National team - statistics 2025
2025 UEFA Nations League
Play-offs League B/League C
Bulgaria 1-2 Republic of Ireland
time: 20 March 2025, Thursday, 21:45 EET, 6/3 C, clear
place: "Hristo Botev" st., Plovdiv, 7 835 spectators
referee: Benoît Bastien (France); assistants: Hicham Zakrani (France), Aurélien Berthomieu (France); fourth official: Eric Wattellier (France)
video assistant referee: Benoît Millot (France); assistant video assistant referee: Jérémie Pignard (France)
kits: white w/ gold edging, white, white w/ gold edging (gold numbers) ; green w/ white edging, green w/ white edging, green (white numbers)
captains: 11.Kiril Despodov ; 22.Nathan Collins
Bulgaria: 1.Dimitar Mitov (GK) - 14.Anton Nedyalkov, 3.Zhivko Atanasov, 5.Aleks Petkov, 19.Fabian Nürnberger -
8.Andrian Kraev, 4.Iliya Gruev - 16.Marin Petkov, 20.Filip Krastev, 11.Kiril Despodov (c) - 21.Lukas Petkov.
bench: 12.Dimitar Sheytanov (GK), 23.Plamen Iliev (GK) - 6.Valentin Antov, 15.Simeon Petrov, 17.Nikolay Minkov -
13.Stanislav Shopov, 18.Vasil Panayotov, 22.Ilian Iliev - 7.Radoslav Kirilov, 9.Vladimir Nikolov, 10.Bozhidar Kraev.
coach: Ilian Iliev
Republic of Ireland: 1.Caoimhín Kelleher (GK) - 2.Matthew Doherty, 22.Nathan Collins (c), 4.Dara O'Shea, 11.Robert Brady -
21.Michael Johnston, 8.Jason Knight, 6.Joshua Cullen, 3.Ryan Manning - 7.Finn Azaz, 15.Troy Parrott.
bench: 16.Gavin Bazunu (GK), 23.Mark Travers (GK) - 5.Jake O'Brien, 12.James Dunne, 20.James Abankwah -
13.Mark Sykes, 14.Rocco Vata, 17.Andrew Moran, 18.Jack Taylor - 9.Evan Ferguson, 10.Adam Idah, 19.Sinclair Armstrong.
coach: Heimir Hallgrímsson
tactics: bul: 1 - 14, 3, 5, 19 - 8, 4 - 16, 20, 11 - 21; (4-2-3-1)
irl: 1 - 2, 22, 4, 11 - 21, 8, 6, 3 - 7, 15; (4-4-2)
events:
1-0 - 6 - 16.Marin Petkov (left/open play/20.Filip Krastev/pass)
1-1 - 21 - 7.Finn Azaz (head/open play/15.Troy Parrott/pass)
1-2 - 42 - 2.Matthew Doherty (head/open play/6.Joshua Cullen/pass)
+ 2 min
sub - ht - 23.Plamen Iliev (GK) on 1.Dimitar Mitov (GK) bul /injury/ - same position
----
yc - 47 - 7.Finn Azaz irl (striking an opponent's head with hand)
yc - 51 - 21.Michael Johnston irl (striking an opponent's head with hand)
yc - 59 - 8.Andrian Kraev bul (reckless foul)
yc - 61 - 8.Jason Knight irl (dissent)
yc - 61 - 3.Zhivko Atanasov bul (foul stopping a promising attack)
sub - 72 - '1 10.Bozhidar Kraev on 21.Lukas Petkov bul
sub - 72 - '1 17.Nikolay Minkov on 19.Fabian Nürnberger bul /injury/ -> 17, 3, 5, 14 - 8, 4 - 16, 20, 11 - 10
sub - 76 - '1 9.Evan Ferguson on 15.Troy Parrott irl
sub - 76 - '1 18.Jack Taylor on 7.Finn Azaz irl
sub - 76 - '1 13.Mark Sykes on 21.Michael Johnston irl -> 13, 6, 8, 3 - 9, 18
sub - 79 - '2 5.Jake O'Brien on 3.Ryan Manning irl
sub - 79 - '2 14.Rocco Vata on 8.Jason Knight irl -> 5, 22, 4, 2 - 13, 6, 18, 11 - 9, 14
yc - 81 - 14.Rocco Vata irl (foul stopping a promising attack)
yc - 85 - 14.Anton Nedyalkov bul (foul stopping a promising attack)
sub - 85 - '2 9.Vladimir Nikolov on 8.Andrian Kraev bul
sub - 85 - '2 22.Ilian Iliev on 20.Filip Krastev bul -> 4 - 16, 22, 11 - 9, 10; (4-1-3-2)
yc - 90+5 - 17.Nikolay Minkov bul (reckless foul)
+ 6 min
abbreviations and event notes
2025 UEFA Nations League
Play-offs League B/League C
Republic of Ireland 2-1 Bulgaria
time: 23 March 2025, Sunday, 19:45 GMT, 9/8 C, cloudy
place: "Aviva Stadium", Dublin, 40 156 spectators
referee: Halil Umut Meler (Türkiye); assistants: İbrahim Çağlar Uyarcan (Türkiye), Abdullah Özkara (Türkiye); fourth official: Mehmet Türkmen (Türkiye)
video assistant referee: Dennis Higler (Netherlands); assistant video assistant referee: Ingmar Oostrom (Netherlands)
kits: green w/ white edging, green w/ white edging, green (white numbers) ; white w/ gold edging, white, white w/ gold edging (gold numbers)
captains: 22.Nathan Collins ; 11.Kiril Despodov
Republic of Ireland: 1.Caoimhín Kelleher (GK) - 2.Matthew Doherty, 22.Nathan Collins (c), 5.Jake O'Brien, 11.Robert Brady -
21.Michael Johnston, 6.Joshua Cullen, 8.Jason Knight, 7.Finn Azaz - 9.Evan Ferguson, 15.Troy Parrott.
