CSKA pair get Bulgaria chance

PFC CSKA Sofia team-mates Svetoslav Petrov and Velizar Dimitrov could get the chance to transfer their excellent club form on to the international stage after being named in the Bulgaria squad to face Croatia and Andorra.

Sparkling form
Coach Plamen Markov has named 20 players for the two EURO 2004™ home matches later this month. Petrov, an unused substitute against Belgium last month, and Dimitrov have been in sparkling form for CSKA, helping them take maximum points from their seven league games this season.

Petkov out
One player who will not be present is AEK Athens FC's Milen Petkov. The midfield player limped out of action after 20 minutes of Wednesday's UEFA Champions League match with Real Madrid CF.

Excellent start
Bulgaria made an excellent start to Group 8 by winning 2-0 in Belgium. They welcome Croatia on 12 October and Andorra four days later. The first match will also mark the official opening of the renovated national stadium, Vasil Levski.

Bulgaria squad
Zdravkov, Ivankov, Kishishev, Pazin, Petkov, Kirilov, Zagorcic, Stoyanov, G Petrov, Stilian Petrov, Peev, Balakov, Svetoslav Petrov, M Petrov, Manchev, Jankovic, Ivanov, Berbatov, Dimitrov, Chilikov.