EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS - 2014/16 SEASON MATCH PRESS KITS National Stadium - Ta' Qali Friday 12 June 2015 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Malta Group H - Matchday -7 Last updated 12/07/2021 17:36CET

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Previous meetings 2 Match background 4 Squad list 5 Head coach 7 Match officials 8 Competition facts 9 Match-by-match lineups 10 Team facts 12 Legend 14

1 Malta - Bulgaria Friday 12 June 2015 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit National Stadium, Ta' Qali

Previous meetings Head to Head 2016 UEFA European Championship Stage Date Match Result Venue Goalscorers reached Galabinov 6; Failla 49 16/11/2014 QR (GS) Bulgaria - Malta 1-1 (P)

FIFA World Cup Stage Date Match Result Venue Goalscorers reached Herrera 78; Dimitrov 10/09/2013 QR (GS) Malta - Bulgaria 1-2 Ta' Qali 9, Gargorov 59 Tonev 6, 38, 68, 22/03/2013 QR (GS) Bulgaria - Malta 6-0 Sofia Popov 47, Gargorov 55, Ivanov 78

FIFA World Cup Stage Date Match Result Venue Goalscorers reached Barbara 77; Yankov 12/10/2005 QR (GS) Malta - Bulgaria 1-1 Ta' Qali 67 Berbatov 43, 56, 13/10/2004 QR (GS) Bulgaria - Malta 4-1 Sofia Yanev 47, Yankov 87; Mifsud 12

FIFA World Cup Stage Date Match Result Venue Goalscorers reached 01/09/2001 QR (GS) Malta - Bulgaria 0-2 Ta' Qali Berbatov 74, 80 G. Ivanov 40, 65, S. 07/10/2000 QR (GS) Bulgaria - Malta 3-0 Sofia Todorov 90

1976 UEFA European Championship Stage Date Match Result Venue Goalscorers reached Panov 69, Yordanov 21/12/1975 PR (GS) Malta - Bulgaria 0-2 Gzira 88 Dimitrov 2, Denev 22, 11/06/1975 PR (GS) Bulgaria - Malta 5-0 Sofia Panov 25, Bonev 68 (P), Milanov 71

Final Qualifying Total tournament

Home Away Pld W D L Pld W D L Pld W D L Pld W D L GF GA EURO Malta 1 0 0 1 2 0 1 1 - - - - 3 0 1 2 1 8 Bulgaria 2 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 - - - - 3 2 1 0 8 1

2 Malta - Bulgaria Friday 12 June 2015 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit National Stadium, Ta' Qali

Final Qualifying Total tournament

Home Away Pld W D L Pld W D L Pld W D L Pld W D L GF GA FIFA* Malta 3 0 1 2 3 0 0 3 - - - - 6 0 1 5 3 18 Bulgaria 3 3 0 0 3 2 1 0 - - - - 6 5 1 0 18 3 Friendlies Malta ------3 0 1 2 1 11 Bulgaria ------3 2 1 0 11 1 Total Malta 4 0 1 3 5 0 1 4 - - - - 12 0 3 9 5 37 Bulgaria 5 4 1 0 4 3 1 0 - - - - 12 9 3 0 37 5 * FIFA World Cup/FIFA Confederations Cup

3 Malta - Bulgaria Friday 12 June 2015 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit National Stadium, Ta' Qali Match background