bench: 16.Gavin Bazunu (GK), 23.Mark Travers (GK) - 3.Ryan Manning, 4.Dara O'Shea, 12.James Dunne, 20.James Abankwah -
13.Mark Sykes, 14.Rocco Vata, 17.Andrew Moran, 18.Jack Taylor - 10.Adam Idah, 19.Sinclair Armstrong.
coach: Heimir Hallgrímsson
Bulgaria: 23.Plamen Iliev (GK) - 6.Valentin Antov, 15.Simeon Petrov, 14.Anton Nedyalkov -
2.Nikolay Minkov, 17.Georgi Milanov, 4.Iliya Gruev, 5.Fabian Nürnberger - 16.Marin Petkov, 11.Kiril Despodov (c) - 10.Bozhidar Kraev.
bench: 1.Ivan Dyulgerov (GK), 12.Dimitar Sheytanov (GK) - 3.Hristiyan Petrov -
8.Andrian Kraev, 13.Stanislav Shopov, 18.Vasil Panayotov, 20.Filip Krastev, 21.Kristiyan Stoyanov, 22.Ilian Iliev - 7.Radoslav Kirilov, 9.Vladimir Nikolov, 19.Stanislav Ivanov.
coach: Ilian Iliev
tactics: irl: 1 - 2, 22, 5, 11 - 21, 6, 8, 7 - 9, 15; (4-4-2)
bul: 23 - 6, 15, 14 - 2, 17, 4, 5 - 16, 11 - 10; (3-4-2-1)
events:
0-1 - 30 - 6.Valentin Antov (left/corner/no assist)
yc - 32 - 15.Simeon Petrov bul (reckless foul)
yc - 40 - 21.Michael Johnston irl (holding an opponent with hand)
yc - 44 - 8.Jason Knight irl (holding an opponent with hand)
+ 2 min
ref - ht - Mehmet Türkmen on Halil Umut Meler /injury/
----
sub - 60 - '1 9.Vladimir Nikolov on 10.Bozhidar Kraev bul - same position
1-1 - 63 - 9.Evan Ferguson (right/open play/7.Finn Azaz/pass)
sub - 65 - '1 10.Adam Idah on 21.Michael Johnston irl
sub - 66 - '1 3.Ryan Manning on 11.Robert Brady irl
sub - 66 - '1 13.Mark Sykes on 15.Troy Parrott irl -> 2, 22, 5, 3 - 13, 6, 8, 7 - 10, 9
sub - 74 - '2 12.James Dunne on 9.Evan Ferguson irl -> 12, 22, 5, 2 - 13, 6, 8, 3 - 10, 7
sub - 75 - '2 20.Filip Krastev on 17.Georgi Milanov bul /injury/
sub - 75 - '2 7.Radoslav Kirilov on 16.Marin Petkov bul -> 2, 4, 20, 5 - 11, 7
sub - 82 - '3 18.Jack Taylor on 8.Jason Knight irl - same position
yc - 84 - 4.Iliya Gruev bul (dissent)
2-1 - 84 - 10.Adam Idah (left/open play/13.Mark Sykes/pass)
sub - 89 - '3 22.Ilian Iliev on 5.Fabian Nürnberger bul
sub - 89 - '3 13.Stanislav Shopov on 4.Iliya Gruev bul -> 2, 6, 15, 14 - 13 - 11, 22, 20, 7; (4-1-4-1)
yc - 90+2 - 22.Nathan Collins irl (unsporting behaviour - pushing an opponent)
yc - 90+2 - 9.Vladimir Nikolov bul (unsporting behaviour - pushing an opponent)
+ 6 min
abbreviations and event notes
International Friendlies 2025
Bulgaria 2-2 Cyprus
time: 6 June 2025, Friday, 19:00 EEST, 30/27 C, partly cloudy
place: "Hristo Botev" st., Plovdiv, ~ 800 spectators
referee: Igor Stojchevski (North Macedonia); assistants: Kristijan Dzhonov (North Macedonia), Vjolca Izeiri (North Macedonia); fourth official: Volen Chinkov (Bulgaria)
kits: white w/ green and red edging, green, white (red numbers) ; blue with white edging, blue, blue (white numbers)
captains: 14.Anton Nedyalkov ; 20.Grigoris Kastanos
Bulgaria: 21.Svetoslav Vutsov (GK) - 2.Viktor Popov, 5.Kristian Dimitrov, 24.Aleks Petkov, 14.Anton Nedyalkov (c) -
4.Iliya Gruev - 22.Ilian Iliev, 17.Georgi Milanov, 26.Stanislav Shopov, 10.Bozhidar Kraev - 9.Aleksandar Kolev.
bench: 1.Dimitar Mitov (GK), 23.Dimitar Sheytanov (GK) - 3.Hristiyan Petrov, 15.Simeon Petrov, 18.Fabian Nürnberger, 20.Nikolay Minkov -
7.Georgi Rusev, 8.Andrian Kraev, 16.Marin Petkov, 25.Lukas Petkov - 11.Martin Minchev, 19.Vladimir Nikolov.
coach: Ilian Iliev
Cyprus: 1.Joël Mall (GK) - 24.Andreas Siikkis, 15.Christos Sielis, 3.Nikolas Panagiotou, 2.Kostas Pileas -
8.Charalampos Kyriakou - 25.Antonio Foti, 23.Ioannis Kosti, 20.Grigoris Kastanos (c), 21.Marinos Tzionis - 26.Nikolas Koutsakos.
bench: 13.Dimitris Dimitriou (GK), 22.Neofytos Michail (GK) - 7.Anderson Correia, 14.Giorgos Malekkidis, 16.Evagoras Antoniou, 19.Konstantinos Laifis -
5.Charalampos Charalampous, 6.Giannis Satsias, 17.Loizos Loizou, 18.Kostakis Artymatas - 9.Marios Ilia, 10.Pieros Sotiriou, 11.Andronikos Kakoullis, 12.Stavros Gavriil.
