Bulgaria's football struggles ahead of Ireland match

Bulgaria's football team faces many challenges ahead of their UEFA Nations League play-off against Ireland this week. Teodor Borisov, a football journalist, spoke about the state of Bulgarian football and the apathy among fans. Bulgaria last qualified for a major tournament in 2004. Since then, the team has struggled, with the last high note being the 1994 World Cup, where they reached the semi-finals. Current coach Ilian Iliev, who was part of the 1998 World Cup squad, recently tried to resign but remains in charge. Under Iliev's leadership, Bulgaria has had mixed results. They won three matches last year but suffered a heavy 5-0 loss against Northern Ireland. While the coach focuses on creating a solid defense, there are concerns about the lack of attacking options, with only a few players competing in top European leagues. Borisov explained that Bulgaria's football problems stem from a decline in player development since the fall of communism. Many clubs, like Ludogorets, tend to favor foreign players over nurturing homegrown talent. The future of Bulgarian football relies on rebuilding its youth academies. As Bulgaria prepares to take on Ireland, they are seen as underdogs. Borisov expressed doubts about how their defense will cope with Ireland's young attackers. Overall, Bulgaria's football situation remains complicated, affecting their chances on the international stage.