Our prediction for this World Cup 2026 match:
After holding Italy to a draw in their last WC qualifier, Bulgaria will be aiming to register their first win of the process when they take on Lithuania in Sofia on Sunday evening. The Bulgarians showed character in the Stadio Artemio Franchi clash, but keep in mind that the Azzurri had no fewer than 27 goal attempts. Head coach Yasen Petrov is unlikely to make changes to the team that faced the European champions, and he should stick to the 4-3-3 formation.
The Lithuanians, on the other hand, experienced all sorts of problems at the back in a 4-1 loss to Northern Ireland, and, as a result, the bookies see them as big underdogs in Sunday’s clash. Erzurum winger Arvydas Novikovas should keep his place in the starting line-up despite failing to convert a penalty in the midweek defeat. Anyhow, we predict that the hosts are going to pick up all three points from the match.
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 (Lithuania):
Lithuania was occupied by Soviet Union in 1940 and 50 years later they regained their independence. The Lithuania national football team played their first official game on June 24, 1923, with the team suffering a heavy 5-0 loss to Estonia in Kaunas.
The former Soviet republic have yet to book their place at the finals of a major tournament, but they were competitive in the UEFA Euro 2004 qualifiers as they managed to play out a draw with Germany on the road. Lithuania managed to beat Scotland in the qualifiers for the 2004 European Championship, but they eventually failed to book their place at the showpiece tournament in Portugal. Marius Stankevicius is considered Lithuania’s most notable footballer as he played for the likes of Lazio, Hannover, Sampdoria, Sevilla and Valencia in the past.
LFF Stadium is the home ground of the Lithuania national football team and the venue, who capacity is 5.067, was opened in 2004. Lithuania play their home games on artificial turf.