Bulgaria's national football team secured an easy and expected victory in Wednesday's European qualifier against Group G minnows Luxembourg, keeping a ray of hope that it will feature in next year's tournament.

The match got off to a languid start at 8.30 pm at Vassil Levski stadium in the capital Sofia, the play of the Bulgarians apparently crippled by the scandals and recriminations the flew in the wake of Saturday's defeat by Holland.

Shortly after double scorer Dimitar Berbatov, captain of the national team and Tottenham striker, secured the predominance for the Bulgarian team before the break (in the 27th and 28th minute).

A goal on a penalty kick helped Bulgarians increase their lead to 3:0 in the 54th minute. The score was slotted home from the penalty area by Manchester City winger Martin Petrov.

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.

Following Wednesday's match Bulgaria has in its record 18 points from nine games.

The Bulgarian team will next fly to Albania for the European qualifier on November 17.

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