Each day our exclusive MATCH OF THE DAQ service previews the big match of the day – usually a televised game.
As well as the preview we also bring you the head to head records of the two teams as well as a recommended bet on BETDAQ for the match.
Bulgaria v England
Euro 2012 qualifier
KO 19:15, Sky Sports 1
HEAD-TO-HEAD
(Max last 10 only)
03 Sep 2010 Euro 2012 qualifier England 4-0 Bulgaria
09 Jun 1999 Euro 2000 qualifier Bulgaria 1-1 England
10 Oct 1998 Euro 2000 qualifier England 0-0 Bulgaria
27 Mar 1996 International friendly England 1-0 Bulgaria
22 Nov 1979 Euro 1980 qualifier England 2-0 Bulgaria
06 Jun 1979 Euro 1980 qualifier Bulgaria 0-3 England
01 Jun 1974 International friendly Bulgaria 0-1 England
11 Dec 1968 International friendly England 1-1 Bulgaria
07 Jun 1962 World Cup Bulgaria 0-0 England
PREVIEW
England face Bulgaria in Sofia tonight before returning home to play Wales at Wembley on Tuesday. It is a crucial period and Fabio Capello will accept nothing less than six points from the Euro 2012 qualifiers.
Group G is finely balanced and although England are 1.19 favourites to win the section on BETDAQ they must be careful as any slip-ups could open the door for Montenegro, who sit second, but level on 11 points with three matches to play.
Despite a couple of underwhelming performances previously in qualifying, victory should be straightforward for the Three Lions this time and the visitors are a good bet at 1.57. They are unbeaten in their five matches and the points they dropped at home were blips that are unlikely to be repeated. Montenegro neutralised England to take a point at Wembley last October with the hosts still suffering a very nasty World Cup hangover, while the stalemate with Switzerland in June came with Capello’s men flagging after a long season.
A good summer’s rest looks to have done wonders for England’s finest. Wayne Rooney, in particular, has begun the campaign in blistering form and he leads a Manchester-based pack whose confidence will be sky high after fantastic starts to the season for both United and City.
Rooney has put the worst 12 months of his career behind him and once again looks the player who terrorised defences at home and abroad. The United striker has struck five times in his three Premier League outings already it would be no surprise to see him on the scoresheet again, adding to the 26 goals he has scored in 70 appearances. He can be backed to do so at 2.19 on the Daq.
The Bulgarians were handsomely beaten at Wembley almost a exactly a year ago and while they may not quite fall to another 4-0 reverse, the side managed by ex-Germany captain Lothar Matthaus have yet to win a home qualifier. They’ve also failed to score, losing 1-0 to Montenegro and drawing 0-0 with Switzerland. As well as backing England to win a correct score bet of 2-0 to the Three Lions tempts at around 6.8 on BETDAQ.
RECOMMENDATION: (1-10 points)
England to win 2-0 at around 6.8: 1.5 points
(Advised yesterday) Back Ireland at around 2.01 on Betdaq: 5 points
Thursday’s Return: NO BET
BETDAQ MARKET
