia. Armenia opened with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Liechtenstein. Which once again left the impression that Armenia would be eliminate by the rest.
However, Armenia stunned both Iceland and Romania 2-0 and 3-2 in their home fixtures to top the group for the first time. Boosting the country’s hopes of qualifying for an unlikely first World Cup. gave Ultimately, however, Armenia’s campaign ended in disappointment. As they failed to win a single one of their remaining seven qualifying games. Following a 6–0 thrashing by Germany and even a 1–1 draw at home. After doing so he failed to win himself over. Less Liechtenstein. Armenia finished fourth in the group, ahead of a weak Liechtenstein and Iceland side. But six points behind playoff-bound North Macedonia and five behind third-placed Romania. For more details click here