Malta will aim to build on an encouraging result in Sofia as they welcome Bulgaria, who are looking to make positive progress in UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying Group H under their new coach. Previous meetings • Malta's 12 matches against Bulgaria have ended W0 D3 L9 (W0 D2 L4 in Malta), but a 1-1 draw in Sofia in November represented a major breakthrough for Pietro Ghedin – and prompted the departure of Bulgaria coach Luboslav Penev. • The sides first came together in their only previous UEFA European Championship encounters, in qualifying for the 1976 finals. On 11 June 1975, Stoyan Ormandzhiev's Bulgaria beat Terenzio Polverini's Malta 5-0 in Sofia, with goals from Borislav Dimitrov (2), Georgi Denev (22), Pavel Panov (25), (68) and Kiril Milanov (71). Panov (69) and Stoyan Yordanov (88) scored in the return fixture on 21 December 1975, a 2-0 win at Empire Stadium in Gzira. • The teams have been paired in three FIFA World Cup qualifying campaigns – for the 2002, 2006 and 2014 editions. In those most recent games, Penev's Bulgaria beat Ghedin's Malta 6-0 in Sofia on 22 March 2013, Alexandar Tonev scoring his first three international goals (6, 38, 68) and Ivelin Popov (47), Emil Gargorov (55) and Ivan Ivanov (78) also weighing in. • The return leg in Ta' Qali was closer, Radoslav Dimitrov (9) and Gargorov (59) scoring for the visitors, before Edward Herrera (78) gave Malta some late hope. Form guide • Malta are yet to win in five Group H outings; the only goal of their campaign so far was Clayton Failla's equaliser from the penalty spot in Sofia. • Bulgaria are without a victory in four Group H matches since kicking off with a 2-1 win in Azerbaijan, though a 2-2 draw against Italy in their last game – their first under new coach Ivaylo Petev – was a positive result. • Malta had not won since November 2013 before a 2-0 friendly win against Lithuania on Monday 8 June. They have not prevailed in nine competitive fixtures (D1 L8) since a 1-0 victory in Armenia in World Cup qualifying in June 2013. Trivia and links • Malta goalkeeper Justin Haber played club football in Bulgaria with PFC Dobrudzha Dobrich in 1998. • Bulgaria midfielder Mihail Alexandrov turns 26 on the eve of the Malta game. • Bulgaria midfielder Georgi Milanov was fouled 19 times in the first half of the qualifying campaign – more than any other player in the competition. • The nations' nine meetings in UEFA youth and age-group competitions have ended W7 D2 L0 to the Bulgarian teams, with the most recent encounter a 1-1 UEFA European Under-21 Championship draw in Ta' Qali on 11 October 2005. • Clubs from the two countries have crossed paths nine times in UEFA competition, with the Bulgarian sides victorious in all nine matches. Most recently, PFC Litex Lovech beat Sliema Wanderers FC 7-0 on aggregate in the first qualifying round of the 2007/08 UEFA Cup.

4 Malta - Bulgaria Friday 12 June 2015 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit National Stadium, Ta' Qali Squad list

Malta Current season Qual. FT No. Player DoB Age Club D Pld Gls Pld Gls Goalkeepers - Justin Haber 09/06/1981 34 Birkirkara - 0 0 0 0 - Henry Bonello 13/10/1988 26 Hibernians - 0 0 0 0 - Glen Zammit 05/08/1987 27 Sliema - 0 0 0 0 Defenders - Alex Muscat 14/12/1984 30 Sliema - 0 0 0 0 - Ryan Camilleri 22/05/1988 27 Valletta - 5 0 0 0 - André Agius 12/08/1986 28 Hibernians - 5 0 0 0 - Clifford Baldacchino 09/02/1988 27 Sliema - 1 0 0 0 - Ryan Scicluna 30/07/1993 21 Birkirkara - 1 0 0 0 Midfielders - 24/08/1981 33 Valletta - 4 0 0 0 - 20/12/1986 28 Birkirkara - 5 0 0 0 - Clayton Failla 08/01/1986 29 Hibernians - 4 1 0 0 - Joseph Zerafa 31/05/1988 27 Birkirkara - 0 0 0 0 - Rowen Muscat 05/06/1991 24 Birkirkara - 5 0 0 0 - Clive Brincat 31/05/1983 32 Balzan - 0 0 0 0 - Bjorn Kristensen 05/04/1993 22 Hibernians - 2 0 0 0 - Zach Muscat 22/08/1993 21 Birkirkara - 5 0 0 0 - Firas Abulezz 25/07/1986 28 Tarxien - 0 0 0 0 Forwards - Michael Mifsud 17/04/1981 34 Sliema - 3 0 0 0 - Andrew Cohen 13/05/1981 34 Hibernians - 1 0 0 0 - André Schembri 27/05/1986 29 Omonia - 5 0 0 0 - Edward Herrera 14/11/1986 28 Birkirkara - 0 0 0 0 - Stephen Pisani 07/08/1992 22 Floriana - 1 0 0 0 - Alfred Effiong 29/11/1984 30 Qormi - 1 0 0 0 Coach - Pietro Ghedin 21/11/1952 62 - 5 0 0 0

