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Euro
Qualifier 2008 - 17 Oct 2007
Albania v Bulgaria. Wednesday
19:45.
Romania's surprise 1-0 win over the Netherlands on Saturday, has
left Bulgaria with a mountain to climb in Group G. Dimitar Penev's
side were looking forward to a November showdown with the Romanians
in Sofia, but now find themselves in a position whereby even three
victories may not be enough to book their place in next year's
finals.
Spurs striker Dimitar Berbatov is putting on a brave face -
"Obviously, we are disappointed with the result in Constanta,
but Romania played very well after the break and won. We have three
games to play and we will be looking for three wins. I am optimistic
as there are always surprises in football like on Saturday in Minsk,
where Luxembourg won 1-0 against Belarus." - clearly hoping for
a miracle from Slovenia, who travel to the Netherlands tomorrow
night.
Reflecting upon where it all went wrong, the failure to beat
Albania at home is the result which some Bulgarian fans have
pinpointed as the reason they are facing an uphill task to book
their place in Switzerland and Austria next summer.
Albania, of course, are long since out of the reckoning, as far
as qualification is concerned. Not that that should make them a soft
touch on their own patch, as Marco Van Basten would surely testify
to. It took an injury-time Ruud Van Nistelrooy goal to finally break
down their stubborn resistance last month. The unfashionable Eastern
Europeans have conceded only seven goals in nine games, and actually
have a positive goal difference. Not a bad record for a nation many
would consider to be one of the whipping boys of Europe.
In-form Manchester City winger Martin Petrov is a doubt for
Bulgaria. Petrov's pace in one of the few effective weapons in
Penev's armoury. His absence would be a huge blow, with the margin
for error now so fine.
With Albania having only gone down by more than the odd goal once
in nine outings, it's surprising to see a 3/4 ball handicap
available here. Bulgaria are not prolific scorers, and could well
struggle to break their opponents down, just as they did in Sofia.
Recommendation: 4pts Albania
+0.75 @ 1.82. Canbet.
Ilunga
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