Bulgaria

England

Date/Time:	Sep 2, 2011, 6:15 pm(GMT)
Competition:	UEFA Euro 2012 Qualifying
Live/Repeat:	Live
Venue:	Stadion Vasil Levski (Sofia)

Bulgaria vs England Match Preview

England will be looking to continue their Euro 2012 qualification push when they travel to face Bulgaria in Sofia.

Wayne Rooney is expected to lead the England attack in Sofia.

England currently top qualifying Group G, but are above qualification rivals Montenegro on goal difference alone, and will be looking for a win in Bulgaria. Montenegro will be playing against Wales in Cardiff on Friday night.

Bulgaria are six points behind England and Montenegro, and can drag themselves back into the playoff race with a win over the Three Lions.

Former German international Lothar Matthaus will be taking charge of a Bulgaria team that is still looking to score their first home goal in Group G. “If we give our best and get the fans behind us, we could surprise England,” Matthaus told the official UEFA website.

Crystal Palace defender Alexander Tunchev has returned to the Bulgaria squad, while Stilian Petrov (Aston Villa) and Martin Petrov (Bolton Wanderers) will be familiar faces to England fans.

Manchester United trio Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Tom Cleverley are competing to earn their first international cap in Sofia.

Wayne Rooney is widely expected to lead the England attack, and could be joined by Jermaine Defoe. Tottenham Hotspur striker Defoe scored a hat-trick as England beat Bulgaria 4-0 at Wembley Stadium earlier in qualifying.