5 Malta - Bulgaria Friday 12 June 2015 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit National Stadium, Ta' Qali

Bulgaria Current season Qual. FT No. Player DoB Age Club D Pld Gls Pld Gls Goalkeepers Lokomotiv - Bozhidar Mitrev 31/03/1987 28 - 0 0 0 0 Sofia - Blagoy Makendzhiev 11/07/1988 26 Beroe - 0 0 0 0 - Plamen Iliev 30/11/1991 23 Botoşani - 0 0 0 0 Defenders - Ivan Bandalovski 23/11/1986 28 Partizan - 0 0 0 0 - Petar Zanev 18/10/1985 29 Amkar - 1 0 0 0 - Stanislav Manolev 16/12/1985 29 Kuban - 5 0 0 0 - Aleksandar Aleksandrov 13/04/1986 29 Ludogorets - 1 0 0 0 - Nikolay Bodurov 30/05/1986 29 Fulham - 5 1 0 0 - Georgi Terziev 18/04/1992 23 Ludogorets - 1 0 0 0 - Yordan Minev 14/10/1980 34 Ludogorets - 3 0 0 0 - Kristiyan Malinov 30/03/1994 21 Litex - 0 0 0 0 - Borislav Stoychev 26/11/1986 28 Levski - 0 0 0 0 Midfielders - Hristo Zlatinski 22/01/1985 30 Ludogorets - 0 0 0 0 - Vladimir Gadzhev 18/07/1987 27 Levski - 3 0 0 0 Spartak - Ivelin Popov 26/10/1987 27 - 4 1 0 0 Moskva - Svetoslav Dyakov 31/05/1984 31 Ludogorets - 5 0 0 0 - Alexandar Tonev 03/02/1990 25 Celtic - 3 0 0 0 CSKA - Georgi Milanov 19/02/1992 23 - 5 0 0 0 Moskva - Ivaylo Chochev 18/02/1993 22 Palermo - 0 0 0 0 - Mihail Alexandrov 11/06/1989 26 Ludogorets - 4 0 0 0 Forwards - Ilian Micanski 20/12/1985 29 Karlsruhe - 4 2 0 0 Slavia - Radoslav Vasilev 12/10/1990 24 - 0 0 0 0 Sofia - Andrej Galabinov 27/11/1988 26 Livorno - 4 1 0 0 Coach - Ivaylo Petev 09/07/1975 39 - 1 0 0 0