coach: Apostolos Mantzios
tactics: bul: 21 - 2, 5, 24, 14 - 4 - 22, 17, 26, 10 - 9; (4-1-4-1)
cyp: 1 - 24, 15, 3, 2 - 8 - 25, 23, 20, 21 - 26; (4-1-4-1)
events:
1-0 - 27 - 9.Aleksandar Kolev (head/free kick/26.Stanislav Shopov/pass)
1-1 - 42 - 26.Nikolas Koutsakos (right/open play/8.Charalampos Kyriakou/pass)
+ 6 min
sub - ht - 23.Dimitar Sheytanov (GK) on 21.Svetoslav Vutsov (GK) bul - same position
sub - ht - 5.Charalampos Charalampous on 21.Marinos Tzionis cyp
sub - ht - 18.Kostakis Artymatas on 23.Ioannis Kosti cyp -> 20 - 25, 18, 8, 5
cap - ht - 18.Kostakis Artymatas cyp
----
yc - 58 - 24.Andreas Siikkis cyp (holding an opponent with hand)
sub - 59 - '1 9.Marios Ilia on 20.Grigoris Kastanos cyp
sub - 59 - '1 17.Loizos Loizou on 8.Charalampos Kyriakou cyp -> 18 - 17, 5, 25, 26 - 9
2-1 - 61 - 9.Aleksandar Kolev PENALTY - lower middle placed, 1.Joël Mall right (left/penalty/2.Kostas Pileas handballs)
yc - 62 - 17.Georgi Milanov bul (holding an opponent with hand)
sub - 66 - '1 7.Georgi Rusev on 17.Georgi Milanov bul
sub - 66 - '1 16.Marin Petkov on 10.Bozhidar Kraev bul -> 16, 22, 26, 7
yc - 68 - 16.Marin Petkov bul (foul stopping a promising attack)
sub - 74 - '2 19.Vladimir Nikolov on 9.Aleksandar Kolev bul
sub - 75 - '2 8.Andrian Kraev on 22.Ilian Iliev bul -> 8 - 16, 26, 4, 7 - 19
sub - 79 - '2 19.Konstantinos Laifis on 2.Kostas Pileas cyp
sub - 79 - '3 15.Simeon Petrov on 5.Kristian Dimitrov bul /injury/ - same position
sub - 79 - '2 11.Andronikos Kakoullis on 25.Antonio Foti cyp -> 24, 15, 19, 3 - 17, 18, 5, 26 - 11, 9; (4-4-2)
yc - 84 - 8.Andrian Kraev bul (reckless foul)
yc - 85 - 5.Charalampos Charalampous cyp (simulation)
2-2 - 86 - 19.Konstantinos Laifis (head/corner/17.Loizos Loizou/pass)
yc - 88 - 15.Simeon Petrov bul (holding an opponent with hand)
yc - 88 - 24.Aleks Petkov bul (foul stopping a promising attack)
sub - 90+1 - '3 6.Giannis Satsias on 26.Nikolas Koutsakos cyp /additional concussion substitution/ - same position
+ 4 min
abbreviations and event notes
International Friendlies 2025
Greece 4-0 Bulgaria
time: 10 June 2025, Tuesday, 21:45 EEST, 25/24 C, clear
place: "Pankritio Stadio", Heraklion, 17 483 spectators
referee: Nathan Verboomen (Belgium); assistants: Mathias Hillaert (Belgium), Ruben Wyns (Belgium); fourth official: Petros Tsagkarakis (Greece)
kits: white w/ blue-white vert.stripe on the left, white, white (blue numbers) ; red w/ white edging, green, red (white numbers)
captains: 11.Anastasios Bakasetas ; 14.Anton Nedyalkov
Greece: 12.Konstantinos Tzolakis (GK) - 15.Lazaros Rota, 4.Konstantinos Mavropanos, 17.Pantelis Hatzidiakos, 21.Konstantinos Tsimikas -
23.Emmanouil Siopis, 26.Christos Mouzakitis - 7.Georgios Masouras, 11.Anastasios Bakasetas (c), 10.Dimitrios Pelkas - 8.Fotis Ioannidis.
bench: 1.Odysseas Vlachodimos (GK), 13.Christos Mandas (GK) - 2.Georgios Vagiannidis, 3.Konstantinos Koulierakis, 5.Panagiotis Retsos, 22.Dimitrios Giannoulis -
6.Dimitrios Kourbelis, 16.Christos Zafeiris, 18.Giannis Konstantelias, 20.Konstantinos Karetsas, 25.Sotiris Alexandropoulos - 9.Anastasios Douvikas, 14.Vangelis Pavlidis, 19.Christos Tzolis.
coach: Ivan Jovanović
Bulgaria: 1.Dimitar Mitov (GK) - 20.Nikolay Minkov, 15.Simeon Petrov, 14.Anton Nedyalkov (c), 3.Hristiyan Petrov, 18.Fabian Nürnberger -
16.Marin Petkov, 4.Iliya Gruev, 8.Andrian Kraev, 25.Lukas Petkov - 19.Vladimir Nikolov.
bench: 21.Svetoslav Vutsov (GK), 23.Dimitar Sheytanov (GK) - 2.Viktor Popov, 24.Rosen Bozhinov -
7.Georgi Rusev, 17.Georgi Milanov, 22.Ilian Iliev, 26.Stanislav Shopov - 9.Aleksandar Kolev, 10.Bozhidar Kraev, 11.Martin Minchev.
