Wales and Bulgaria start new eras
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Article summary
The first match of Brian Flynn's caretaker reign as Wales manager is against Bulgaria, who are also under new guidance from Lothar Matthäus after Stanimir Stoilov resigned.
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Article body
Almost 16 years after their sole victory on Welsh soil, Bulgaria return to Cardiff to meet a Wales side contesting their first home fixture in UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying Group G.
Match background
• Wales's record in six games against Bulgaria reads W2 D1 L3 (W1 D1 L1 at home).
• Wales have not beaten Bulgaria in three competitive outings since their first encounter in Wrexham on 27 April 1983, when the only goal of Jeremy Charles's international career gave the Dragons a 1-0 UEFA European Championship qualifying win.
• Recent friendly meetings have nonetheless favoured Wales: the sides drew 0-0 in Swansea on 15 August 2006, before Freddy Eastwood scored a superb effort from 20 metres out on his international debut to give John Toshack's men a 1-0 victory in Burgas on 22 August 2007.
• Bulgaria's only previous outing in Cardiff, on 14 December 1994, ended with them earning their best result against Wales: Trifon Ivanov, Emil Kostadinov and Hristo Stoitchkov all found the net to secure a 3-0 EURO '96 qualifying win.