6 Malta - Bulgaria Friday 12 June 2015 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit National Stadium, Ta' Qali Head coach Pietro Ghedin Date of birth: 21 November 1952 Nationality: Italian Playing career: ACF Fiorentina, SS Lazio, AC Venezia, Calcio Catania, Pescara Calcio, AC Pistoiese, AC Siena Coaching career: Italy Under-18, Malta U21, Malta (twice), Italy (assistant), Italy women • Defender Ghedin played in Serie A with Fiorentina and Lazio, joining the latter immediately after the capital side had won their first-ever Scudetto in 1974 and remaining at the Stadio Olimpico until 1981. He played out his career in the lower divisions. • Ghedin became an Italian Football Federation (FIGC) coach in 1987, leading the country's U18s and becoming senior national team scout ahead of the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy. • He served as the Azzurri goalkeeping coach for the Olympic Games of 1992 and 1996. Additionally, while still under contract with the FIGC, he also coached the Malta national side at both U21 and senior level between 1992 and 1995. • Appointed assistant to Italy coach Cesare Maldini during the 1998 World Cup, Ghedin remained in that role under Dino Zoff at UEFA EURO 2000 and Giovanni Trapattoni at the 2002 World Cup. • Ghedin became Italy's senior women's coach in 2005, guiding them to the UEFA Women's EURO 2009 quarter- finals, before leaving in 2012 to return to the Malta helm. Ivaylo Petev Date of birth: 9 July 1975 Nationality: Bulgarian Playing career: PFC Litex Lovech (twice), PFC Olympic Teteven (loan), PFC Spartak Varna (loan), PFC Cherno More Varna, PFC Spartak Varna, PFC Rodopa , PFC Dunav Ruse, PFC Marek Dupnista, FC Trikala, PFC Lyubimets 2007, PFC Etar 1924 Coaching career: PFC Lyubimets 2007, PFC Ludogorets Razgard, AEL Limassol FC, Bulgaria • Midfielder Petev's best days were at Litex Lovech in the late 90s, when he was part of the squad that won the league in 1998 and 1999. In 2001 he lifted the with Litex. • In 2009 he became player-coach of second division Lyubimets. • In 2010 he moved to Razgrad to start the Ludogorets project with club owner Kiril Domuschiev. In 2011 he guided the team to promotion to the Bulgarian top flight. • In 2012 the newcomers won a historic domestic double in their first top division campaign, then added the Bulgarian Super Cup. In 2013 Petev's Ludogorets retained the domestic title, but in the summer he was sacked after the first leg of their UEFA Champions League qualifying tie against ŠK Slovan Bratislava. • In October 2013 Petev took over Cypriot side AEL, steering them to second place that season. • In November 2014 he parted ways with AEL and a month later assumed the Bulgarian national team helm following the dismissal of Luboslav Penev.

7 Malta - Bulgaria Friday 12 June 2015 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit National Stadium, Ta' Qali Match officials

Referee Aleksandar Stavrev (MKD) Assistant referees Marjan Kirovski (MKD) , Dejan Kostadinov (MKD) Additional assistant referees Dimitar Meckarovski (MKD) , Dejan Jakimovksi (MKD) Fourth official Goce Petreski (MKD) UEFA Delegate Yoav Strauss (ISR) UEFA Referee observer Jan Fasung (SVK)

Referee UEFA EURO Name Date of birth UEFA matches matches Aleksandar Stavrev 30/03/1977 3 58

Aleksandar Stavrev Referee since: 1996 First division: 2002 FIFA badge: 2006

Tournaments: 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, 2008 UEFA European Under-19 Championship, 2006 UEFA European Under-17 Championship

Finals N/A

UEFA European Championship matches featuring the two countries involved in this match No such matches refereed Other matches involving teams from either of the two countries involved in this match Stage Date Competition Home Away Result Venue reached 16/12/2009 UEL GS PFC CSKA Sofia AS Roma 0-3 Sofia 15/10/2013 WC QR Denmark Malta 6-0 Copenhagen

8 Malta - Bulgaria Friday 12 June 2015 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit National Stadium, Ta' Qali Competition facts

9 Malta - Bulgaria Friday 12 June 2015 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit National Stadium, Ta' Qali Match-by-match lineups Malta

European Qualifiers Matchday 1 (09/09/2014) Croatia 2-0 Malta Goals: 1-0 Modrić 46, 2-0 Kramarić 81 Malta: Hogg, Borg, Agius, Fenech, Failla, Fenech (87 Scicluna), Mifsud (33 Bezzina), Schembri, R. Muscat (76 Kristensen), R. Camilleri, Z. Muscat Matchday 2 (10/10/2014) Malta 0-3 Norway Goals: 0-1 Daehli 22, 0-2 King 26, 0-3 King 49 Malta: Hogg, Z. Muscat, Fenech, Agius, Fenech (72 Kristensen), Failla, Briffa (72 Grioli), Mifsud, R. Muscat, Schembri (85 Vella), R. Camilleri Matchday 3 (13/10/2014) Malta 0-1 Italy Goals: 0-1 Pellè 24 Malta: Hogg, Z. Muscat, Fenech, Agius, Failla (93 Bezzina), Briffa, Mifsud, R. Muscat, Schembri (85 Cohen), Mintoff (72 Baldacchino), R. Camilleri Matchday 4 (16/11/2014) Bulgaria 1-1 Malta Goals: 1-0 Galabinov 6, 1-1 Failla 49 (P) Malta: Hogg, Caruana, Fenech, Agius, Failla (81 Bezzina), Briffa, Farrugia (93 Vella), R. Muscat, Schembri (78 Fenech), R. Camilleri, Z. Muscat Matchday 5 (28/03/2015) Azerbaijan 2-0 Malta Goals: 1-0 C. Hüseynov 4, 2-0 Nazarov 90+2 Malta: Hogg, Caruana, Bezzina (46 S. Pisani), Borg, Agius, Briffa, R. Muscat, Schembri (81 Fenech), Fenech, R. Camilleri (36 Z. Muscat), Effiong Matchday 6 (12/06/2015) Malta-Bulgaria Matchday 7 (03/09/2015) Italy-Malta Matchday 8 (06/09/2015) Malta-Azerbaijan Matchday 9 (10/10/2015) Norway-Malta Matchday 10 (13/10/2015) Malta-Croatia Bulgaria

