ISSUE 169 BULGARIA V ENGLAND 14TH OCTOBER 2019 ...the free England fanzine produced and distributed by the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) as part of our Fans’ Embassy service 3 ND welcome to Sofia, The service we provide is always Bulgaria v England capital of Bulgaria. With totally confidential, and it’s also all PAGE Vasil Levski Stadium, Sofia Aany luck we’ll have arrived free of charge to fans. here with our place at the Euro Monday, 14th October 2019 2020 finals already secured after What’s also free is membership of Kick–off 21:45, local time victory in Prague, and so we’ll the FSA, and the more members England will probably be able to relax and enjoy the we have, the louder and stronger play in WHITE experience – though obviously our voice becomes. The FSA is we still want to win the game! a democratic organisation; our members decide our policy. This edition of Free Lions is brought to you – just like all the others – by The FSA speaks up in the interests Useful Numbers the fans’ embassy team from the of football supporters on all the Fans’ Embassy Helpline: newly launched Football Supporters’ full range of issues that confront +44 7956 121314 Association (FSA). us, whether that’s ticket prices, changes to kick-off times, standing, England Supporters Club (FA): The fans’ embassy is very much a policing and stewarding problems, +44 7970 146250 “by fans, for fans” operation. challenging discrimination or the British Embassy: general mismanagement of clubs +359 2 933 9222 While we work in close partnership and the game as a whole. Emergencies: with the FA, the UK police and the 112 British Embassy in the interests of If you’re not already a member, then England fans, we’re an independent the obvious question is: why not? organisation and we’re always ready to speak up on behalf of supporters, There’s strength in numbers, add as well as providing the usual your weight to the cause – join the information, advice and practical FSA today via the website, at www. Contact Free Lions support as we travel abroad. thefsa.org.uk. Email: [email protected] Gifts & Postcards to: COVER STORY Free Lions, c/o the FSA Things are moving fast for Chelsea’s promising young 1, Ashmore Terrace midfielderMason Mount. After a successful season on loan at Stockton Road Derby County last season, he signed a new five-year contract Sunderland at Stamford Bridge in July, played and scored for Chelsea in SR2 7DE August, and won his first England senior cap in September. IT WASN’T ME THANK YOU The Free Lions fanzine is produced by the relying on its contents. None of the financial As ever, this fanzine has been a team effort. Football Supporters’ Association (FSA), the support we have received to produce This edition was edited by Kevin Miles, national membership-based organisation for Free Lions impacts on what we put in it. and thanks are due to Phil Rowley; Clive fans. We have tried to ensure the accuracy of Consequently, none of our supporters can be Hetherington, Joe Hetherington; Harpreet all the information provided in this fanzine, held in any way responsible for the contents Robertson, Tony Conniford; Adrian Roberts; but can accept no responsibility for any loss, of, nor the views expressed in, this fanzine. and Peter Daykin. If there are any mistakes, injury or inconvenience suffered by anyone Cover image © PA Images. it’s still Liam’s fault. Website: www.thefsa.org.uk Email: [email protected] FSF helpline: +44 7956 121314 PRODUCES FREE LIONS @WeAreFreeLions facebook.com/FreeLions BULGARIA, NOT BRAZIL AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH CLIVE HETHERINGTON? BY CLIVE HETHERINGTON CONTACT CLIVE VIA [email protected] 4 5 More recently, Dimitar Berbatov BULGARIA – THE KEY THREE by Joe Hetherington graced the Premier League with PAGE PAGE Tottenham, Man United and Fulham. WANDERSON IVELIN POPOV GEORGI MILANOV Remarkably, Bulgaria had never One of a number Both the most A lively midfielder, won a World Cup finals match until of Brazilian-born experienced Milanov is their unforgettable campaign at players who have and controversial another with the the 1994 tournament in the USA, represented eastern figure in the capability to worry where they beat Greece, Argentina European countries squad, Popov is the England defence. and Mexico before Stoichkov and in recent times. The attacking undoubtedly a gifted player, though Now 27, Milanov commanded a Letchkov scored in the 2-1 quarter- midfielder received his first call-up at the same time a mercurial talent. fee of around £3million when he final win over then-reigning this year at the age of 31, and he The 