Armenia National Football Team in 2025: Analysis, Results, Statistics and Newcomers

The year 2025 was extremely disappointing for the Armenia national football team in terms of results. The team played 10 matches, winning only once, drawing once and losing eight times. The goal difference was 8 scored and 35 conceded.

The year began with hope of a reset under new Dutch head coach John van’t Schip, but ended with a heavy 1–9 defeat to Portugal under local specialist Yeghishe Melikyan.

At the same time, the results do not fully reflect the quality of the performances. In certain stretches, especially in the second half against Hungary and the first half away to Ireland, Armenia played football of a very high level. However, the team consistently lost due to systemic problems – first and foremost when facing opponents using an intense high press.

Coaching Changes and the Course of the Season

John van’t Schip’s Tenure: Failure in the Nations League Play-offs and Friendlies

The year started with the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League play-offs, where Armenia suffered two heavy defeats to Georgia:

• Home defeat: 0–3

• Away defeat: 1–6

Then came the friendlies, where van’t Schip’s side took another painful blow – a 2–5 loss to Kosovo, despite a decent first half. Only in the match against Montenegro (2–2) did Armenia finally look confident, control possession and show good attacking football.

However, this positive trend was not enough to change the overall picture: the results were simply too poor, and in the end the Dutch coach left his position.

The Arrival of Yeghishe Melikyan and the Start of 2026 World Cup Qualifying

The team was then taken over by Yeghishe Melikyan, a local coach who had to jump straight into the most difficult stage: no friendlies, straight into 2026 World Cup qualification.

His first official game was as tough as it gets – a home match against Portugal. As expected, Armenia lost 0–5, but this result was not seen as a final verdict.

Already in the next match came the main positive moment of the year:
Armenia beat Ireland 2–1. This is the same Ireland side that would later defeat Portugal and Hungary and finish second in the group, qualifying for the play-offs. Beating such an opponent shows that the Armenian team has real potential.

However, this victory remained the only one in 2025.

After that, Melikyan’s team played several games that were decent in terms of performance but poor in terms of result:

• Hungary 2–0 Armenia (away) – Armenia had a very good second half.

• Ireland 1–0 Armenia (away) – in the first half Armenia looked very solid and could have taken the lead, but the game was broken by Tigran Barseghyan’s red card early in the second half.

• Armenia 0–1 Hungary (home) – Armenia were very close to at least a draw and in some moments even to a win.

The competitive year ended with a crushing 1–9 away defeat to Portugal. For Portugal it was a key match – they needed a big win, kept pushing relentlessly and simply steamrolled Armenia. The match also had symbolic value for the hosts: Portugal played in an exclusive black kit to mark the 60th anniversary of Eusébio’s Ballon d’Or.

Tactical Analysis: The Main Problem is Opponents’ High Press

If you look closely at all of Armenia’s matches in 2025, a clear pattern emerges:

The team collapsed in every game where the opponent could and wanted to play an aggressive high press.

Match Examples

• Georgia – pressed actively in both games and won both by big margins (0–3 and 6–1).

• Kosovo – switched on the press in the second half and scored four goals. In the first half, when there was little pressure, Armenia actually “won” the half 2–1.

• Montenegro – barely pressed high. As a result, Armenia felt comfortable, controlled the game and looked very solid (2–2 draw).

• Portugal – in both matches (0–5 and 1–9) Portugal played their natural high-pressing style and completely destroyed Armenia’s structure.

• Ireland – a team with different strengths, but not a consistently high-pressing side. This suits Armenia:

  • In Yerevan, Armenia played an almost perfect game structurally and won 2–1.

  • In Dublin, until Barseghyan’s red card, the game was also going very well for Armenia.

• Hungary – pressed in phases and, judging by both games, could not maintain a high tempo for 90 minutes. Hence the pattern: Armenia played much better in both second halves against Hungary, even though they lost both matches overall.

In short: as soon as the opponent imposes a high press, Armenia immediately runs into major problems with building out from the back and keeping possession.

