Domestic A Group Players Dominate National Football Team's Lineup

Coach of Bulgaria's national football team Ivaylo Petev. Photo: BGNES

For the first time in many years Bulgaria's national football team will be made up almost entirely of players competing for clubs from the domestic A Group.

This became evident after the Bulgarian Football Union (BFS) released on Wednesday the final list of players that are to appear in the friendly game against Romania on February 7.

Bulgarian coach Ivaylo Petev had to make ten changes to the initially announced line-up as many of the teams did not release their players, while others suffered injuries and had to substituted.

The players competing for teams in the domestic A Group will constitute 86 % of the Bulgarian team.

Only three players competing for foreign clubs appear in the lineup – Stanislav Manolev (Dynamo Moscow), Petar Zanev (Amkar Perm) and Ismail Isa (Sheriff Tiraspol).

This will be the first game under the guidance of Petev, who was appointed after the dismissal of former coach Lyuboslav Penev.

Part of the players already held their first practice session on Tuesday in Antalya, Turkey, where the national team is holding its training camp.

Players of the Bulgarian reigning champion Ludogorets are expected to join the team on Thursday.

The friendly game is scheduled to take place in Antalya on Saturday at 19:00 EET (17:00 GMT).

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