Our prediction for this World Cup 2026 match:
Bulgaria
Match Time & Date:
12/10/2021
20:45
Prediction: 0-1
Northern Ireland
Bulgaria will look to make amends for a 3-1 loss to Lithuania when they welcome Northern Ireland to their Nacionalen Stadion Vasil Levski on Tuesday evening. The Bulgarians missed out on a place at the 2022 World Cup finals, but their pride will be at stake in their penultimate group game. All Krastev, Delev, Chochev, and Iliev are pushing for a start for the home team.
The Green and White Army, on the other hand, aim to bounce back from a 2-0 loss to Switzerland. Leicester City defender Jonny Evans could play some part in Tuesday’s qualifier after overcoming his injury, while left-back Jamal Lewis is sidelined through suspension. Anyhow, away win should be considered as Northern Ireland aim to keep their qualification hopes alive. You should bear in mind that under 2.5 goals have been netted in each of the previous three meetings between the two sides.
Highlighted Player (Dimitar Evtimov):
Dimitar Evtimov is a Bulgarian goalkeeper who plays for Accrington Stanley in the League One. The 190-cm tall shot-stopper played for the likes of Volov Shumen and Chavdar Etropole during his youth career and he continued playing for the Chavdar Stadium outfit at senior level.
Dimitar Evtimov then decided to take a step forward in his career as he signed for English club Nottingham Forest in April 2011. After spending a brief time loan at Ilkeston, he signed a loan deal with Gainsborough Trinity in November, 2011. The Bulgarian goalkeeper played for the likes of Nuneaton Town, Mansfield Town, Olhanense and Port Vale on loan as well before signing a contract with Burton Albion in September, 2018.
However, seeing that he was hungry for a first-team football at Pirelli Stadium, Dimitar Evtimov decided to move to Accrington Stanley in the winter of 2019. He was on the verge of keeping a clean sheet on his Acctington debut, but the capital club eventually broke the deadlock, winning the game 1-0.
Highlighted Team (Northern Ireland):
Competing first under the Irish flag and then as an independent entity, Northern Ireland are one of world’s oldest national teams, but they haven’t enjoyed too much success in history. Led by Danny Blanchflower, the Irish impressed at their first ever World Cup finals appearance, reaching the quarter-finals in 1958, but they have since only played at the 1982 and 1986 tournaments, reaching round 2 and crashing out in the group stage respectively.
Northern Ireland had failed to qualify for 13 successive European Championship finals before finally booking their ticket to the Euro 2016 in France, and the fans hope this success will only be a sign of things to come. Without a doubt, George Best is the most famous footballer to have ever put on the green shirt, scoring 9 goals in 37 appearances, but he couldn’t help the national team close the gap behind Europe’s top sides.
Some of the other high-profile footballers include Pat Jennings, Aaron Hughes, David Healy, Keith Gillespie, Steven Davies and Gareth McAuley.
Man City 
Everton
Bournemouth
Crystal Palace 
Chelsea 
Fulham
Newcastle 
Aston Villa 
Nottingham Forest 
Tottenham
Southampton 
West Ham 