coach: Ilian Iliev
tactics: gre: 12 - 15, 4, 17, 21 - 23, 26 - 7, 11, 10 - 8; (4-2-3-1)
bul: 1 - 20, 15, 14, 3, 18 - 16, 4, 8, 25 - 19; (5-4-1)
events:
yc - 38 - 15.Lazaros Rota gre (holding an opponent with hand)
+ 3 min
1-0 - 51 - 10.Dimitrios Pelkas (right/open play/11.Anastasios Bakasetas/shot)
yc - 62 - 4.Iliya Gruev bul (holding an opponent with hand)
2-0 - 66 - 8.Fotis Ioannidis (right/open play/10.Dimitrios Pelkas/pass)
sub - 67 - '1 9.Aleksandar Kolev on 19.Vladimir Nikolov bul
sub - 67 - '1 11.Martin Minchev on 16.Marin Petkov bul -> 25, 4, 8, 11 - 9
sub - 72 - '1 6.Dimitrios Kourbelis on 23.Emmanouil Siopis gre
sub - 72 - '1 16.Christos Zafeiris on 26.Christos Mouzakitis gre
sub - 72 - '1 19.Christos Tzolis on 7.Georgios Masouras gre -> 16, 6 - 10, 11, 19
3-0 - 74 - 19.Christos Tzolis (right/open play/11.Anastasios Bakasetas/pass)
sub - 75 - '2 14.Vangelis Pavlidis on 8.Fotis Ioannidis gre - same position
sub - 79 - '2 22.Ilian Iliev on 25.Lukas Petkov bul
sub - 79 - '2 26.Stanislav Shopov on 8.Andrian Kraev bul
sub - 79 - '2 2.Viktor Popov on 20.Nikolay Minkov bul -> 2, 15, 3, 14 - 4, 18 - 22, 26, 11; (4-2-3-1)
sub - 82 - '3 25.Sotiris Alexandropoulos on 11.Anastasios Bakasetas gre -> 25, 6 - 10, 16, 19
cap - 82 - 14.Vangelis Pavlidis gre
sub - 86 - '3 17.Georgi Milanov on 4.Iliya Gruev bul - same position
sub - 87 - '4 18.Giannis Konstantelias on 10.Dimitrios Pelkas gre -> 19, 16, 18
4-0 - 89 - 18.Giannis Konstantelias (left/open play/16.Christos Zafeiris/pass)
yc - 90 - 6.Dimitrios Kourbelis gre (holding an opponent with hand)
+ 3 min
abbreviations and event notes
2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
First round, Group E
Bulgaria 0-3 Spain
time: 4 September 2025, Thursday, 21:45 EEST, 24/20 C, cloudy
place: Natsionalen stadion "Vasil Levski", Sofia, 40 582 spectators
referee: Srđan Jovanović (Serbia); assistants: Uroš Stojković (Serbia), Milan Mihajlović (Serbia); fourth official: Novak Simović (Serbia)
video assistant referee: Momčilo Marković (Serbia); assistant video assistant referee: Jelena Cvetković (Serbia)
kits: white w/ red collar and green edging, green w/ red edging, white (red numbers) ; red w/ yellow edging, blue w/ yellow diagonal stripe, red (yellow numbers)
captains: 14.Anton Nedyalkov ; 23.Unai Simón (GK)
Bulgaria: 21.Svetoslav Vutsov (GK) - 14.Anton Nedyalkov (c), 5.Kristian Dimitrov, 13.Emil Tsenov, 7.Fabian Nürnberger -
15.Vasil Panayotov, 4.Iliya Gruev - 12.Nikolay Minkov, 18.Ivaylo Chochev, 10.Radoslav Kirilov - 9.Aleksandar Kolev.
bench: 1.Dimitar Mitov (GK), 23.Ivan Dyulgerov (GK) - 2.Hristiyan Petrov, 3.Zhivko Atanasov, 6.Rosen Bozhinov -
8.Andrian Kraev, 16.Marin Petkov, 17.Georgi Milanov, 20.Lukas Petkov - 11.Kiril Despodov, 19.Martin Minchev, 22.Vladimir Nikolov.
coach: Ilian Iliev
Spain: 23.Unai Simón (GK) (c) - 12.Pedro Porro, 3.Robin Le Normand, 5.Dean Huijsen, 22.Marc Cucurella -
18.Martín Zubimendi, 20.Pedri González - 19.Lamine Yamal, 6.Mikel Merino, 17.Nico Williams - 21.Mikel Oyarzabal.
bench: 1.David Raya (GK), 13.Álex Remiro (GK) - 2.Dani Carvajal, 4.Pau Cubarsí, 15.Alejandro Grimaldo -
8.Fermín López, 9.Aleix García, 10.Dani Olmo, 16.Rodri Hernández - 7.Álvaro Morata, 11.Ferran Torres, 14.Jesús Rodríguez.
coach: Luis de la Fuente
tactics: bul: 21 - 14, 5, 13, 7 - 15, 4 - 12, 18, 10 - 9; (4-2-3-1)
esp: 23 - 12, 3, 5, 22 - 18, 20 - 19, 6, 17 - 21; (4-2-3-1)
events:
0-1 - 5 - 21.Mikel Oyarzabal (left/open play/18.Martín Zubimendi/pass)
0-2 - 30 - 22.Marc Cucurella (left/open play/no assist)
0-3 - 38 - 6.Mikel Merino (head/corner/19.Lamine Yamal/pass)
yc - 39 - 3.Robin Le Normand esp (holding an opponent with hand)
+ 1 min
sub - ht - 4.Pau Cubarsí on 3.Robin Le Normand esp - same position
sub - ht - 16.Marin Petkov on 15.Vasil Panayotov bul -> 12, 14, 5, 13, 7 - 16, 18, 4, 10; (5-4-1)
----
sub - 62 - '1 16.Rodri Hernández on 18.Martín Zubimendi esp - same position
cap - 62 - 16.Rodri Hernández esp
sub - 62 - '1 2.Dani Carvajal on 12.Pedro Porro esp - same position
sub - 62 - '1 6.Rosen Bozhinov on 7.Fabian Nürnberger bul -> 12, 5, 6, 13, 14
sub - 71 - '2 10.Dani Olmo on 17.Nico Williams esp - same position
sub - 71 - '2 22.Vladimir Nikolov on 9.Aleksandar Kolev bul - same position
sub - 72 - '2 19.Martin Minchev on 10.Radoslav Kirilov bul - same position
sub - 79 - '3 14.Jesús Rodríguez on 19.Lamine Yamal esp - same position
sub - 81 - '3 17.Georgi Milanov on 18.Ivaylo Chochev bul - same position
+ 2 min
abbreviations and event notes
2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
First round, Group E
Georgia 3-0 Bulgaria
time: 7 September 2025, Sunday, 17:00 D, 23/22 C, rain/cloudy/rain
place: Boris Paichadze sakhelobis "Dinamo Arena" st., Tbilisi, 44 077 spectators
referee: Glenn Nyberg (Sweden); assistants: Mahbod Beigi (Sweden), Daniel Yng (Sweden); fourth official: Adam Ladebäck (Sweden)
video assistant referee: Pol van Boekel (Netherlands); assistant video assistant referee: Erwin Blank (Netherlands)
kits: black w/ red edging, black w/ red edging, black w/ red edging (white numbers) ; white w/ red collar and green edging, green w/ red edging, white (red numbers)
captains: 7.Khvicha Kvaratskhelia ; 17.Georgi Milanov
Georgia: 1.Giorgi Mamardashvili (GK) - 2.Otar Kakabadze, 5.Saba Goglichidze, 14.Luka Lochoshvili, 16.Irakli Azarov -
6.Giorgi Kochorashvili - 10.Zuriko Davitashvili, 20.Nika Gagnidze, 15.Anzor Mekvabishvili, 7.Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (c) - 22.Georges Mikautadze.
