Petrov doubt for Bulgaria

A muscle strain may rule Martin Petrov out of Bulgaria's first UEFA EURO 2004™ game.

Painful injury
The VfL Wolfsburg left-sided midfield player may not be able to play in Monday's game against Sweden after missing Friday's training session with a muscle strain in his left leg.

No risks
"For now I cannot say whether I will be fit for the game against Sweden," said Petrov. "On Saturday I will try to train again to see how the leg will react. I will try everything to be fit and I am ready to play even if it is painful. But if there is a big risk for me, I will sit out the opening game."

Hristov recovering
Petrov was not the only player to miss Friday's session, as fellow midfield player Marian Hristov was also rested due to an ankle injury. However the 1. FC Kaiserslautern player is expected to recover. "I think I will be ready for the game against Sweden," he said.

Stoichkov boost
However, there was some good news at the training session as Bulgarian football's most famous name, Hristo Stoichkov, replaced the injured Petrov. Two other former players, Ivailo Yordanov and Zlatko Yankov, were also on hand to give support and they join assistant coach Petar Hubchev and Bulgarian official Borislav Mihailov to take to five the contingent of the Bulgarian side that reached the 1994 FIFA World Cup semi-final who are now in Portugal.