Armenia’s Playing Style: Young Centre-Backs, Spertsyan’s Deep Role and the Lack of a No. 9

The tactical idea was modern:

Armenia tried to build up from the back with short passing – through the goalkeeper and centre-backs, playing out under pressure instead of going long.

In practice, this led to several issues.

Young Centre-Backs

The back line often included very young defenders (20–22 years old). They have good passing and vision but lack confidence and experience playing under intense pressure. This leads to mistakes, turnovers and dangerous losses in their own third.

Eduard Spertsyan’s Role

Eduard Spertsyan was often forced to drop very deep, almost to the defenders, to help in build-up and move the ball out from the back.

But when this happens:

• There is often nobody ahead to pass to, because the forward line fails to hold the ball.

• When Spertsyan moves higher to create chances in the final third, the defenders cannot always get the ball to him under pressure.

Absence of a Classic Centre Forward

In attack, the following players were sometimes used up front:

• Lucas Zelarayán

• Tigran Barseghyan

• Grant-Leon Ranos

However:

• Zelarayán and Barseghyan are not natural centre-forwards and are not used to constantly playing with their back to goal and holding the ball under pressure.

• Ranos, based on his qualities, is also not a classic “number 9” constantly fighting for long balls and holding up play.

As a result, there is no one up front to secure possession, and Armenia often lose the ball already in the first phase of the attack.

When the opponent’s press drops, Armenia is capable of very high-quality attacking football: combinations, movement, dangerous chances. But to reach those phases regularly, the team must improve its ability to play out from the back under pressure – a key tool in modern international football.

What Armenia Needs to Improve

These issues are solvable, and the team has the potential to address them – especially given the young core of the squad.

1. Find or Develop a Physical Centre Forward

A striker who can:

• Hold the ball under pressure

• Win duels

• Allow the team to “breathe” and move up as a unit

A slightly more experienced but still young Grant-Leon Ranos could then play in a more natural role – on the wing or as a second striker.

Most importantly, there are already young forwards who could grow into this role:

• Finn Geragousian (18) – 194+ cm

• Albert Aleksanyan (19) – 193+ cm

• Artur Gharibyan (19) – 191+ cm

• Arayik Eloyan (21) – 188+ cm

• Edgar Navasardyan (21) – 188+ cm

• Edik Vardanyan (20) – 186+ cm

• Nicholas Kaloukian (22) – 185 cm

2. Add a Second Deep-Lying Midfielder Who Can Start Attacks

This would allow Armenia to:

• Push Spertsyan higher, closer to the penalty area

• Use his strengths where he is most dangerous – in chance creation, not just in dirty work during build-up

Here it will be important to see how players like Narek Agasaryan, Artem Bandikyan, Daniel Agbalyan, Tigran Avanesyan, Karlen Oganesyan and others can handle this role alongside Ugochukwu Iwu.

A shift to a 4-2-3-1 system might be optimal. In that case, Kamo Hovhannisyan could finally have a natural replacement at full-back in Erik Piloyan.

3. Develop the Centre-Backs

For the young centre-backs, the key tasks are:

• Improving decision-making under pressure

• Repeating game scenarios of building out against a high press

• Using their existing passing and vision without losing confidence

If these directions are implemented, Armenia will be much better suited to modern demands, and the young core could grow into a genuinely competitive national team.

All Armenia Matches in 2025

2024/25 UEFA Nations League Play-offs

Armenia 0–3 Georgia

• Formation: 4-2-3-1

• Head coach: John van’t Schip

• Possession: 41%

• Shots: 8 (2 on target)

• xG: 0.29

• Pass accuracy: 341 passes (84%)

Georgia 6–1 Armenia

• Formation: 5-4-1

• Head coach: John van’t Schip

• Possession: 35%

• Shots: 7 (2 on target)

• xG: 0.48

• Pass accuracy: 280 passes (77%)