31-year-old is contracted to moved to CSKA Moscow in 2013, champions Germany in the Giants posed a threat against England Rostov of Russia having spent the featuring against Spurs in the Stadium in New Jersey. last month during his debut. After majority of his career in the country. Europa League during his spell spending several seasons playing in In September 2010, the attacker there, but he now plays in the RAZILIAN-BORN winger nine – at the back at times. But The journey ended with defeat to the lower leagues of his homeland, was reprimanded over his part in a Hungarian top flight with Fehervar. Wanderson, making his you have to move the ball quickly Italy at the same venue and in an Wanderson transferred in 2014 heavy drinking session days before One of his biggest contributions Bdebut for Bulgaria, may and England were gifted a goal. I identical result, and Bulgaria ran to his current club, Ludogorets his nation lost 4-0 to England at to date for Bulgaria is his goal have looked a threat at times, don’t know what the Bulgarians out of steam in a 4-0 pasting by Razgrad. He made headlines for all Wembley, and he was later banned against Italy during a World Cup but it was his side’s ‘play out were doing. Sweden in the third and fourth the wrong reasons this year when for life by the Bulgarian FA for qualification match which led to from the back’ approach that place play-off. he celebrated scoring what he another off-field incident, only to 2-2 draw in 2012. Milanov has a was rightly ridiculed by Roy “They played an awful ball at the believed to be a winning goal by return in 2015. Popov has scored twin brother, Iliya, who has also Keane and others during their back and it was good movement Although the Bulgaria of 2019 are kissing his wife – only to find that past Italy and Holland since making played for Bulgaria. Can play wide 4-0 hammering by England at from Kane to peel off.” a pale shadow of those who once the goal had been disallowed. his debut for Bulgaria. or through the middle. Wembley last month. bestrode the world stage, a strong The present-day Bulgaria don’t link with the glory days has been It cost them the first goal when possess players like past greats maintained with head coach Krasimir of ’94, departed on the back of That was followed by a 3-2 home anxious moments and former keeper Plamen Iliev was at fault at Georgi Asparuhov and Nikola Kotkov, Balakov, a member of the side that 1-1 draws at home to Montenegro defeat to Kosovo in which Ivelin Three Lions and Arsenal right-back a goal-kick, Raheem Sterling seizing who were tragically killed together famously beat the Germans. and away to Kosovo in Bulgaria’s Popov countered Milot Rashica’s Dixon said: “There was a long ball, on the ball to set up Harry Kane. in a car crash in 1971, and Hristo opening two Euro 2020 qualifiers. early goal for the visitors and the back four were fine, Michael Stoichkov and Yordan Letchkov, that The one-time attacking midfielder Kristian Dimitrov put Bulgaria Keane went with his man, but The change in the goal-kick rule – talismanic pair among the Balkan was only appointed in May after They needed a late Todor Nedelev ahead. Then Vedat Muriqi and a the midfielders – Declan Rice and the ball no longer has to leave the ‘Golden Generation’. Petar Hubchev, another of the Class penalty to salvage a point against last-gasp strike by Ebba Rashani Jordan Henderson – gambled that 18-yard box before being played Montenegro and led through sickened Balakov’s men. it was going into midfield. – is encouraging more teams to defender Vasil Bozhikov in Kosovo. CLIVE’S VERDICT Bulgaria 0, England 3 play short passes in and around But it has been a tough A Kane hat-trick – including two “They were caught out and, in the the penalty area, and Bulgaria introduction for Balakov. penalties – and Sterling did the end, when the ball came into the provided further proof that it is a England have never lost to Bulgaria 11 goals without reply in the last damage at Wembley, and Bulgaria box, they got away with it. There risky business. Keane said of the and don’t expect that to change three meetings, the last visit here, Striker Ismail Isa gave him a suffered a 3-1 friendly defeat to the was a second chance in the first blundering Bulgars: “You would think this time. The Three Lions have won in September 2011, ending in a dream start with a third-minute Republic of Ireland three days later in half which was virtually carbon- they were Brazil. It was madness.” seven of the 11 encounters between 3-0 victory through Gary Cahill’s goal against the Czech Republic Dublin, where Popov scored a penalty.