Preview: Ireland v Bulgaria
The Republic of Ireland have faced Bulgaria seven times in senior international football, all but one of those games coming competitively. The last meeting was a drawn friendly game at Lansdowne Road in August 2004. Andy Reid scored for Ireland that day but there still seems little chance of him appearing for his birth nation in the near future.
Of the six competitive games, four have taken place in European Championship qualifying with two coming in that memorable 1986-88 campaign which saw Ireland qualify for their first finals tournament – Euro 88.
Ireland’s head to head record with Bulgaria is mixed and the Eastern Europeans have won three of the six competitive games, Ireland winning two and another ending in a 0-0 draw.
However, breaking the record down, Bulgaria’s best results in Dublin have been draws and an injury plagued squad visiting Croke Park on Saturday may not be expected to claim anything better than one point in World Cup qualifying.
Giovanni Trapattoni goes into the game without the services of Steve Finnan and Damien Duff – the only injury withdrawals from his original squad of twenty six. On Friday, he added the three times capped Anthony Stokes to the squad.
Shay Given shook off the effects of a shoulder injury to join up with the squad and took part in team training in Dublin on Thursday. Doubts remain over the fitness of Aiden McGeady although the Irish management team remain optimistic he will be available for Saturday’s game.
Republic of Ireland v Bulgaria – Saturday, 28th March 2009 – kick off: 7:45pm
Croke Park, Dublin
Live on RTE 2, Sky Sports 1 & RTE Radio 1
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