bench: 12.Davit Kereselidze (GK), 23.Luka Gugeshashvili (GK) - 3.Saba Khvadagiani, 4.Guram Kashia, 13.Giorgi Gocholeishvili -
11.Saba Lobjanidze, 17.Vladimer Mamuchashvili, 18.Giorgi Abuashvili, 19.Giorgi Tsitaishvili, 21.Nodar Lominadze - 8.Budu Zivzivadze, 9.Giorgi Guliashvili.
coach: Zurab Khizanishvili (ass.coach, standing in for suspended Willy Sagnol)
Bulgaria: 21.Svetoslav Vutsov (GK) - 12.Nikolay Minkov, 5.Kristian Dimitrov, 2.Rosen Bozhinov, 13.Emil Tsenov, 14.Anton Nedyalkov -
16.Marin Petkov, 17.Georgi Milanov (c), 8.Andrian Kraev, 10.Radoslav Kirilov - 22.Vladimir Nikolov.
bench: 1.Dimitar Mitov (GK), 23.Ivan Dyulgerov (GK) - 3.Zhivko Atanasov, 6.Aleks Petkov, 7.Fabian Nürnberger -
4.Iliya Gruev, 11.Svetoslav Kovachev, 15.Stanislav Shopov, 18.Ivaylo Chochev, 20.Lukas Petkov - 9.Aleksandar Kolev, 19.Martin Minchev.
coach: Ilian Iliev
tactics: geo: 1 - 2, 5, 14, 16 - 6 - 10, 20, 15, 7 - 22; (4-1-4-1)
bul: 21 - 12, 5, 2, 13, 14 - 16, 17, 8, 10 - 22; (5-4-1)
events:
yc - 2 - 15.Anzor Mekvabishvili geo (reckless foul)
yc - 9 - 14.Luka Lochoshvili geo (holding an opponent with hand)
yc - 18 - 13.Emil Tsenov bul (reckless foul)
1-0 - 30 - 7.Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (right/open play/no assist)
yc - 39 - 16.Marin Petkov bul (kicking the ball away after play is stopped)
2-0 - 44 - 20.Nika Gagnidze (right/open play/10.Zuriko Davitashvili/pass)
yc - 45+1 - 8.Andrian Kraev bul (holding an opponent with hand)
+ 2 min
sub - ht - 7.Fabian Nürnberger on 12.Nikolay Minkov bul
sub - ht - 4.Iliya Gruev on 8.Andrian Kraev bul -> 14, 5, 2, 13, 7 - 16, 17, 4, 10
----
yc - 53 - 5.Kristian Dimitrov bul (foul stopping a promising attack)
3-0 - 65 - 22.Georges Mikautadze /var/ (right/open play/6.Giorgi Kochorashvili/shot)
var - 65-66 - goal situation geo/initial decision: offside/var decision: no foul play and goal
sub - 67 - '1 9.Aleksandar Kolev on 22.Vladimir Nikolov bul - same position
sub - 67 - '1 18.Ivaylo Chochev on 17.Georgi Milanov bul - same position
cap - 67 - 14.Anton Nedyalkov bul
sub - 77 - '1 17.Vladimer Mamuchashvili on 6.Giorgi Kochorashvili geo
sub - 77 - '1 9.Giorgi Guliashvili on 7.Khvicha Kvaratskhelia geo
cap - 77 - 2.Otar Kakabadze geo
sub - 77 - '1 8.Budu Zivzivadze on 22.Georges Mikautadze geo -> 15 - 10, 17, 20, 9 - 8
sub - 79 - '2 15.Stanislav Shopov on 16.Marin Petkov bul - same position
sub - 83 - '2 11.Saba Lobjanidze on 10.Zuriko Davitashvili geo
sub - 83 - '2 21.Nodar Lominadze on 2.Otar Kakabadze geo -> 17, 5, 14, 16 - 15 - 11, 21, 20, 9
cap - 83 - 8.Budu Zivzivadze geo
+ 3 min
abbreviations and event notes
2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
First round, Group E
Bulgaria 1-6 Türkiye
time: 11 October 2025, Saturday, 21:45 EEST, 12/11 C, cloudy
place: Natsionalen stadion "Vasil Levski", Sofia, 10 059 spectators
referee: Luís Godinho (Portugal); assistants: Rui Teixeira (Portugal), Pedro Almeida (Portugal); fourth official: Miguel Nogueira (Portugal)
video assistant referee: André Narciso (Portugal); assistant video assistant referee: Helder Malheiro (Portugal)
kits: white w/ red collar and green edging, green w/ red edging, white (red numbers) ; red w/ white edging, red w/ white edging, red (white numbers)
captains: 11.Kiril Despodov ; 10.Hakan Çalhanoğlu
Bulgaria: 1.Dimitar Mitov (GK) - 6.Viktor Popov, 15.Petko Hristov, 12.Rosen Bozhinov, 2.Hristiyan Petrov -
9.Kristiyan Stoyanov, 8.Andrian Kraev - 16.Marin Petkov, 18.Ivaylo Chochev, 10.Radoslav Kirilov - 11.Kiril Despodov (c).
