Soccer: Bulgaria Confident, But Wary Of Armenia Ahead Of WC Qualifie

BULGARIA CONFIDENT, BUT WARY OF ARMENIA AHEAD OF WC QUALIFIER

Novinite
Sept 11 2012
Bulgaria

Bulgaria can keep up its solid performance in Tuesday’s clash against
Armenia, four days after a combative 2-2 draw against Italy in their
opening World Cup qualifier, coach Lyuboslav Penev said.

Still he warned it would be a grave mistake to underestimate the
opponent, which he described as “a serious team, but not a mystery”
for him.

“The result is good when it translates into points. I am sure, I am
convinced that we will win if we play as mobilized as in the match
against Italy,” Penev said hours before the start of the game at 9
pm at the national stadium Vassil Levski in Sofia.

“It didn’t happen against Italy and I have to accept we only got
a point.”

Te former Valencia and Atletico Madrid striker, who took over the
team after it failed to qualify for Euro 2012, said he strives to
build a new team, featuring new players, playing in a different style.

“I am happy with their play, but I am sure that they can do much
better and have huge potential,” the coach added.

European Championship runner-up Italy was held to a 2-2 draw by
Bulgaria in its opening World Cup qualifier Friday despite two goals
from Pablo Osvaldo on Friday.

A rare mistake by goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon allowed Stanislav
Manolev to put Bulgaria in front on the half-hour mark, not long
after the Italian had pulled off a stunning stop.

However, Osvaldo scored his first international goals to give Italy
a 2-1 halftime lead. But Georgi Milanov leveled for Bulgaria in the
66th minute.

From: A. Papazian