Our prediction for this Nations League match:
Slovenia
Match Time & Date:
06/09/2018
02:45 PM
Prediction: 1-1
Bulgaria
Neither Slovenia nor Bulgaria have had great results in international football in the past year, confirming their absence from the 2018 World Cup. In their last six matches, both teams have two wins, one draw and three defeats. However, both teams can go into this match with some confidence as they both won their last match. Slovenia beat Montenegro 2:0 away and Bulgaria beat Kazakhstan at home 2:1. The game at Stožice, Ljubljana is set to be a real tactical battle as both coaches know what’s at stake and that the League of Nations gives them a better probability of reaching the Euro 2020 since they will still get to play the Euro qualifiers separate from the League of Nations. Slovenia and Bulgaria went head to head only twice before with Bulgaria winning the first match and Slovenia their second encounter. It’s a tough call so we think they will play out a draw.
Highlighted Player (Jasmin Kurtic):
Jasmin Kurtic is a Slovenian player who started his senior career at Bela Krajina. The midfielder scored seven goals in 74 league appearances for the club, but at the end of the 2009/2010 season he moved to Gorica. After playing just 15 matches for the Slovenian outfit in the 2010/2011 campaign he moved to Palermo, where he gained a lot of experience.
Kurtic spent the 2011/2012 season on loan to Varese and he played an important role in the team, making 42 league appearances. In June, 2013 he signed a permanent deal with Sassuolo, but three months later he was sent on loan to Fiorentina. On 25 June, 2015, the Slovenian footballer joined Atalanta.
Jasmin Kurtic has 2 caps for Slovenia U21 and he made his debut for the senior team on 26 May, 2012. He scored a goal from the set piece against Greece back then. His contract with Atalanta expires on 30 June, 2019.
Highlighted Team (Bulgaria):
Bulgaria national football team are well known for their “Golden generation” of players led by Hristo Stoichkov. The Bulgarian football legend was producing thrilling performances for the national team at the 1994 FIFA World Cup in USA and he helped the Lions make it to the semi-finals of the tournament.
The likes of Trifon Ivanov, Krasimir Balakov and Yordan Letchkov enjoyed a very successful tournament as well and, no doubt, they recorded a historical result at the 1994 FIFA World Cup. The Bulgarians defeated Germany in the quarter-finals, but Italy proved to be a big catch for Dimitar Penev’s team. Bulgaria eventually suffered a heavy loss to Sweden in the third-place playoffs. Nowadays, Bulgaria struggle in qualifiers for major tournaments and it has to be noted that they have not participated at the finals since 1994.
Vasil Levski National Stadium is considered Bulgaria’s home ground and the capacity of the stadium is 43.320. Bulgaria wear white shirts, green shorts and white socks when playing at home, whilst green and red are their second colours.
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