Bojinov Back, Petrov Out of Bulgaria Squad for Wales Clash

Sports | September 29, 2011, Thursday // 17:59|  views

Bulgaria's new coach Mihail Madanski has called five new players into the team, saying he wanted to test new players and see new faces in action. Photo by EPA/BGNES

Bulgaria will go to the euro qualifier against Wales next month without one of its top players – Bolton forward Martin Petrov, it emerged on Thursday as the new coach announced his expanded and final line-up.

The move is an echo of the recently dismissed former coach Lothar Matthaeus' tactics, who left out of the match against Belarus the most experienced pair – Martin Petrov and Stiliyan Petrov - only to be put to shame after a humiliating but well-deserved defeat.

Bulgaria new coach Mihail Madanski has recalled back into the team former Parma striker Valeri Bojinov.

Lothar Matthaeus, who was recently sacked as coach of Bulgaria's squad, has been dropping Bojinov from his very first to his very last match in charge of the team, saying he was not happy with the striker's performance after watching him play against Fiorentina in Serie A.

The move was surprising as Bojinov was expected to be the key player Lothar Matthaeus will rely on after failing to convince Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov to return to the squad.

Valeri Bojinov, who was recently transferred to Sporting Lisbon, has never made a secret of his negative feelings for the former coach and vowed never to wear the Bulgarian shirt while Matthaeus is in charge.

PSV Eindhoven defender Stanislav Manolev, who turned on the former coach German Lothar Lothar Matthaeus, after being dropped for the Euro 2012 Group G qualifier against England on September 2, feature in the line-up of his successor.

Nikolay Bodurov and Zhivko Milanov however are out due to an injury and a red card respectively.

Madanski has also called five new players into the team, saying he wanted to test new players and see new faces in action.

Bulgaria have now lost even theoretical chances to qualify to Euro 2012 after getting defeated by Switzerland in Basel earlier this month.

Bulgaria remains fourth out of 5 in qualifying group G with 5 points, losing any hopes to make it even to the second place.

Switzerland next plays away to Wales on October 7, and Bulgaria welcomes the Welsh four days later. The team will have a friendly game at Ukraine on October 7.


Tags: Madanski, Mihail, Stanislav Manolev, Matthaeus, Lothar, red cards, Zhivko Milanov, Ivan Ivanov, national football team, Wales, England, Montenegro, Basel, Switzerland, Bulgaria, German, coach, Valeri, Bojinov, Nikolay Bodurov, Petar Zanev, Stiliyan, Petrov, Martin

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