The World Cup Finals draw put Bulgaria in group 'D' together with Spain, Nigeria and Paraguay.
 
The nasty surprise does not come from the expected hard battle with the group leader - Spain. All apprehensions are associated with Nigeria which practically crushed the Bulgarians in their first finals match in the USA '94. Although later Bulgaria reached the semi-finals, the defeat suffered from Nigeria formed a real African stress complex in the Bulgarian national team. "Nigeria does not have the strength it had in the last World Cup Finals, and the present generation of players will seek compensation for the disappointment they had in America", optimistically says Bulgarian selector H. Bonev in trying to cheer himself up. Pointing out the skills of both the Spanish players and the Paraguayans, the latter Bulgaria has never played against, he limits his statements to the casual: "It is our duty to win!" The Bulgarian football stars H. Stoichkov and E. Kostadinov feel certain that the veterans will congratulate each other with Bulgaria's successful performance in the group. "We should better pick up our opponent for the 1/8 finals", says in the same spirit I. Lechkov.

The group leader, Spain, participates in the World Cup finals for the tenth time, their highest achievement being the 4th place in 1950. Spain is also a gold medal winner in the European Championship 1964 and silver medal winner in 1984. Among Spain's advantages are a highly competitive national championship (though there are many foreign players, including Bulgarians, participating in it) and a good team-work, where Subisareta's and Jero's experience is complemented by Raul's and Enrique's ambitions. The Spanish team is well known in Bulgaria, although the matches played with the Spaniards are only 7, mostly for the Olympic qualifications, with the scales slightly tipping in favour of Spain. The only official match between the two teams (at the European Championship in England in 1966) ended as a draw, considering that there was a straight goal scored by Stoichkov cancelled by the referee. In fact, the heaviest beating Bulgaria got from the Spaniards (13:0) was in 1933 in Madrid.

Bulgaria has had only one match with Nigeria - the unfortunate 3:0 game in the USA '94 Finals group. In it Nigeria made its debut, becoming one of the big surprises there by qualifying for the second round. Two years later Nigeria became the Olympic champion. With their forceful and high-speed play the stars Amokachi, Okocha and Amonike bring the style of the team closer to the German-Dutch playing technique, which the Bulgarians find uncomfortable to meet with.

Paraguay is better known for its European hard play manner, rather than for its Latin-American technique. The team has reached the finals for the fifth time, its best achievement being the qualification to the second round in Mexico '86. Now the team's play is very consistent and steady, putting Paraguay in the second place in the American qualification group. Selector Carpegani relies on the talent of Aristidis Rojas and Jose Celavert  - the latter, apart from being an excellent goal-keeper, is also a dangerous free-kick and penalty shooter. Bulgaria and Paraguay have never played against each other before.

All four teams have announced  their claims for the first two places in the finals group. Their capacities seem so very much the same that only their current shape and mobilisation in June in France will decide the outcome.

Disappointed by their luck in the draw, the Bulgarians are at least satisfied with the sequence of their matches in the group:

• Against Paraguay - 12 June in Montpellier, Stade La Mosson, capacity of 35 000 places.
• Against Nigeria - 15 June in Paris, Parc des Princes Stadium, capacity of 48 700 places.
• Against Spain - 24 June in Lens, Stade Pelix Bolaert, capacity of 42 000 places.

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