Estonia national football team

The Estonia national football team is controlled by the Estonian Football Association. They played their first match in 1920. In 1940 Estonia was annexed by the Soviet Union; it did not regain its 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.

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. 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 Poom, Andres Oper, Marko Kristal and Martin Reim.

World Cup record

1930 - Did not enter
1934 - Did not qualify
1938 - Did not qualify
1950 to 1990 - Did not enter, was part of USSR
1994 to 2006 - Did not qualify

European Championship record

1960 to 1992 - Did not enter, was part of USSR
1996 to 2004 - Did not qualify

Most caps for Estonia

Player	Estonia career	Caps (Goals)
Marko Kristal	1991-2005	143 (9)
Martin Reim	1992-present	143 (14)
Mart Poom	1991-present	101 (0)
Indrek Zelinski	1994-present	101 (26)
Kristen Viikmäe	1997-present	97 (14)
Andres Oper	1995-present	96 (28)
Marek Lemsalu	1991-2004	83 (3)
Urmas Kirs	1991-2000	80 (5)
Sergei Terehhov	1997-present	79 (5)
Viktor Alonen	1992-2001	71 (0)

Top Estonia goalscorers

Player	Estonia career	Goals (Caps)
Andres Oper	1995-present	28 (96)
Indrek Zelinski	1994-present	26 (101)
Eduard Ellman-Eelma	1921-1935	26 (58)
Arnold Pihlak	1920-1931	17 (44)
Richard Kuremaa	1933-1939	16 (41)
Martin Reim	1992-present	14 (143)
Georg Siimenson	1932-1939	14 (42)
Kristen Viikmäe	1997-present	14 (97)

External links

RSSSF archive of most capped players and highest goalscorers