Euro 2020 qualifiers: Bulgaria v England preview, free tip & TV details

Football tips, best bets and predictions for Bulgaria v England in Euro 2020 qualifying.

Where to watch

ITV, 7.45pm Monday

Best bet

England to win by one goal
1pt 10-3 bet365

Back this tip with bet365

Team news

Bulgaria
Strahil Popov, Vasil Bozhikov and Ivaylo Chochev are injured.

England
Danny Rose is suspended and set to be replaced by Ben Chilwell. Asked whether he was considering returning to a three-man defence Gareth Southgate said he was "not sure".

Match preview

After a reality check in Prague, England may have to settle for a low-key success in Sofia as Gareth Southgate's side aim to get back on track against Bulgaria.

Friday's 2-1 defeat to Czech Republic was England's first loss in Euro 2020 qualifying and sparked a predictably histrionic reaction.

This is an easier assignment, on paper at least, and is reflected in the match odds which rate England red-hot favourites to bounce back from their Czech reverse.

It could pay to take the Three Lions to edge past their hosts by just a one-goal margin, despite Bulgarian football being in a state of dismay.

They are winless in ten matches and five of those have come under recently appointed head coach Krasimir Balakov, a star of Bulgaria's run to the World Cup semi-finals in 1994.

Balakov and Hristo Stoichkov starred 25 years ago but the current talent pool is relatively dry despite the nationalisation of Brazilian 30-something duo Marcelinho and Wanderson, who have both impressed domestically at Ludogorets.

• Comment: Gareth Southgate needs to fix England's defence

Friday's 0-0 draw away to Montenegro was a game of two halves as Bulgaria started brightly before ending up the happier side to take a point after goalkeeper Plamen Iliev made some smart saves.

Iliev was beaten four times at Wembley in September, although two of those were Harry Kane penalties and the final shots-on-target count was only 6-4 in England's favour in a 4-0 rout.

Whether Bulgaria have the attacking quality to exploit England's rearguard weakness remains to be seen - 16-goal Ivelin Popov is the only player in the squad with more than three international goals - and the Rostov man operates in a defensive midfield position despite being listed as a forward.

However, Bulgaria are extremely difficult to thrash in Sofia.

They have lost only four of their 16 home matches since 2015 and all of those were by one goal, including a 2017 World Cup qualifier against France which finished 1-0 to Les Bleus.

Going back even further, 11 of Bulgaria's 13 home defeats since 2007 have been by one goal. One of the exceptions was a 3-0 loss to England in 2011 with Wayne Rooney on target twice.

Rooney's goals have been adequately replaced by Kane, who opened the scoring against Czech Republic from the spot. The England captain was one of the few bright sparks as he dropped deeper to link play for the explosive Raheem Sterling.

Kane and Sterling have scored 13 of England's 20 qualifying goals and are the players first-goalscorer hunters should look for, but the visitors could struggle to run amok.

Key stat

Bulgaria are winless in their last ten matches.

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