Bulgaria coach Hristo Stoichkov has added forward Georgi Ivanov and midfielders Alexander Alexandrov and Daniel Borimirov to his squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Sweden and Hungary later this month.
The experienced trio were drafted in because captain Stilian Petrov and Martin Petrov are suspended for the Sweden match in Sofia on March 26. Both will be available against Hungary in Budapest four days later.
Fiorentina striker Valeri Bojinov is missing through injury but Stoichkov hopes forward Dimitar Berbatov will be fit for the two matches even if he does not train before then.
Influential VfL Wolfsburg midfielder Marian Hristov has pulled out after undergoing another knee operation earlier this year.
Unbeaten Bulgaria lie second in European zone Group Eight on seven points, one point clear of Hungary and two behind leaders Sweden.
Despite the absentees Stoichkov is optimistic. He said: "We have played in more difficult situations and have won.
"I expect the players to make March 26 a happy day for Bulgaria.
"I know very well the qualities of the Sweden team, I have seen their last three matches and I think they are not in their best shape now."
Source: Reuters
16.03.2005