bench: 13.Dimitar Sheytanov (GK), 21.Svetoslav Vutsov (GK) - 3.Atanas Chernev, 5.Kristian Dimitrov, 19.Ivan Turitsov, 22.Dimitar Velkovski -
4.Iliya Gruev, 14.Filip Krastev, 20.Lukas Petkov, 23.Stanislav Shopov - 7.Zdravko Dimitrov, 17.Martin Minchev.
coach: Aleksandar Dimitrov
Türkiye: 23.Uğurcan Çakır (GK) - 2.Zeki Çelik, 3.Merih Demiral, 14.Abdülkerim Bardakcı, 20.Ferdi Kadıoğlu -
6.Orkun Kökçü, 10.Hakan Çalhanoğlu (c) - 19.Oğuz Aydın, 8.Arda Güler, 11.Kenan Yıldız - 7.Kerem Aktürkoğlu.
bench: 1.Mert Günok (GK), 12.Altay Bayındır (GK) - 4.Çağlar Söyüncü, 13.Eren Elmalı, 15.Samet Akaydin, 18.Mert Müldür -
5.Salih Özcan, 16.İsmail Yüksek, 17.İrfan Can Kahveci, 21.Yunus Akgün - 9.Deniz Gül, 22.Can Uzun.
coach: Vincenzo Montella
tactics: bul: 1 - 6, 15, 12, 2 - 9, 8 - 16, 18, 10 - 11; (4-2-3-1)
tur: 23 - 2, 3, 14, 20 - 6, 10 - 19, 8, 11 - 7; (4-2-3-1)
events:
0-1 - 11 - 8.Arda Güler (left/open play/10.Hakan Çalhanoğlu/pass)
1-1 - 13 - 10.Radoslav Kirilov (right/open play/11.Kiril Despodov/pass)
yc - 42 - 12.Rosen Bozhinov bul (reckless foul)
yc - 44 - 10.Radoslav Kirilov bul (reckless foul)
+ 3 min
1-2 - 49 - 6.Viktor Popov OWN GOAL (right/open play)
1-3 - 51 - 11.Kenan Yıldız (right/open play/8.Arda Güler/pass)
1-4 - 56 - 11.Kenan Yıldız (right/open play/10.Hakan Çalhanoğlu/pass)
sub - 63 - '1 5.Salih Özcan on 10.Hakan Çalhanoğlu tur
cap - 63 - 3.Merih Demiral tur
sub - 63 - '1 17.İrfan Can Kahveci on 11.Kenan Yıldız tur -> 5, 6 - 17, 8, 19
sub - 63 - '1 17.Martin Minchev on 11.Kiril Despodov bul - same position
cap - 63 - 18.Ivaylo Chochev bul
sub - 63 - '1 19.Ivan Turitsov on 6.Viktor Popov bul - same position
sub - 63 - '1 7.Zdravko Dimitrov on 16.Marin Petkov bul - same position
1-5 - 65 - 2.Zeki Çelik (head/corner/8.Arda Güler/pass)
sub - 69 - '2 22.Can Uzun on 8.Arda Güler tur - same position
sub - 72 - '2 14.Filip Krastev on 18.Ivaylo Chochev bul
cap - 72 - 15.Petko Hristov bul
sub - 73 - '2 20.Lukas Petkov on 10.Radoslav Kirilov bul -> 20, 14, 7
sub - 84 - '3 9.Deniz Gül on 7.Kerem Aktürkoğlu tur - same position
sub - 84 - '3 15.Samet Akaydin on 3.Merih Demiral tur - same position
cap - 84 - 2.Zeki Çelik tur
yc - 88 - 19.Oğuz Aydın tur (reckless foul)
1-6 - 90+3 - 17.İrfan Can Kahveci (left/open play/19.Oğuz Aydın/pass)
+ 4 min
abbreviations and event notes
2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
First round, Group E
Spain 4-0 Bulgaria
time: 14 October 2025, Tuesday, 20:45 CEST, 19/17 C, clear
place: Estadio Municipal "José Zorrilla", Valladolid, 24 526 spectators
referee: Willy Delajod (France); assistants: Erwan Finjean (France), Brice Parinet Le Tellier (France); fourth official: Jérémie Pignard (France)
video assistant referee: Dennis Higler (Netherlands); assistant video assistant referee: Jan Boterberg (Belgium)
kits: red w/ yellow edging, blue w/ yellow diagonal stripe, red (yellow numbers) ; white w/ red collar and green edging, green w/ red edging, white (red numbers)
captains: 23.Unai Simón (GK) ; 11.Kiril Despodov
Spain: 23.Unai Simón (GK) (c) - 12.Pedro Porro, 3.Robin Le Normand, 10.Aymeric Laporte, 17.Alejandro Grimaldo -
18.Martín Zubimendi, 20.Pedri González - 21.Mikel Oyarzabal, 6.Mikel Merino, 16.Alejandro Baena - 19.Samu Aghehowa.
bench: 1.David Raya (GK), 13.Álex Remiro (GK) - 4.Pau Cubarsí, 5.Daniel Vivian, 14.Marcos Llorente, 22.Marc Cucurella -
7.Yéremy Pino, 8.Aleix García, 15.Pablo Barrios - 2.Jorge de Frutos, 9.Borja Iglesias, 11.Jesús Rodríguez.
coach: Luis de la Fuente
Bulgaria: 21.Svetoslav Vutsov (GK) - 20.Martin Georgiev, 15.Petko Hristov, 3.Atanas Chernev, 22.Dimitar Velkovski -
4.Iliya Gruev - 17.Martin Minchev, 23.Stanislav Shopov, 14.Filip Krastev, 10.Radoslav Kirilov - 11.Kiril Despodov (c).
bench: 1.Dimitar Mitov (GK), 13.Dimitar Sheytanov (GK) - 2.Hristiyan Petrov, 5.Kristian Dimitrov, 6.Viktor Popov, 12.Rosen Bozhinov -
8.Andrian Kraev, 16.Marin Petkov, 18.Ivaylo Chochev, 19.Kristiyan Stoyanov - 7.Zdravko Dimitrov, 9.Vladimir Nikolov.
