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00:00Oxford and I have to say they'd probably get a bigger crowd at Reading Oxford. This is one of
00:04the smallest attendances sadly I've ever seen at a major championship game. The stadium's filled up
00:10a little more in the half an hour before kick-off but I would still estimate the crowd to be only
00:15around 10,000 or so. Sad to see that Kevin. Yeah it is sad but you know they don't bring a lot of
00:21support with them these two teams and it's a kick-off at 4.30 which doesn't allow the kids
00:25to get in and maybe the pricing as well a lot of reasons but I think we're in for a great game
00:30here Alan I really do because both sides really need to win. Yes a vital game Romania all in yellow
00:37can't afford to lose having been beaten by France in their opening game rather unluckily they felt
00:43and Bulgaria took one point from their match against Spain. Bulgaria with two changes from
00:51that match from Cheff suspended. Kiriakov injured. Romania one change. Prodan who was suspended for
00:56the opening game comes back at the center of their defense. Here's Lechkov
01:00teasing one forward. That was the intention anyway for Peneff but the ball too strong from
01:07Jordan Lechkov who scored the goal which knocked out the holders Germany in the World Cup two years ago.
01:14Good break forward by Balikov. Stoichkov in possession. Peneff to his left but he won't need him. It's a brilliant run by Stoichkov.
01:23Three minutes gone and Bulgaria's genius does it again. What a goal. We'll take him Alan. We'll take him. I mean honestly and truthfully he just does what great players do here. He's not scared to take responsibility. Go straight at the heart of the defense. He can't believe his luck but a great finish on his left foot as you would expect.
01:51Christo Stoichkov, a man who of course was top goal scorer, joint top goal scorer in the World Cup two years ago and one of the top scorers in the qualifying competition for Euro 96 gets his second goal of the championships.
02:09The first from the penalty spot against Spain in the opening game and that superb goal coming so early on here today and Romania really up against it now.
02:21Bulgaria flying with Lechkov. Kostadinov to his right. Peneff ahead of him and it's almost a good ball to the big number nine.
02:29Montiano with the clearance.
02:30Well Romania by common consent were rather unfortunate to lose against the French but that blow so early on is going to really dent their confidence in a match that they can't effectively afford to lose.
02:45There are some circumstances where they could still get through despite a defeat today but it's very unlikely.
02:51Stoichkov looking for Peneff again. Looked like a nudge and indeed a free kick has been given.
03:00Alan there, Bulgaria started very very brightly here and you know they maybe just catch the Romanians at a good time because they didn't play that well against France.
03:09They need this man Haji to run things and against France he just couldn't do it.
03:13He did it in patches but he couldn't do it.
03:15And Stoichkov, in Stoichkov they've got a real match win in Bulgaria. They've just got to keep feeding him because he's one dangerous player.
03:22And so is Ivanov, the man who's about to take this free kick. He unleashed a couple of cannonballs against Spain from further out than this in the first game and was very close on both occasions.
03:32Here he goes again.
03:35Well, you'll have to be a brave man to be in that wall but they did their job well.
03:45Malikov, a disappointing ball by him. Romania can settle again.
03:55Montiano plays for Cologne in Germany. Very much the workhorse in the side, the little number 11.
04:00A vital player for them for all that. Popescu coming forward and ran straight into trouble.
04:06Here's Stoichkov now moved to this right-hand side.
04:09Lechkov will just help it back to the captain, Mikhailov.
04:13And Bulgaria looking good again on the attack.
04:20Very good interception this time though by Prodan.
04:27Montiano.
04:30Very experienced side, the Romanians.
04:32A lot of them around the 40-50 cap mark.
04:35And remember, they reached the World Cup final two years ago but they haven't been in top form in the last 12 months.
04:43But I assure you, however, he's onside here and causing a problem for the Bulgarian defence who hesitated, expecting to see a linesman's flag then, Kevin.
04:52They did, but that is one of the problems the Romanians have.
04:55There you get it, Rani Ceo is in a great position.
04:58There's not another man in the 18-yard box.
05:00And what you're saying about experience is great.
05:02But are they getting a little bit old this side?
05:04They didn't seem to be able to cover the ground as well.
05:06...side and go for it.
05:08And with Bulgaria's counter-attacking skills, that could make for some gain.
05:12We might see a few goals today.
05:13I don't think there's any doubt who'll take this one.
05:18It's bound to be RG.