European Qualifiers Matchday 1 (09/09/2014) Azerbaijan 1-2 Bulgaria Goals: 0-1 Micanski 14, 1-1 Nazarov 54, 1-2 V. Hristov 87 Bulgaria: Stoyanov, A. Popov, Bodurov, Alexandrov (83 V. Hristov), Manolev, V. Minev, Milanov, Gadzhev, Micanski (58 Galabinov), Dyakov, G. Iliev (74 Nedelev) Matchday 2 (10/10/2014) Bulgaria 0-1 Croatia Goals: 0-1 Bodurov 36 (og) Bulgaria: Stoyanov, A. Popov, Zanev (46 G. Iliev), Bodurov, Y. Minev, Popov, Manolev, Milanov, Gadzhev (68

10 Malta - Bulgaria Friday 12 June 2015 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit National Stadium, Ta' Qali Tonev), Micanski (46 Galabinov), Dyakov Matchday 3 (13/10/2014) Norway 2-1 Bulgaria Goals: 1-0 T. Elyounoussi 13, 1-1 Bodurov 43, 2-1 Nielsen 72 Bulgaria: Mihaylov, A. Popov, Bodurov, Popov, Manolev (69 Y. Minev), V. Minev, V. Hristov (56 Galabinov), Milanov, Tonev, Dyakov, G. Iliev (76 Alexandrov) Matchday 4 (16/11/2014) Bulgaria 1-1 Malta Goals: 1-0 Galabinov 6, 1-1 Failla 49 (P) Bulgaria: Stoyanov, Terziev, Bodurov, Alexandrov, Popov, Manolev, V. Minev, Galabinov (58 Micanski), Milanov (58 Marquinhos), Dyakov, G. Iliev (71 Tonev) Matchday 5 (28/03/2015) Bulgaria 2-2 Italy Goals: 0-1 Y. Minev 4 (og) , 1-1 Popov 11, 2-1 Micanski 17, 2-2 Éder 84 Bulgaria: Mihaylov, Bodurov, Y. Minev, Alexandrov, Popov (85 Slavchev), Manolev, Milanov (88 Vasilev), Gadzhev, Micanski (73 Bozhinov), Dyakov, A. Aleksandrov Matchday 6 (12/06/2015) Malta-Bulgaria Matchday 7 (03/09/2015) Bulgaria-Norway Matchday 8 (06/09/2015) Italy-Bulgaria Matchday 9 (10/10/2015) Croatia-Bulgaria Matchday 10 (13/10/2015) Bulgaria-Azerbaijan

11 Malta - Bulgaria Friday 12 June 2015 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit National Stadium, Ta' Qali Team facts

UEFA European Championship records: Malta History 2012 – did not qualify 2008 – did not qualify 2004 – did not qualify 2000 – did not qualify 1996 – did not qualify 1992 – did not qualify 1988 – did not qualify 1984 – did not qualify 1980 – did not qualify 1972 – did not qualify 1968 – did not qualify 1964 – did not qualify 1960 – did not participate Qualifying win 2-0: Malta v , 23/02/75 Qualifying defeat 12-1: Spain v Malta, 21/12/83 Overall appearances 32: 32: Michael Mifsud 29: David Carabott 26: Kristian Laferla 26: 25: John Buttigieg Overall goals 9: Michael Mifsud 5: Carmel Busuttil 4: David Carabott

