England v Bulgaria past meetings

Published: Fri Sep 3 2010, 10.06PM

England v Bulgaria past meetings

England have never lost to Bulgaria, and last met ahead of the 2000 European Championships, with both qualifiers ending in draws.

Here, we take a look back at some of the clashes down the years.

BULGARIA 1 ENGLAND 1 (Sofia, June 1999)

Jonathan Woodgate made his senior England debut as Kevin Keegan's side battled to a point in Sofia, with Alan Shearer having fired the Three Lions ahead. Despite the hosts playing nearly all the second half with only 10 men, England could not capitalise and would end up having to qualify for Euro 2000 via the play-offs, beating Auld Enemy Scotland.

ENGLAND 0 BULGARIA 0 (Wembley, October 1998)

Having lost to Sweden in Stockholm, England needed a response in their next game at Wembley, but did not get it as without suspended Paul Ince and injured Tony Adams, the likes of Rob Lee and Andy Hinchcliffe could not help conjure up a goal - with a chorus of boos at the final whistle.

ENGLAND 1 BULGARIA 0 (Wembley, March 1996)

Les Ferdinand was on target with an early goal which proved enough for Terry Venables' side to secure victory in a warm-up for the 1996 European Championship finals, where hosts England would go on to reach the semi-finals.

ENGLAND 2 BULGARIA 0 (Wembley, November 1979)

Tottenham playmaker Glenn Hoddle, then 22, marked his first senior England appearance with a stunning strike in the 2-0 win on the road to the 1980 European Championships in a match which had been delayed 24 hours because of torrential rain. However, the midfielder was then dropped by Ron Greenwood for the next qualifier against Northern Ireland.

BULGARIA 0 ENGLAND 0 (Rancagua, Chile, 1962 World Cup finals)

Walter Winterbottom's team - which included the likes of Bobby Moore, Bobby Charlton and Jimmy Greaves, with a certain Gordon Banks on the bench - had lost to Hungary, but beaten Argentina and needed a result from their final group match to progress through to the last eight. A tense goalless draw proved enough for runners-up spot, but also a date with Brazil and emerging talent Pele in the quarter-finals, which ended in a 3-1 defeat.

 

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