05:20Whether he's a little bit far out for him to shoot, it'll probably clip it in.
05:23It wasn't a bad effort at all.
05:25And Mikhailov, who was called upon to make a couple of stunning saves in the match against Spain, does so again.
05:32Told you it was too far out, Alan, didn't I?
05:34No way he was going to shoot from there.
05:36It's so casual the way he hits it.
05:38It makes the keeper work for his living.
05:40They're leaning 1-0 here.
05:47Romania, however, looking good again as Makatouš goes forward.
05:51Radicioju to one side of him.
05:52Montiano the other.
05:54And that took a little deflection.
05:55Mikhailov did well to readjust his position.
06:00Yeah, this little player here is now starting to come into it.
06:02He's a little bit unlucky here.
06:03Tries to pull a first-time ball back.
06:06And had he got it there to Radicioju, he would have been in with a great chance.
06:09But it got deflected straight into the keeper's arms.
06:11Some referees, indeed, including one of England's representatives, sadly, always went for the yellow card.
06:19Kishisev.
06:23Chipped forward for Lechkov.
06:25That's a good ball.
06:26Kostadinov hits it.
06:27That must have been inches away from creeping in at the far post to make it 2-0.
06:33Well, you can't believe how close this is.
06:35He's a little bit...
06:36It's a great little ball.
06:37He has a job defending it.
06:38Monti Narniu.
06:39And what a strike this is.
06:41And it could have easily flown in the corner.
06:44Look, he actually deflects off here.
06:46But what a strike this is.
06:49Again, with his weaker foot.
06:50But a real good contact.
06:54Wait a moment, at least, before making a change.
06:58Peneff, the coach.
07:00So the physio has just confirmed the extent of that injury.
07:03And from the corner, a tremendous effort.
07:05It's the underside of the crossbar.
07:07They're claiming that it crossed the line from Montiano's stunning shot.
07:13But the referee is appointed for a corner.
07:17A tremendous effort here, Kevin.
07:19Oh, this is a strike of the tournament so far.
07:22And I don't think it has crossed the line.
07:24But in 1966, there's a lot of people who didn't think that one did either.
07:27But what a shot.
07:28He's only a little pocket dynamo, isn't he?
07:31What a shot he had.
07:32And a claim for handball.
07:34And again, the referee disappoints Romania by waving play on.
07:41Well, that was an awesome effort by Montiano.
07:47Popescu has got himself forward now with a header.
07:51Kishishev will clear.
07:53And the Bulgarians are still down to 10 men at the moment.
07:57With Kostadinov receiving treatment on the touchline.
08:00Selimesh for Romania goes forward.
08:03Haji.
08:04Oh, the back healer.
08:06He lightful.
08:06Montiano keeps the flow going.
08:08I have to say at the moment, Romania are looking the better side, even though they are a goal down.
08:13And have been playing the better football for 20 minutes or so.
08:16Here's Montiano, who came so close to that equaliser moments ago, but that was a poorer effort by him.
08:22And they've played together so many times, and you can see that.
08:28Here's that shot again, and I mean, it really is tremendous.
08:32And it is a goal, actually.
08:34It's, there's no doubt about it.
08:35That is a goal.
08:37That's even more convincing.
08:39I mean, it's in slow motion than the 66 World Cup goal.
08:42And there's no Russian linesman here today.
08:43Balikov going forward for Bulgaria.
08:47Lechkov joining him down the left.
08:49In the middle is Peneff.
08:50Almost a good ball.
08:52Prodan read the danger.
08:54And certainly that particular angle we saw that shot from was much more convincing.
09:00Well, it takes away any doubt, doesn't it?
09:02And another call tomorrow, maybe, for having cameras and just incidents like that.
09:08Meantime, Romania.
09:11Press forward again, but they've lost out to Svetanov.
09:14It was well over the line.
09:20It wasn't even, it's not as even if there's a doubt about it.
09:23I think we're going to have another look here, Kevin.
09:25Yeah, it's incredible how far it is.
09:27I never thought it in, I mean, to be fair, the referee, I never thought for one minute it was in.
09:31But look at this.
09:34That's it.
09:34Oh, no question.
09:36No question whatsoever.
09:37It nearly at the back of the net.
09:39It was that far in.
09:40And what was the linesman doing?
09:42Dark or bright.
09:45He's there to defend, and he's done that extremely well in this half.
09:51And that's the half-time whistle.
