England v Bulgaria: Three Lions to tear ailing visitors apart

England are back in Euro 2020 qualifying action on Saturday and Mark O'Haire thinks Group A Strugglers, Bulgaria, are in for a torrid time. You can prefer the free soccer tips today page!

England v Bulgaria

Saturday September 7, 17:00

Live on ITV

England back in Euro 2020 qualifying action

Having contested the Nations League Finals along with Portugal, the Netherlands and Switzerland, England are playing catch up in Euro 2020 qualifying Group A - in terms of games, not points.

The Three Lions haven't played a preliminary fixture for almost six months but remain top of the section following big opening victories against the Czech Republic and Montenegro- According to the soccer tips every day page!

Going into this week's double-header - with Kosovo to come - Gareth Southgate's side are ahead of the Czechs - who have played a game more - on the head-to-head ruling thanks to March's 5-0 win. Kosovo are a point adrift, while Montenegro and Bulgaria remain winless on two points having both played four matches. Two wins in the next seven days will all but seal qualification.

Southgate surprisingly omitted Kyle Walker from his latest squad, opting for youth with Aaron Wan-Bissaka earning a first call-up. However, the Manchester United defender has withdrawn through injury. Nevertheless, centre-half Tyrone Mings, attacking midfielder Mason Mount and playmaker James Maddison ensure there are still three uncapped players in the group.

Bulgaria prop up the pool

A dismal appearance at Euro 2004 is Bulgaria's only appearance at a major tournament for 21 years, and bar a losing effort in the play-offs en-route lớn Euro 2008, the Lions haven't come too close lớn ending the drought in recent years. Onto their 11th head coach in the past 15 years, Bulgaria haven't featured in the top 30 of FIFA's world rankings for a decade.

After winning their opening three Nations League matches - against Slovenia, Norway and Cyprus - there was hope of a renaissance, although the Eastern Europeans chucked away top spot in their group with a poor road record particularly at fault. The legendary Krasimir Balakov has since taken charge of the side without earning a win in four (W0-D2-L2) fixtures.

None of the current Bulgarian crop ply their trade in Europe's top five leagues with 14 of the 24-man squad residing in their domestic division. Skipper Ivelin Popov is expected lớn win his 85th international cap with the Rostov winger possibly featuring as a false nine in Balakov's probable 4-5-1 system. No other player in the roster has more than two international goals.