UEFA European Championship records: Bulgaria History 2012 – did not qualify 2008 – did not qualify 2004 – group stage 2000 – did not qualify 1996 – group stage 1992 – did not qualify 1988 – did not qualify 1984 – did not qualify 1980 – did not qualify 1976 – did not qualify 1972 – did not qualify 1968 – quarter-finals 1964 – did not qualify 1960 – did not qualify Final tournament win 1-0: Bulgaria v Romania, 13/06/96 Final tournament defeat 5-0: Sweden v Bulgaria, 14/06/04 Qualifying win 5-0: Bulgaria v Malta, 11/06/75 Qualifying defeat

12 Malta - Bulgaria Friday 12 June 2015 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit National Stadium, Ta' Qali 4-0: England v Bulgaria, 03/09/10 Final tournament appearances 4: 3: 15 players Final tournament goals 3: 1: Overall appearances 35: 28: Borislav Mihaylov 27: Martin Petrov 27: Hristo Stoichkov 26: Nasko Sirakov Overall goals 15: Hristo Stoichkov 11: 9: 8: Martin Petrov 8: Nasko Sirakov

13 Malta - Bulgaria Friday 12 June 2015 - 20.45CET (20.45 local time) Match press kit National Stadium, Ta' Qali Legend

:: Previous meetings

Goals for/against: Goal totals include the outcome of disciplinary decisions (e.g. match forfeits when a 3-0 result is determined). Goals totals do not include goals scored during a penalty shoot-out after a tie ended in a draw

:: Squad list

Qual.: Total European Qualifiers appearances/goals for UEFA EURO 2020 only. FT: Total UEFA EURO 2020 appearances/goals in final tournament only. Overall: Total international appearances/goals. DoB: Date of birth Age: Based on the date press kit was last updated D: Disciplinary (*: misses next match if booked, S: suspended)

:: Team facts

EURO finals: The UEFA European Championship was a four-team event in 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972 and 1976 (when the preliminary round and quarter-finals were considered part of qualifying).

From 1980 it was expanded to an eight-team finals and remained in that format in 1984, 1988 and 1992 until 1996, when the 16-team format was adopted. UEFA EURO 2016 was the first tournament to be played as a 24-team finals.

Records of inactive countries A number of UEFA associations have been affected by dissolution or splits of member associations. For statistical purposes, the records of these inactive countries have been allocated elsewhere: therefore, all Soviet Union matches are awarded to ; all West Germany – but not East Germany – matches are awarded to Germany; all Yugoslavia and Serbia & Montenegro matches are awarded to Serbia; all Czechoslovakia matches are allocated to both the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Abandoned/forfeited matches For statisical purposes, when a match has been started and then abandoned but later forfeited, the result on the pitch at the time of abandonment is counted. Matches that never started and were either cancelled or forfeited are not included in the overall statistics. Competitions Other abbreviations (aet): After extra time pens: Penalties No.: Number og: Own goal ag: Match decided on away goals P: Penalty agg: Aggregate Pld: Matches played AP: Appearances Pos.: Position Comp.: Competition Pts: Points D: Drawn R: Sent off (straight red card) DoB: Date of birth Res.: Result ET: Extra Time sg: Match decided by silver goal GA: Goals against t: Match decided by toss of a coin GF: Goals for W: Won gg: Match decided by golden goal Y: Booked L: Lost Y/R: Sent off (two yellow cards) Nat.: Nationality N/A: Not applicable Disclaimer: Although UEFA has taken all reasonable care that the information contained within this document is accurate at the time of publication, no representation or guarantee (including liability towards third parties), expressed or implied, is made as to its accuracy, reliability or completeness. Therefore, UEFA assumes no liability for the use or interpretation of information contained herein. More information can be found in the competition regulations available on UEFA.com.

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