coach: Aleksandar Dimitrov
tactics: esp: 23 - 12, 3, 10, 17 - 18, 20 - 21, 6, 16 - 19; (4-2-3-1)
bul: 21 - 20, 15, 3, 22 - 4 - 17, 23, 14, 10 - 11; (4-1-4-1)
events:
1-0 - 35 - 6.Mikel Merino (head/corner/3.Robin Le Normand/pass)
+ 0 min
sub - ht - 9.Borja Iglesias on 19.Samu Aghehowa esp - same position
----
2-0 - 57 - 6.Mikel Merino (head/open play/17.Alejandro Grimaldo/pass)
sub - 63 - '1 8.Aleix García on 18.Martín Zubimendi esp - same position
sub - 63 - '1 7.Yéremy Pino on 16.Alejandro Baena esp - same position
sub - 67 - '1 7.Zdravko Dimitrov on 17.Martin Minchev bul
sub - 67 - '1 16.Marin Petkov on 10.Radoslav Kirilov bul
sub - 67 - '1 9.Vladimir Nikolov on 11.Kiril Despodov bul -> 16, 23, 14, 7 - 9
cap - 67 - 15.Petko Hristov bul
sub - 68 - '2 15.Pablo Barrios on 20.Pedri González esp - same position
sub - 71 - '3 5.Daniel Vivian on 3.Robin Le Normand esp - same position
3-0 - 79 - 3.Atanas Chernev OWN GOAL (right/open play)
sub - 84 - '2 19.Kristiyan Stoyanov on 23.Stanislav Shopov bul /injury/ - same position
sub - 89 - '3 8.Andrian Kraev on 4.Iliya Gruev bul - same position
4-0 - 90+2 - 21.Mikel Oyarzabal PENALTY - lower right placed, 21.Svetoslav Vutsov middle (left/penalty/6.Mikel Merino is fouled)
+ 3 min
abbreviations and event notes
2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
First round, Group E
Türkiye 2-0 Bulgaria
time: 15 November 2025, Saturday, 20:00 EEST, 8/6 C, clear
place: "Matlı" st., Bursa, 42 756 spectators
referee: Nicholas Walsh (Scotland); assistants: Francis Connor (Scotland), Daniel McFarlane (Scotland); fourth official: Donald Robertson (Scotland)
video assistant referee: Andrew Dallas (Scotland); assistant video assistant referee: Steven McLean (Scotland)
kits: white w/ red hor.area across the chest, white, white (red numbers) ; red w/ white edging, green, red (white numbers)
captains: 10.Hakan Çalhanoğlu ; 11.Kiril Despodov
Türkiye: 23.Uğurcan Çakır (GK) - 2.Zeki Çelik, 3.Merih Demiral, 14.Abdülkerim Bardakcı, 20.Ferdi Kadıoğlu -
10.Hakan Çalhanoğlu (c), 16.İsmail Yüksek - 19.Oğuz Aydın, 8.Arda Güler, 11.Kenan Yıldız - 7.Kerem Aktürkoğlu.
bench: 1.Mert Günok (GK), 12.Altay Bayındır (GK) - 4.Çağlar Söyüncü, 15.Samet Akaydin, 18.Mert Müldür -
5.Salih Özcan, 6.Orkun Kökçü, 13.Atakan Karazor, 22.Kaan Ayhan - 9.Barış Alper Yılmaz, 17.Yusuf Sarı, 21.Deniz Gül.
coach: Vincenzo Montella
Bulgaria: 1.Dimitar Mitov (GK) - 20.Martin Georgiev, 5.Kristian Dimitrov, 3.Atanas Chernev, 2.Hristiyan Petrov -
8.Andrian Kraev - 7.Georgi Rusev, 4.Iliya Gruev, 14.Filip Krastev, 10.Zdravko Dimitrov - 11.Kiril Despodov (c).
bench: 12.Aleks Bozhev (GK), 21.Dimitar Evtimov (GK) - 6.Viktor Popov, 13.Rosen Bozhinov, 15.Stefan Velkov -
16.Marin Petkov, 18.Ivaylo Chochev, 19.Ivan Yordanov, 22.Kristiyan Stoyanov, 23.Stanislav Shopov - 9.Vladimir Nikolov, 17.Martin Minchev.
coach: Aleksandar Dimitrov
tactics: tur: 23 - 2, 3, 14, 20 - 10, 16 - 19, 8, 11 - 7; (4-2-3-1)
bul: 1 - 20, 5, 3, 2 - 8 - 7, 4, 14, 10 - 11; (4-1-4-1)
events:
1-0 - 18 - 10.Hakan Çalhanoğlu PENALTY - upper middle with force, 1.Dimitar Mitov right (right/penalty/2.Hristiyan Petrov handballs)
yc - 20 - 14.Abdülkerim Bardakcı tur (reckless foul)
yc - 40 - 8.Arda Güler tur (dissent)
+ 2 min
sub - ht - 15.Samet Akaydin on 3.Merih Demiral tur - same position
----
sub - 60 - '1 18.Mert Müldür on 2.Zeki Çelik tur
sub - 61 - '1 22.Kaan Ayhan on 20.Ferdi Kadıoğlu tur -> 22, 15, 14, 18
sub - 63 - '1 17.Martin Minchev on 11.Kiril Despodov bul - same position
cap - 63 - 4.Iliya Gruev bul
yc - 64 - 20.Martin Georgiev bul (holding an opponent with hand)
sub - 72 - '2 16.Marin Petkov on 10.Zdravko Dimitrov bul
sub - 72 - '2 18.Ivaylo Chochev on 8.Andrian Kraev bul -> 18 - 16, 4, 14, 7
sub - 81 - '2 13.Atakan Karazor on 22.Kaan Ayhan tur /injury/ -> 19, 15, 14, 18 - 16, 13 - 8, 10, 11
2-0 - 83 - 3.Atanas Chernev OWN GOAL (right/free kick)
sub - 85 - '3 9.Vladimir Nikolov on 7.Georgi Rusev bul -> 16, 4, 14, 17 - 9
sub - 88 - '3 17.Yusuf Sarı on 8.Arda Güler tur - same position
yc - 89 - 16.İsmail Yüksek tur (dissent)
+ 3 min
abbreviations and event notes
2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
First round, Group E
Bulgaria 2-1 Georgia
time: 18 November 2025, Tuesday, 21:45 EET, 7/7 C, drizzle/cloudy/rain
place: Natsionalen stadion "Vasil Levski", Sofia, 1 980 spectators
referee: Jakob Kehlet (Denmark); assistants: Lars Hummelgaard (Denmark), Ole Kronlykke (Denmark); fourth official: Mikkel Redder (Denmark)
video assistant referee: Jonas Hansen (Denmark); assistant video assistant referee: Sandi Putros (Denmark)
kits: white w/ red collar and green edging, green w/ red edging, white (red numbers) ; black w/ red edging, black w/ red edging, black w/ red edging (white numbers)
captains: 11.Kiril Despodov ; 4.Guram Kashia
Bulgaria: 1.Dimitar Mitov (GK) - 20.Martin Georgiev, 5.Kristian Dimitrov, 15.Stefan Velkov, 2.Hristiyan Petrov -
4.Iliya Gruev - 7.Georgi Rusev, 22.Kristiyan Stoyanov, 14.Filip Krastev, 10.Zdravko Dimitrov - 11.Kiril Despodov (c).
