Time already tight for Bulgaria and Switzerland
Monday, January 10, 2011
Article summary
With both sides averaging just a point a game so far in qualifying, Bulgaria and Switzerland will be eager to kick-start their campaigns when they meet for a ninth time.
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Article body
With both sides averaging only a point a game so far in Group G, Bulgaria and Switzerland will be eager to kick-start their UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying campaigns when they come together for a ninth time.
Match background
• Bulgaria's record in their eight matches with Switzerland, since the sides first met in a 2-2 friendly draw in Lucerne on 18 August 1976, is W2 D3 L3 (W1 D1 L1 at home).
• The teams have faced each other in two competitive games previously, having been pooled together in qualifying for the 1992 UEFA European Championship. Switzerland won both matches: 2-0 at home with goals from Marc Hottiger and Thomas Bickel, and 3-2 in Sofia where Kübilay Türkyilmaz hit a 90th-minute winner as the visitors battled back from 2-0 down.
• The sides have met in two friendlies since then. Nasko Sirakov and Emil Kostadinov struck to give Bulgaria a 2-0 friendly victory in Berne on 28 April 1992 before the sides drew 1-1 in Geneva on 11 April 2009.
