Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov and Manchester City winger Martin Petrov are among the 17 overseas-based players named in the Bulgaria squad for upcoming World Cup qualifier against the Republic of Ireland.
Both missed the 1-1 draw at Croke Park earlier this year but return to a much stronger looking Bulgarian selection that also includes Petrov’s teammate at Eastlands, Valeri Bojinov.
Coach Stanimir Stoilov intends to add three home-based players to the squad next week for the match at Sofia’s Vasil Levski stadium on June 6th.
The draw in Dublin, when Kevin Kilbane’s late own-goal cancelled out Richard Dunne’s opener, kept Bulgarian interest in the group alive but they remain third in the group with seven points from five matches.
Italy top the standings with 14 points from six matches, followed by Trapattoni’s Ireland on 12. All three teams are still undefeated.
Bulgaria Squad: Dimitar Ivankov (Bursaspor), Nikolay Mihaylov (Twente Enschede); Elin Topuzakov (Hapoel Tel Aviv), Igor Tomasic (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Iliyan Stoyanov (Sanfreche), Zahari Sirakov (Amkar Perm); Stilian Petrov (Aston Villa), Stanislav Angelov (Energie Cottbus), Dimitar Telkiyski (Hapoel Tel Aviv), Velizar Dimitrov (Metalurg Donetsk), Blagoy Georgiev (Terek Grozny), Martin Petrov (Manchester City); Dimitar Berbatov (Manchester United), Dimitar Rangelov (Energie Cottbus), Valeri Bojinov (Manchester City), Valeri Domovchiyski (Hertha Berlin), Dimitar Makriev (Ashdod).