bench: 12.Aleks Bozhev (GK), 21.Dimitar Evtimov (GK) - 3.Atanas Chernev, 6.Viktor Popov, 13.Rosen Bozhinov -
8.Andrian Kraev, 16.Marin Petkov, 18.Ivaylo Chochev, 19.Ivan Yordanov, 23.Stanislav Shopov - 9.Vladimir Nikolov, 17.Martin Minchev.
coach: Aleksandar Dimitrov
Georgia: 1.Giorgi Mamardashvili (GK) - 13.Giorgi Gocholeishvili, 4.Guram Kashia (c), 14.Luka Lochoshvili, 19.Giorgi Tsitaishvili -
6.Giorgi Kochorashvili - 10.Zuriko Davitashvili, 15.Anzor Mekvabishvili, 17.Otar Kiteishvili, 7.Khvicha Kvaratskhelia - 8.Budu Zivzivadze.
bench: 12.Davit Kereselidze (GK), 23.Luka Gugeshashvili (GK) - 3.Aleksandre Narimanidze, 5.Ilia Beriashvili -
2.Vladimer Mamuchashvili, 16.Nodar Lominadze, 18.Giorgi Abuashvili, 20.Shota Nonikashvili, 22.Iuri Tabatadze - 9.Giorgi Guliashvili, 11.Giorgi Kvilitaia, 21.Giorgi Kvernadze.
coach: Willy Sagnol
tactics: bul: 1 - 20, 5, 15, 2 - 4 - 7, 22, 14, 10 - 11; (4-1-4-1)
geo: 1 - 13, 4, 14, 19 - 6 - 10, 15, 17, 7 - 8; (4-1-4-1)
events:
1-0 - 10 - 7.Georgi Rusev (right/open play/10.Zdravko Dimitrov/pass)
2-0 - 24 - 14.Filip Krastev (right/open play/10.Zdravko Dimitrov/shot)
yc - 30 - 17.Otar Kiteishvili geo (reckless foul)
sub - 31 - '1 11.Giorgi Kvilitaia on 15.Anzor Mekvabishvili geo -> 10, 6, 17, 7 - 8, 11; (4-4-2)
yc - 45+1 - 11.Giorgi Kvilitaia geo (foul stopping a promising attack)
+ 2 min
sub - 60 - '1 16.Marin Petkov on 11.Kiril Despodov bul
cap - 60 - 4.Iliya Gruev bul
sub - 60 - '1 9.Vladimir Nikolov on 10.Zdravko Dimitrov bul -> 16, 22, 14, 7 - 9
sub - 76 - '2 23.Stanislav Shopov on 22.Kristiyan Stoyanov bul - same position
sub - 76 - '2 9.Giorgi Guliashvili on 10.Zuriko Davitashvili geo -> 8, 6, 17, 7 - 11, 9
sub - 76 - '2 17.Martin Minchev on 7.Georgi Rusev bul - same position
yc - 83 - 1.Dimitar Mitov (GK) bul (delaying restart of play)
sub - 86 - '3 18.Giorgi Abuashvili on 17.Otar Kiteishvili geo - same position
2-1 - 88 - 14.Luka Lochoshvili (left/open play/11.Giorgi Kvilitaia/pass)
sub - 89 - '3 18.Ivaylo Chochev on 14.Filip Krastev bul - same position
+ 5 min
abbreviations and event notes
Abbreviations and event notes:
yc - yellow card
rc - red card
sub - substitution
'1/'2/'3 - the substitution is part of the first/second/third allowed break for substitutions for the respective team
same position - the substitution does not lead to any tactical changes
lws - left without a substitute (usually due to injury after all allowed substitutions are used by the team)
tct - a change to a team's tactical formation
cap - new captain
mp - missed penalty
ref - new referee (usually following an injury)
ar - new assistant referee (usually following an injury)
var - beginning and end of a VAR review and the decisions it yielded
cnc - cancelled event (usually following a var review)
ht - the event takes place during the half-time break
br - the event takes place during the break between extra time periods
pen - the event takes place during the penalty shoot-out
ft - the event takes place after full time
stp - the match is stopped
res - the match is resumed
abd - the match is abandoned
+ X min. - there have been X minutes of added time played for that half
about penalty kick direction notes - the point of view of the penalty taker is always considered, with the goal being divided into 6 areas,
in which the ball can be directed to - upper left, upper middle, upper right, lower left, lower middle and lower right;
while the penalty kick might be either placed (i.e. weaker shot) or taken with force.
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