Yankov and Popov out of Bulgaria qualifiers
Reuters - Tuesday 16 August 2011, 13:44
SOFIA - Midfielder Chavdar Yankov (pictured) and
defender Apostol Popov will miss Bulgaria's remaining Euro 2012
qualifiers after sustaining injuries over the weekend, the
Balkan country's football federation said on Tuesday.
Yankov, capped 50 times for Bulgaria, tore an Achilles
tendon during his Russian club Rostov's 2-1 league defeat
against Kuban Krasnodar and will be out of action for up to six
months.
CSKA defender Popov needs surgery on a cruciate ligament
tear in his left knee after being injured in his team's 1-0 win
over Chernomorets Burgas in the Bulgarian league and will also
be sidelined for up to six months.
"It's a tragedy," Popov told local media. "I'm very, very
disappointed but I have to accept it and I hope to be back in
the spring."
Bulgaria host England on September 2 in their next Group G
qualifier. Lothar Matthaus's team visit Switzerland four days
later and play Wales at home on October 11.
England top the group, ahead of Montenegro on goal
difference, with 11 points from five games. Switzerland and
Bulgaria have five points while Wales are bottom with no points.