

It's still a bit early,but Bulgaria is in a very difficult situation before this game.
Our captain and best player in midfield Stilian Petrov (Celtic) is suspended for this game.So is Martin Petrov (Wolfsburg).Marian Hristov (Wolfsburg) is injured again,Chavdar Jankov (Slavia) is recovering from an injury and will have to play his first game after the injury exactly against Sweden.The misery in the midfield was completed yesterday - CSKA's captain Emil Gargorov broke his arm.But the offensive problems are even bigger - shooting star Valeri Bojinov (Fiorentina) is injured and Dimitar Berbatov is doubtful (he'll be ready,but without game practice).I already mentioned that M.Petrov is out too.Manchev (Levante) is out of form (he scored a goal last round,his first after a long-long time).
Stoichkov has added forward Georgi Ivanov and midfielders Alexander Alexandrov and Daniel Borimirov to the squad.I really don't see how they can help,but there are no others right now.
And our record against Sweden is not the best:
14-JUN-04 LISBON (Portugal) Sweden vs. Bulgaria 5:0 (1:0) UEFA EURO 2004
04-SEP-99 STOCKHOLM (Sweden) Sweden vs. Bulgaria 1:0 UEFA EURO 2000 Prel. Comp.
14-OCT-98 BURGAS (Bulgaria) Bulgaria vs. Sweden 0:1 (0:0) UEFA EURO 2000 Prel. Comp.
16-JUL-94 LOS ANGELES (USA) Sweden vs. Bulgaria 4:0 (4:0) 1994 FIFA World Cup USA™
08-SEP-93 SOFIA (Bulgaria) Bulgaria vs. Sweden 1:1 (1:1) FIFA WC 1994 Prel. Comp. UEFA
07-OCT-92 STOCKHOLM (Sweden) Sweden vs. Bulgaria 2:0 (0:0) FIFA WC 1994 Prel. Comp. UEFA
26-SEP-90 STOCKHOLM (Sweden) Sweden vs. Bulgaria 2:0 (0:0) Friendly 1990
15-JUN-74 DUSSELDORF (FRG) Sweden vs. Bulgaria 0:0 1974 FIFA World Cup Germany™
Group standings:
1. Sweden 4 3 0 1 14:2 9
2. Bulgaria 3 2 1 0 9:4 7
3. Croatia 3 2 1 0 6:2 7
4. Hungary 4 2 0 2 5:8 6
5. Iceland 4 0 1 3 4:10 1
6. Malta 4 0 1 3 1:13 1
As you can see one very important game for both nations.Due to the many injuries and suspensions i see Sweden as a clear favourite in the game,but i won't bet against my country.
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