Portugal 'Refused to Swap Shirts' after Loss to Bulgaria

The national football team of Portugal declined to exchange shirts with their Bulgarian opponents after the Friday match surprisingly won by Bulgaria, the latter team's goalkeeper has said.

Vladisllav Stoyanov has told private NOVA TV broadcaster that Danny was the sole player from the Portuguese team who agreed to do the traditional gesture.

He has explained that, as Bulgarians were celebrating and the opponents had returned to their changing rooms, they refused to swap shirts when a Bulgarian player was sent to make the proposal.

Portugal's home defeat in the friendly came as a surprise, angering Cristiano Ronaldo who, after the latter saved a penalty and several other attacks of the hosts, called Stoyanov "lucky".

Brazilian-born Marcelinho, now playing for both Ludogorets Razgrad football club and the national team, was the player who scored early in the first half.

The insignificance of the friendly notwithstanding, it is considered a big win for a team that has been looking for its way up for years, with successive losses and failures to qualify for European and world tournaments discouraging viewers and footballers alike.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!