Martin Petrov may skip World Cup qualifiers against Croatia and Malta due to an injury. Photo by Novinite.com archive
Bulgaria's young striker Martin Petrov will miss World Cup qualifiers against Croatia and Malta due to an injury, according to reports.
Petrov, who is dubbed "the new Hristo Stoitchkov" in his homeland, courtesy of a hot temper and waspish left foot, has suffered an injury while training with VfL Wolfsburg club.
Midfielder Marian Hristov, who recently joined the German Wolfsburg, may also skip the matches after his recent knee operation.
Bulgaria faces the Croatian team on October 9 and Malta on October 13. A victory in Zagreb would secure Bulgaria's qualifying for the finals in Germany.
Bulgaria is now looking to repeat its 1994 success. The country's greatest triumph came at the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the USA, where 72,000 fans watched them despatch defending champions Germany in the quarterfinal with a sensational 2-1 victory in New York's Giants Stadium.