Ireland drawn against Bulgaria in Nations League play-off

Today’s draw at UEFA HQ for the play-off had Ireland with four potential opponents from League C, in a two-legged clash to stay in League B. Ireland avoided Kosovo, Slovakia and Armenia but have been paired with Bulgaria.

That’s a tough draw for the Irish side as Bulgaria, despite being at a low ebb, can still pull off results like when they won at home to Northern Ireland in this Nations League campaign, in a league which Northern Ireland won.

The games will be played on Thursday March 20 and Sunday March 23 with Ireland due to be away for the first leg.

Bulgaria

World ranking: 84th (38th in Europe)

The gaffer: Ilian Iliev

As a player, he was with clubs in Portugal, Turkey and Greece, but as a coach, he’s only worked in his native Bulgaria.

Appointed only 12 months ago, he was Bulgaria’s fourth national team boss in four years and took over a side in crisis, with Bulgaria on a run of four straight defeats, including an embarrassing home loss to Lithuania. He did stop the rot, getting decent draws with Hungary and Serbia in his first two games and they were then unbeaten in nine games before a stunning 5-0 loss away to Northern Ireland.

Star man: Kiril Despodov

After domestic success with Ludogorets, the striker wanted more and made a successful move to Greek side PAOK last year. ​

He likes Irish opposition: he scored the only goal of the game when Bulgaria beat Northern Ireland in September and found the net against Shamrock Rovers in the Europa League.

Are they any good?

Not any more if you go by the FIFA world rankings, Bulgaria have been on the slide for years, from 36th in the world in 2017 to their current status of 84th.

They are capable of the solid (1-0 wins over Northern Ireland and Luxembourg and a decent draw away to Serbia) and the shocking (the 5-0 defeat to Northern Ireland last month).

Most of the squad play in the domestic league, which has been ruined by the dominance of a wealthy Ludogorets, but exports like goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov (Aberdeen) and Filip Krastev (PEC Zwolle) have potential.

What about the Irish fans?

Covid denied Irish supporters a trip for the last match there, and the previous one was in 2009. Sofia has developed a lot since then and with a 49,000-capacity stadium, tickets would not be a problem.

Who will win?

Bulgaria’s games against Northern Ireland in this campaign point to their two-sided nature: they are capable of winning a tight game at home with a clean sheet but can also deliver a dismal (5-0) collapse away.

A well-drilled Ireland side with players at the top of their game should be able to shade this, but Ireland have not beaten Bulgaria in their last four competitive games.