Ah, the glamour of it all! An over-the-hill European side takes on an unfashionable South American one: sometimes you have to wonder about the need for so many sides over here in the first place.
Despite being written off by just about everybody, the Bulgarians are determined to put their disastrous Euro 96 campaign behind them and take a medal at this World Cup.
Coach Hristo Bonev's cause is helped by the fact that he appears to have his first choice 11 at his disposal. And things seemed to be ticking over rather nicely after Stoichkov contributed a goal in the 2-0 defeat of Algeria last weekend.
With the Nigerians having had a troubled build-up to the championships, it should all add up to a place in the knockout stages for Bulgaria.
However, there are many unanswered questions about how Bonev's young and old players will cope over the next couple of weeks.
His immediate concern, it seems, is with injury. "We know that they play a very tough if not brutal game," he says.
"And to prepare for this we have been practising a lot of hard tackling because it is important for our players to be able to get up."
The Paraguayans, on the other hand, have a slightly tougher time of things when it comes to being optimistic about their chances, not least because they've failed to win a game of any description since their 4-0 defeat of Poland in early February.
Add to that the fact that the South Americans' outstanding central defender, Carlos Gamarra, looks certain to miss the opening game with a foot injury as well as slight doubts about wing back Celso Ayala and midfield playmaker Roberto Acuna.
Their Brazilian coach, Paulo Cesar Carpegiani, insists, however, that "the results have not affected us, so what is important is that there is a great understanding within the team and that, along with our hard work will see us through."
Probable Teams Bulgaria: Zdrakov; Kishishev, Ivanov, Petkov, Yordanov; Yankov, Kostadinov, Stoichkov; Balakov, Iliev, Stoilov. Paraguay: Chilavert; Arce, Ayala, Rivarola, Caniza; Acuna, Aguilera, Benitez, Enciso; Cardizo, Ramirez.
Referee: Abdul Rahman Al Zeid (Saudi Arabia).
