Bulgaria will not play at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar in November and December. But the Lavovete were a surprise at USA 1994 as Hristo Stoichkov led his side to the semi-final.
The tournament was very much the crowning moment for the country’s golden generation under manager Dimitar Penev. Bulgaria had never made it beyond the Round of 16 at any of their previous five appearances and have not made it back to the knockout stages since.
A place in America had almost been beyond Bulgaria, as well. The Lavovete needed a 90th-minute goal from Emil Kostadinov to edge France and secure their qualification. Failing to make the 1994 tournament would have spelt disaster for Bulgaria after missing Italia 90.
Why are Bulgaria not playing at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar?
Bulgaria have qualified for the FIFA World Cup seven times but will not be playing at Qatar 2022. The Lavovete have not managed to reach the finals of the tournament since 1998 in France. They first featured at the competition in 1962 while making four editions in a row.
FIFA drew Bulgaria in Group C of the UEFA qualification campaign for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. But the Lavovete could only finish their group in fourth place behind Switzerland, Italy and Northern Ireland. Italy lost to North Macedonia in the Path C play-off semi-finals.
Making the semi-finals of the 1994 World Cup in the USA is a distant memory for Bulgaria now. So, with Qatar about to host the 2022 edition, HITC Football takes a look back at the Lavovete stunning the global stage with Stoichkov and co causing a few upsets in America.
Bulgaria got off on the wrong foot at the 1994 USA World Cup
Bulgaria actually got off on the wrong foot when they arrived in America for the 1994 FIFA World Cup. Nigeria lit up the Cotton Bowl in Dallas to kick off their Group D campaign with a 3-0 win. Rashidi Yekini, Daniel Amokachi and Emmanuel Amunike all hit the scoresheet.
A trip to Chicago to take on Greece at Soldier Field helped Penev get the Lavovete back on the right track. His entertaining line-up only needed five minutes to break the deadlock as Stoichkov fired in a penalty. The striker also scored from 12 yards again in the second half.
Yordan Letchkov followed up Stoichkov’s double before substitute Daniel Borimirov got in on the act. It was quite the statement performance on the back of losing to Nigeria. It also set Bulgaria up to face Argentina in Dallas who had just lost their captain, Diego Maradona.
FIFA banned Maradona from competing in the remainder of the 1994 USA World Cup after an anti-doping test revealed ephedrine. His absence came at a cost for La Albiceleste, who would lose 2-0 to Bulgaria. Stoichkov and Nasko Sirakov were on hand to score the goals.
Argentina still led Group D before Sirakov scored in the 91st minute, with his effort putting La Albiceleste down to third. The goal also gave Nigeria the top spot in a three-way tie with each team on six points. Bulgaria took second from Argentina thanks to their win in Dallas.
Mexico awaited Bulgaria after beating Argentina for a last 16 spot
In reward for forcing Argentina to reach the knockout rounds as the top-ranked third-place side, Bulgaria met Mexico in the last 16. Stoichkov would again prove to be the architect of their efforts in East Rutherford with the opening goal inside six minutes at Giants Stadium.
The striker unleashed an incredible effort to break the deadlock from the edge of the area. Yet a penalty from Alberto Garcia Aspe drew El Tri level and as no side could find a second, the tie headed for a shoot-out. This time, it was Borislav Mihaylov stealing the headlines.
Bulgaria’s captain saved Mexico’s first three attempts from 12-yards out from Garcia Aspe, Marcelino Bernal and Jorge Rodriguez. Claudio Suarez would score their fourth attempt. It was too little, too late, though, as Boncho Genchev, Borimirov and Letchkov lashed home.
Bulgaria put an end to Germany’s World Cup title defence in 1994
Bulgaria returned to New Jersey and Giants Stadium for their quarter-final tie at the 1994 World Cup. This time, the reigning champions awaited Penev’s squad after Germany came through a 3-2 affair with Belgium. Die Mannschaft had claimed their third title at Italia 90.
Yet it was Bulgaria who started the better of the two teams and twice smacked the post in search of a breakthrough. Lothar Matthaus would ultimately punish the Lavovete’s misses, though, as the iconic Germany midfielder hit home his penalty two minutes after half-time.
Letchkov’s aggressiveness took over early into the second half and his rash challenge sent Jurgen Klinsmann to the ground. But not to be beaten, Stoichkov rose to the occasion and pulled his squad level with a quarter of an hour left as ‘The Dagger’ delivered once again.
Stoichkov lured Andreas Moller into committing a foul 25-yards out from the German net. His swerving free-kick flew in at the near post of Bodo Illgner. And he was again picking up the ball from the back of his net just three minutes later after a diving header by Letchkov.
Germany did not respond to Bulgaria’s quick-fire double as Letchkov’s goal sent the small Balkan nation into the semi-finals. The playmaker’s magic rubbed off on the quarter-final affair, with his skill only matched by his aggressiveness that had put Penev’s squad behind.
The result was a shock to the system for Germany, who had not returned home before the semi-finals since the 1962 World Cup. Die Mannschaft were far from their best in the USA. Yet few expected anything but Germany and their winning machine to overawe Bulgaria.
A controversial semi-final sent Italy to Pasadena and Bulgaria packing
When Kostadinov met Lyuboslav Penev’s cross to score Bulgaria’s stoppage-time winner to beat France and qualify for the 1994 USA World Cup, the late pundit Nikolay Kolev shouted in his commentary ‘God is Bulgarian’. One of the most iconic phrases in Bulgarian football.
But their dream would come to an abrupt end when Bulgaria met Italy at Giants Stadium in the semi-finals. Roberto Baggio put the Azzurri two goals in front with efforts after 21 and 25 minutes. Stoichkov’s 44th-minute penalty would only prove to be a consolation strike.
The final four tie could have ended very differently had French referee Joel Quiniou given Bulgaria a second penalty, though. The Lavovete were livid that Quiniou waved away their calls when the ball struck the hand of an Italian defender. Much to Stoichkov’s frustration.
“Yes,” the short-fused striker said, via the LA Times, when asked if God was still Bulgarian after the Italy tie. “But the referee was French. Today it was again proven the officiating of this World Cup was among the weakest in the history of World Cups.”
Quiniou also overlooked shouts for a late Bulgaria free-kick after Roberto Mussi appeared to foul Letchkov. And there ended their dream 1994 World Cup in the semi-finals before a 4-0 defeat to Sweden in the third-place play-off. Italy lost the final to Brazil 3-2 on penalties.
Brazil and Italy played out a goalless draw after extra time at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. While Bulgaria went home with Stoichkov packing the Golden Boot in his bag. The forward led the scoring that summer with six goals, level with Russia’s Oleg Salenko.
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