• Goal: Edgar Sevikyan

• Assist: Vahan Bichakhchyan

Friendlies

Kosovo 5–2 Armenia

• Formation: 4-3-3

• Head coach: John van’t Schip

• Possession: 48%

• Shots: 4 (2 on target)

• Pass accuracy: 354 passes (89%)

• Goals: Eduard Spertsyan and an own goal

• Assist: Nair Tiknizyan

Montenegro 2–2 Armenia

• Formation: 4-3-2-1

• Head coach: John van’t Schip

• Possession: 54%

• Shots: 10 (3 on target)

• Pass accuracy: 421 passes (85%)

• Goals: Eduard Spertsyan (2)

2026 World Cup Qualification

Armenia 0–5 Portugal

• Formation: 5-3-2

• Head coach: Yeghishe Melikyan

• Possession: 29%

• Shots: 7 (3 on target)

• xG: 0.19

• Pass accuracy: 221 passes (84%)

Armenia 2–1 Ireland

• Formation: 5-3-2

• Head coach: Yeghishe Melikyan

• Possession: 52%

• Shots: 15 (8 on target)

• xG: 2.45

• Pass accuracy: 352 passes (82%)

• Goals: Eduard Spertsyan, Grant-Leon Ranos

• Assist: Nair Tiknizyan

Hungary 2–0 Armenia

• Formation: 5-2-3

• Head coach: Yeghishe Melikyan

• Possession: 33%

• Shots: 8 (2 on target)

• xG: 0.46

• Pass accuracy: 238 passes (78%)

Ireland 1–0 Armenia

• Formation: 5-2-3

• Head coach: Yeghishe Melikyan

• Possession: 51%

• Shots: 4 (1 on target)

• xG: 0.23

• Pass accuracy: 405 passes (81%)

• Red card: Tigran Barseghyan (52')

Armenia 0–1 Hungary

• Formation: 5-2-3

• Head coach: Yeghishe Melikyan

• Possession: 48%

• Shots: 6 (1 on target)

• xG: 0.71

• Pass accuracy: 341 passes (82%)

Portugal 9–1 Armenia

• Formation: 5-3-2

• Head coach: Yeghishe Melikyan

• Possession: 24%

• Shots: 4 (2 on target)

• xG: 0.75

• Pass accuracy: 160 passes (75%)

• Goal: Eduard Spertsyan

• Assist: Grant-Leon Ranos

Overall Statistics for Armenia in 2025

• Matches: 10

• Wins: 1

• Draws: 1

• Losses: 8

• Goal difference: 8 scored – 35 conceded

Goal Scorers

• Eduard Spertsyan – 5 goals

• Edgar Sevikyan – 1 goal

• Grant-Leon Ranos – 1 goal

• 1 opposition own goal

Assist Providers

• Nair Tiknizyan – 2 assists

• Vahan Bichakhchyan – 1 assist

• Grant-Leon Ranos – 1 assist

Armenia Debutants in 2025

New players who made their first appearance for the national team in 2025:

• Narek Agasaryan (“Urartu”) – 3 matches

• Nicholas Kaloukian (“Urartu”) – 1 match

• Araik Eloyan (“Ararat-Armenia”) – 3 matches

• Daniel Agbalyan (“Pyunik”) – 1 match

• Karen Nalbandyan (“Alashkert”) – 1 match

• Tomas Adórian (“Banfield”, Argentina) – 2 matches

• Artem Bandikyan (CSKA, Russia) – 1 match

Debutants from 2024 Who Became Part of the Core by 2025

It is also important to consider those who debuted in 2024 and by 2025 had already gained significant experience and become part of the team’s core:

• Sergey Muradyan (“Noa”) – 15 matches

• Edgar Grigoryan (“Ararat-Armenia”) – 9 matches

• Tigran Avanesyan (“Arsenal Tula”, Russia) – 3 matches

• Gevorg Tarakhchyan (“Pyunik”) – 1 match

• Gor Manvelyan (“Noah”) – 7 matches, 1 goal