| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
BULGARIA  Mihaylov Manolev, Stoyanov, Ivanov, Zanev Tsvetkov, S Petrov, Georgiev, Zlatinski Bojinov, Rangelov | WALES  Hennessey Gunter, Blake, Williams, Taylor Vaughan, Allen Bellamy, Ramsey, Bale Morison |
Wales head coach Gary Speed has the liberty of bringing his dynamic side to eastern Europe on the back of a 2-0 win at home to Switzerland and so it is doubtful the lineup will be altered with too much. Sunderland’s David Vaughan has been suffering from tonsillitis, but after a substitute appearance on Friday he is in contention to start.
Wales are without midfielders Joe Ledley, Jack Collison and Andy King, as well as experienced defenders Danny Collins and James Collins. If Gary Speed wants to play defensively then he could put Wolves midfielder David Edwards into the centre of the park at the expense of Steve Morison. However, with nothing to lose going in the Group G finale, it is probable that he will choose a more attacking outlook, with Craig Bellamy spearheading the Welsh front line.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- Neither side can qualify for Euro 2012 heading into this final match. If Bulgaria win, Wales will foot the table; a draw and Bulgaria will be left at the bottom of the heap, and a win for the home nation could (if Switzerland lose to Montenegro in their final match on Tuesday night) propel them to an impressive third.
- Wales are ranked at 90 in the latest Fifa rankings whereas Bulgaria are placed
55th. Last year Wales achieved their worst ever ranking of 117th.
- Bulgaria are currently without a head coach. They sacked Lothar Matthaus on September 19 almost a year to the day from when he replaced the former coach Stanimir Stoilov.
- Friday’s game at the Liberty Stadium saw three Swansea players in the Welsh side for the first time in 30 years – Joe Allen, Neil Taylor and Ashley Williams.
- Wales have not qualified for a European Championship since 1976, when they reached the quarter-final. This was the country’s only appearance at the tournament.
- Bulgaria have only managed a single win in Group G, which was away to Wales. They won the match 1-0, with striker Ivelin Popov scoring the solitary goal.
- Wales’ victory last Friday against the Swiss meant they recorded their first back-to-back victories at home since 2008. Back then it was Liechtenstein and Azerbaijan. This time around it was Montenegro and Switzerland who were beaten.
- October 14 2009, nearly two years ago, was the last time Bulgaria won at home. They are without a win in five matches and have lost their last four.
Prediction
Editor's Prediction
Bulgaria 2-2 Wales 
