Football World Cup 1966 / Bulgaria

This article covers the Bulgarian national team at the 1966 World Cup .

qualification

Bulgaria had to play in a group of three against Belgium and Israel .

• Bulgaria - Israel 4-0 (2-0) May 9, 1965 in Sofia

The Bulgarians dominated the game for 90 minutes. Nikola Kotow (2 goals), Stojan Kitow and Georgi Asparuchow ensured the victory, which was never in danger.

• Bulgaria - Belgium 3-0 (2-0) September 26, 1965 in Sofia

In their second game, the two group favorites met; through Kotow (2) and Asparuchow the Bulgarians achieved another victory.

• Belgium - Bulgaria 5-0 (1-0) October 27, 1965 in Brussels

However, after the 5-0 defeat, Belgium seemed to be more certain qualifiers. Van Himst and Thio (2 goals each) and Stockman scored for the Belgians .

• Israel - Bulgaria 1: 2 (0: 1 ) November 21, 1965 in Tel Aviv

As Belgium won 5-0 in the same place, Bulgaria also had to win to force a playoff. The Bulgarians won the game with goals from Kolew and Asparukhov.

Closing table

rank	country	Gates	Points
1	Belgium	11: 3	6: 2
2	Bulgaria	9: 6	6: 2
3	Israel	1:12	0: 8

Playoff on December 29, 1965 in Florence :

• Bulgaria - Belgium 2: 1 (2: 0)

Bulgaria qualified for the World Cup with two goals from Asparuchow.

Bulgarian contingent

Number / name		Association at the time	birthday	Sp.	goal	red
goalkeeper
22nd	Ivan Dejanow (Иван Деянов)	Sofia locomotive	December 16, 1937	0	0	0
1	Georgi Naidenow (Георги Найденов)	CSKA Sofia	December 21, 1931	2	0	0
21st	Simeon Simenow (Симеон Сименов)	Slavia Sofia	04/26/1946	1	0	0
Defense
19th	Vidin Apostolov (Видин Апостолов)	Botev Plovdiv	10/17/1941	0	0	0
4th	Boris Gaganelow (Борис Гаганелов)	CSKA Sofia	07.10.1941	3	0	0
15th	Dimitar Largow (Димитър Ларгов)	Slavia Sofia	09/10/1936	1	0	0
12	Wassil Metodiew (Васил Методиев)	CSKA Sofia	01/06/1935	0	0	0
5	Dimitar Penew (Димитър Панев)	CSKA Sofia	07/12/1945	3	0	0
2	Alexandar Shalamanov (Александър Шаламанов)	Slavia Sofia	04.09.1941	2	0	0
3	Ivan Kolew Wuzow (Иван Колев Вуцов)	Levski Sofia	December 14, 1939	3	0	0
midfield
20th	Ivan Dawidow (Иван Давидов)	Slavia Sofia	05.10.1943	1	0	0
7th	Dinko Dermendschiew (Динко Дерменджиев)	Botev Plovdiv	06/02/1941	2	0	0
13	Dimitar Jakimow (Димитър Якимов)	CSKA Sofia	08/12/1941	3	0	0
18th	Evgeni Jantschowski (Евгени Янчовски)	Beroe Stara Sagora	09/05/1939	0	0	0
8th	Stoyan Kitov (Стоян Китов)	Spartak Sofia	08/27/1938	1	0	0
10	Dobromir Shechev (Добромир Жечев)	Spartak Sofia	11/12/1942	3	0	0
attack
17th	Stefan Abadschiew (Стефан Абаджиев)	Levski Sofia	07/03/1934	0	0	0
9	Georgi Asparukhov (Георги Аспарухов)	Levski Sofia	05/04/1943	3	1	0
6th	Petar Shekov (Петър Жеков)	Beroe Stara Sagora	01/10/1944	1	0	0
11	Ivan Kolew (Иван Колев)	CSKA Sofia	11/01/1930	2	0	0
16	Alexandar Kostow (Александър Костов)	Levski Sofia	03/05/1938	1	0	0
14th	Nikola Kotkow (Никола Котков)	Sofia locomotive	December 9, 1938	1	0	0
Trainer
	Rudolf Vytlačil		02/09/1912

Games of the Bulgarian team

The Bulgarians were considered outsiders in Group C with Brazil, Hungary and Portugal. With three defeats, they were bottom of the group. Georgi Asparuchow scored Bulgaria's only goal against Hungary.

rank	country	Gates	Points
1	Portugal	9: 2	6-0
2	Hungary	7: 5	4: 2
3	Brazil	4: 6	2: 4
4th	Bulgaria	1: 9	0: 6

Preliminary round
Brazil	-	Bulgaria	2: 0 (1: 0)
Portugal	-	Bulgaria	3: 0 (2: 0)
Bulgaria	-	Hungary	1: 3 (1: 2)