Bulgaria hit by suspensions and injuries

Bulgaria will be without six regulars for their UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifier against Belgium in Sofia on 7 June.

Kishishev gap
Malatyaspor right-back Martin Stankov has received his first call-up in the 18-man squad announced by coach Plamen Markov. The 29-year-old former PFC Levski Sofia defender will fill the gap after the retirement of Radostin Kishishev, who announced that international football was over for him earlier this month.

Krastev in
The other gap in defence, left by the suspension of key central defender Predrag Pazin of FC Shakhtar Donetsk, will be filled by PFC Naftex Burgas defender Nikolay Krastev, who made his international debut in a friendly against Albania on 30 April.

Jankovic absent
Zoran Jankovic is absent through suspension, while playmaker Krassimir Balakov is also missing - the national icon will play his last match in a special Gala occasion in Stuttgart today. Forward Georgi Chilikov and midfield player Milen Petkov are both injured and therefore not included.

Table-toppers
Bulgaria are currently top of EURO 2004™ qualifying Group 8 with ten points from four games. They are three points clear of second-placed Croatia and four points clear of June opponents Belgium.

Bulgaria squad
Ivankov, Stankov, Stoyanov, Kirilov, Zagorcic, Krastev, Dimitrov, Zdravkov, I Petkov, Aleksandrov, Peev, St Petrov, M Petrov, Borimirov, Berbatov, Hristov, Todorov, Manchev.