Serbia Confirms Friendly against Bulgaria Nov 17

Broken glass left by supporters of Serbia during riots is seen at the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying match against Italy at the Luigi Ferraris stadium in Genoa. Photo by EPA/BGNES

Bulgaria's national football team will face Balkan neighbors Serbia in a friendly in Sofia on November 17, the Serbian Football Association confirmed.

This will be Serbia's first international since October 12, when violent Serbian fans clashed with Italian police following the two countries' canceled Euro 2012 qualifying match in Genoa. Sixteen people including two police officers were hospitalized, seventeen were arrested.

Serbian fans targeting not just Italian fans and local police but their own team's goalkeeper. They also attacked Italian players and supporters inside the stadium.

European soccer's governing body UEFA is yet to decide on possible sanctions for Serbia, which may be a huge fine or even an expulsion from the Euro 2012 qualifiers.

Bulgaria new boss Lothar Matthaeus has set himself the ambitious goal to qualify the team for Euro 2012.

Bulgaria's national football team beat Wales 1:0 in Cardiff at the beginning of October in a match, which marked Matthaeus' debut as its coach.

Thus, after losing from England and Montenegro at the start, Bulgaria won their first three points in Group G of the Euro 2012 qualifications.

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