Manchester United and Bulgaria striker Dimitar Berbatov is in confident mood ahead of tomorrow’s World Cup qualifier with Italy.
“After Saturday’s success, we believe we can do it, even if it will be very, very difficult,” he said.
Bulgaria fought back from an early Stevan Jovetic goal to thump Montenegro 4-1 at the weekend, including a strike from Berbatov.
“On a personal level, I am happy to have returned to scoring for the national side and having ended this drought.
“I am convinced we have every chance of beating Italy.”
The Azzurri are currently leading Group 8 with 17 points, then the Republic of Ireland on 16 and Bulgaria with 11.
However, only Ireland have played eight matches so far, the other two with a game in hand.
On Wednesday evening Berbatov’s boys visit Italy at the Stadio Olimpico in Turin, hoping to make a genuine play for second place and a play-off spot for the World Cup.
This will be the 15th encounter between the nations with seven Italy wins, five draws and only two defeats.
Those losses were 3-2 in the 1968 European Championship and 2-1 in a 1991 friendly test, both played outside Italy.
Bulgaria have lost their last five consecutive trips to the peninsula since a 0-0 friendly at the Stadio Ferraris in Genoa in December 1974 and have never won here.
|
Having problems with message search?
Fill out this form to ensure your group is one of the first to be migrated to the new message search system.
Offline 
Send Email