A goal on a penalty kick helped Bulgaria increase their lead against Luxembourg to 3:0 in the first minutes of the second halftime in Wednesday's European qualifier in Group G.

Double scorer Dimitar Berbatov, captain of the national team and Tottenham striker, secured the predominance for the Bulgarian team before the break (the 27th and 28th minute). The next score was slotted home from the penalty area by Manchester City winger Martin Petrov.

Bulgaria's national football team needs a win against Group G minnows Luxembourg, if it is to keep any hope of featuring in next year's tournament in Austria and Switzerland.

Manager Dimitar Penev stuck to the 4-3-3 tactics, even though Bulgaria lost both games in which it was employed, a friendly with Wales last month and the qualifier against Holland on Saturday.

Bulgaria needs to pick up full points from its remaining four games of the campaign, as well as hope that their opponents stumble, in order to qualify for EURO 2008.

Romania lead qualifying group G with 20 points from eight games, followed by Holland with 17 points, who have a game in hand, however. Bulgaria is third with 15 points from eight games.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!