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Goalkeepers
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Player
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Team, Age, Caps
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Zdravko Zdravkov
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(Istanbulspor, Turkey), age 27, 15 caps.
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A
reliable keeper who played in six of the eight qualifiers to
establish himself as first-choice. Previously played for Slavia
and Levski Sofia.
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Borislav Mihailov
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(Slavia Sofia) 36, 101 caps.
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The first Bulgarian to earn a century of caps. Captained his country 60
times, another record, but has suffered a string of injuries
recently and lost his place. Previous clubs include English club
Reading and French side Mulhouse. Wears a wig.
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Radostin Stanev
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(CSKA Sofia) 22 (23 on July 11), 0 caps.
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Giant who lacks experience but is likely to stand in as reserve
goalkeeper if Mihailov is unfit.
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Defenders
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Player
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Team, Age, Caps
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Radostin Kishishev
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(Litex Lovech) 23, 22 caps.
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Gifted youngster who has been unsettled by controversy surrounding his
move from Turkey's Bursaspor to Litex. Made his international
debut three years ago. Combines good technical skill with energy
and creativity.
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Trifon Ivanov
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(CSKA Sofia) 32, 72 caps.
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Swarthy hardman who captained the side in qualifying and weighed in with six goals, including the header against Russia which clinched
qualification. Has invaluable experience having played with for
Spain's Real Betis, Swiss side Xamax Neuchatel, Austria Vienna
and Rapid Vienna. Returned to CSKA on loan from Austria in
February to prepare for France but has been embroiled in row
over payments that saw him dropped from the national squad.
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Gosho Ginchev
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(Antalyaspor, Turkey) 29, 14 caps.
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Shows good fighting spirit and man-marks well. Can also join in attacks.
Previously with Levski Sofia and Denizlispor in Turkey.
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Adalbert Zafirov
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(Arminia Bielefeld, Germany) 29, 4 caps.
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Physically imposing defender who only made one appearance in
qualifying.
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Milen Petkov
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(CSKA Sofia) 24, 6 caps.
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A fast, dynamic left-back who can join attacks. Has been injured lately.
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Ivailo Petkov
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(Litex Lovech) 22, 9 caps.
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One of the few young talents to have broken through into the first team. Has a
dangerous left-foot shot and has impressed since making his
debut against Saudi Arabia in 1996.
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Midfielders
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Player
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Team, Age, Caps
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Zlatko Yankov
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(Besiktas, Turkey) 31 (32 on June 7), 66 caps.
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A defensive midfielder who can drop into the back line. Played
in all but one game at USA '94 and is a vital cog in the
Bulgarian team. Played in Spain with Valladolid and in Germany
with Bayer Uerdingen.
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Ivailo Yordanov
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(Sporting Lisbon, Portugal) 30, 36 caps.
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Experienced player who has fought his way back into the team
despite being diagnosed as suffering from Multiple Sclerosis
last October. Also suffered injuries in a car crash in 1995.
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Yordan Lechkov
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30 (31 on July 9), 45 caps.
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Walked out after
row with his Turkish club Besiktas in February. Balding midfield
schemer with excellent passing ability who is best remembered
for his headed goal which knocked Germany out of the 1994 World
Cup in the quarterfinals. Has also played for Hamburg SV in
Germany and French side Marseille.
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Krassimir Balakov
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(VfB Stuttgart, Germany) 32, 65 caps.
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One
of the best overseas players in the Bundesliga, he has been with
Stuttgart since 1995. Has great technical skill and ball control
and is the team's chief playmaker. Deadly from free-kicks.
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Anatoli Nankov
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(Lokomotiv Sofia) 28, 11 caps.
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Hardworking
midfielder who helped CSKA Sofia to three titles before
switching to Lokomotiv. Likes to go forward.
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Daniel Borimirov
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(TSV 1860 Munich, Germany) 28, 36 caps.
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Fast, aggressive player formerly with Levski Sofia. Has an eye
for goal.
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Ilian Iliev
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(Bursaspor, Turkey) 29 (30 on July 2), 14 caps.
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Energetic player who buzzes around the opposition penalty area
keeping defenders on their toes. Previously with Portuguese side
Benfica and Levski Sofia.
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Ilia Gruev
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(Neftochimik Bourgas) 28, 3 caps.
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Scored spectacularly on his debut against Russia in qualifying.
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Mitko Trendafilov
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(Neftochimik Bourgas) 28, 1 cap.
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Technically gifted, unorthodox player whose ability to surprise
opponents has brought him to within sight of a place in the
France 98 squad.
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Forwards
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Player
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Team, Age, Caps
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Hristo Stoichkov
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(CSKA Sofia) 32, 70 caps.
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Joint top scorer at USA '94 with six goals and the 1994 European footballer of the year. Out of form after being sacked by Barcelona in March but
is still the inspiration behind the national side. A free-kick
specialist, he combines great dribbling skills and a scorching
left-foot shot with a hot temper. Has scored 35 goals for
Bulgaria.
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Emil Kostadinov
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(CSKA Sofia) 30, 66 caps.
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Has scored 25 goals for the national side, including the memorable last-minute
winner against France in 1993 which sent Bulgaria to the 1994
World Cup finals. A former striker with Portuguese side Porto
and Bayern Munich in Germany, he returned home on loan from UNAM
Mexico to prepare for France. Like Ivanov he was left out of the
squad for the recent friendly against Morocco because of his row
with CSKA over money.
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Lyuboslav Penev
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(Compostela, Spain) 31, 59 caps.
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Missed the 1994 World Cup finals due to treatment for cancerous tumor. Has
played in Spain since 1989, representing Valencia and Atletico
Madrid before moving to Compostela. Strong on the ball and
powerful in the air.
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Georgi Donkov
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(VfL Bochum, Germany) 27 (28 on June 2), 7 caps.
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Can play in a number of different positions.
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Marian Hristov
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(Kaiserslautern, Germany) 24, 10 caps.
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A
creative midfielder who impressed last season for Levski. Has
also done well this season in the Bundesliga and has a bright
international future.
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Svetoslav Todorov
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(Litex Lovech) 19, 2 caps.
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A newcomer who
cut his international teeth in the friendlies against Argentina
and Macedonia earlier this year.
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Georgi Bachev
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(Slavia Sofia) 23, 4 caps.
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Left winger with a
strong shot who has put together a string of impressive
performances in the Bulgarian first division this season.
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