LATEST NEWS ABOUT BULGARIAN NATIONAL TEAM AND PLAYERS
Injuries but no worries for Bulgaria's Stoichkov
SOFIA, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Bulgaria coach Hristo Stoichkov has brushed off the absence of four key players for Wednesday's Euro 2008 qualifier against Slovenia, saying there was nothing to worry about.
Striker Dimitar Berbatov and goalkeeper Georgi Petkov both picked up injuries in last weekend's 2-2 Group G draw with Balkan rivals Romania, while forward Svetoslav Todorov and defender Igor Tomasic are also unavailable.
"We'll be missing some of our most influential players but I still can't see anything to worry about," Stoichkov told reporters on Tuesday.
"We have players who are ready to replace them and I'm sure they will not disappoint us."
Stoichkov, whose team were 2-0 down on Saturday before Martin Petrov's late double gave them a point, said: "We all know how important the Slovenia match is.
"We need the three points and I hope the momentum that took us to the remarkable comeback in Romania on Saturday can be maintained in the first match in front of our supporters."
Berbatov's absence opens the door for flamboyant Juventus striker Valeri Bozhinov, who was a second-half substitute for Berbatov on Saturday and, just 24 hours later, scored in a 2-1 win over Croatia with the Under-21s.
"Valeri will step in for Berbatov and you all know that he is capable of scoring goals at any level," Stoichkov said.
Forward Hristo Yovov has been given a call-up, Petkov will be replaced by Dimitar Ivankov and an administrative problem with Croatian-born Tomasic's Bulgarian nationality means a choice between Alexander Tunchev or Rosen Kirilov.
http://football.guardian.co.uk
Bulgaria call up Yovov and Telkiiski to face Slovenia
Bulgaria call up Yovov and Telkiiski to face Slovenia
SOFIA, Sept 4 (Reuters) - Levski Sofia striker Hristo Yovov and midfielder Dimitar Telkiiski have been called up to Bulgaria's squad in place of the injured Dimitar Berbatov for Wednesday's Euro 2008 Group G qualifier against Slovenia.
Tottenham Hotspur striker Berbatov has a groin injury and is expected to be out of action for about two weeks.
"They (Yovov and Telkiiski) are in very good form and I believe we made the right choice by calling them into the squad," Bulgaria coach Hristo Stoichkov said on Monday.
"We gave possession away very easily against Romania and Telkiiski is a player who can keep possession. Yovov is very experienced and he had played some really good matches in Europe this season."
With Berbatov and Wigan Athletic's Svetoslav Todorov unavailable, Atletico Madrid's Martin Petrov, who scored twice in Saturday's 2-2 draw against Romania, is expected to play alongside young Juventus striker Valeri Bozhinov.
Bozhinov, who came on as a substitute for Berbatov in the second half of the Romania clash, scored for the Under-21 side in their 2-1 win over Croatia in a European championship qualifier less than 24 hours later.
Bulgaria's other opponents in Group G are the Netherlands, Albania, Belarus and Luxembourg.
http://football.guardian.co.uk
Bulgaria call up Kolev for injured Petkov
SOFIA, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Bulgaria coach Hristo Stoichkov called up Lokomotiv Plovdiv goalkeeper Stoian Kolev on Sunday to replace the injured Georgi Petkov in his squad for the Euro 2008 Group G qualifier against Slovenia on Wednesday.
Levski Sofia's Petkov received a kick in the head during Saturday's 2-2 draw against Romania and will not recover in time to play against Slovenia.
Doctors did not allow him to make the return flight with his team mates and he will be driven back to Bulgaria.
Kolev, 30 is likely to be on the bench on Wednesday with Kayserispor's Dimitar Ivankov taking Petkov's place between the posts.
Tottenham Hotspur striker Dimitar Berbatov suffered a slight injury on Friday and is doubtful for Bulgaria's first home match despite playing more than an hour against Romania.
If the prolific marksman has to miss the match, Stoichkov will have limited strike options with only Atletico Madrid's Martin Petrov, Juventus's Valeri Bozhinov and Dalien Shide's Zoran Yankovic available.
New Wigan Athletic signing Svetoslav Todorov pulled out of Bulgaria's squad last week because of leg injury.
http://football.guardian.co.uk
Spurs's Berbatov to miss Bulgaria's qualifier
SOFIA (Reuters) - Tottenham Hotspur striker Dimitar Berbatov will miss Bulgaria's Euro 2008 qualifier against Slovenia on Wednesday due to a groin injury that could keep him out for two weeks.
The 25-year-old, who joined the Premier League club from Bayer Leverkusen for 16 million euros (10.8 million pounds) in May, had needed a pain-killing injection to play just over an hour of Saturday's 2-2 draw with Romania in Group G.
"I suffered the injury during Tottenham's match against Sheffield United in the Premiership," Berbatov said, recalling the game on August 22. "I thought it was over, but unfortunately I felt some pain before the game with Romania. "I still don't know exactly how long I'll remain out but perhaps it'll be 10 days to two weeks. It's a pity that I won't be able to help my team mates in the Slovenia match."
Along with international duty, Berbatov will almost certainly miss Tottenham's league game at Manchester United on Saturday. Berbatov's injury is another blow for Bulgaria coach Hristo Stoichkov, who has lost a fourth player from his original squad.
Croatian-born Igor Tomasic has been forced out after an administrative problem with his Bulgarian nationality, while Wigan Athletic's Svetoslav Todorov suffered a leg injury and did not make the trip to the Black Sea port of Constanta. Stoichkov called up goalkeeper Stoian Kolev on Sunday to replace Georgi Petkov, who took a kick in the head during the match with Romania.
Stoichkov was due to say later on Monday if he will replace the missing players for the qualifier against Slovenia. Berbatov's injury will leave Stoichkov with limited options up front, with only Atletico Madrid's Martin Petrov, Juventus's Valeri Bozhinov and Dalien Shide's Zoran Yankovic available.
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