09:54Bulgaria leading Romania by one goal to nil here at Allen Road.
09:59Stoichkov scoring as early as the third minute with a brilliant run through the heart of the Romanian defence.
10:05But how unlucky Romania were to have a possible equaliser ruled out.
10:10That brilliant shot by Montiano hitting the underside of the crossbar,
10:13but neither linesman nor referee were able to see it cross the line, and it doesn't count.
10:20And so we reach the interval with a half-time scoreline of Bulgaria one, Romania nil.
10:26It's a substitution being made by Romania during half-time.
10:30Gulka has come on.
10:32We think just looking around for Lupescu as Romania get the second half underway.
10:38I can confirm, in fact, that it is Lupescu who's gone off.
10:45Remember, Bulgaria leading by one goal to nil, but in controversial fashion.
10:49And I would only underline, really, what Bob Wilson was saying.
10:51It does seem incredible in this day and age that we can't come up with some kind of device
10:56that would remove the need for human judgment on incidents like that first-half shot by Montiano.
11:06You think of how the electronic age has helped tennis, for instance, to sort out its disputed calls.
11:13But then why hasn't the world game of football taken a lead from that?
11:21Romania going forward again.
11:23And the four full-back just in behind the two on-rushing forwards there.
11:27Randy Choyu and Moldovan.
11:31That was unlucky again.
11:31Yeah, it was a great cross-in, but one of the major problems for me that Romania have is
11:37every time someone gets into a wide position,
11:39and even if they put in the best ball in the world,
11:42there's so few bodies in yellow shirts piling in there.
11:45So the chances of them finding a yellow shirt are really small.
11:52And Romania, as the game wears on, of course,
11:55are going to have to take more and more risks and do send people forward.
12:00because, remember, they have no points as we speak,
12:04having lost their opening game against France.
12:07And a further defeat today would surely rule them out.
12:13They could be out of it by Saturday anyway, after the France-Spain game.
12:18They get more people in some of the games, I think, than we've got here today.
12:22Gulka going forward for Romania again.
12:24Played that one in behind.
12:25Petrescu did well to retrieve it, really.
12:28And a good ball as well.
12:31Hadji.
12:33And Hadji chipped it in, and it was a good save,
12:36and then Montiano couldn't get there on the far post.
12:41Great goalkeeping this.
12:42Anyone from Reading watching this guy play, I know he's been injured a lot.
12:45This is a great ball from Petrescu.
12:47Teases the defender.
12:48And I thought Hadji waited a bit too long,
12:50but he knew what he wanted to do, and this is a teaser.
12:52And he's done it ever so well.
12:53He's done everything that required of him.
12:58Lechkov it was, who met the corner first.
13:02There's Gulka.
13:05It's a useful ball, but Salimash couldn't take it in his stride,
13:09and Ivanov just let it go out of play, knowing it was a goal kick.
13:13Mikhailov, who's been an international for 13 years for Bulgaria,
13:17has made one or two very important saves already in these championships
13:21on playing for Barcelona.
13:23He showed his disapproval by stamping on the referee's foot.
13:26It didn't really help his case when it came before the disciplinary commission there.
13:33Hadji with a free kick.
13:35Oh, a real bender that one, Kevin.
13:36That's probably the best one he's had so far,
13:39but again, he's not really, for me, got on his game today.
13:44Even his free kicks, you know,
13:45we've had two or three from the wide positions
13:47where you expect him to do better,
13:49but if you look at this one,
13:50although it's dipping,
13:51the keeper knows Longton,
13:54Mikhailov, he's just ran straight under it.
13:56But this is more like him.
13:58He's got a bend on that ball.
13:59Yeah, I'm sure he's going to be accused of going the other way.
14:05I mean, at the start, we were praising him,
14:07but he's got an awful lot go, hasn't he?
14:10Big sweeper, Valadejic, has come forward for this free kick.
14:13It's over his head,
14:14and that was a chance on the far post.
14:18Rodin sneaked in, unseen,
14:22and might have scored.
14:23Possibly should.
14:25That was a real chance.
14:26Great delivery.
14:27Very difficult to defend these balls.
14:28But look at this,
14:29it's a free header, what, five yards out?
14:32And unlike the one we saw the other day,
14:35he's not stretching for it, really.
14:37It's just where he wants.
14:41Good work by Petrescu.
14:45Gap opens up for him.
14:47Illy is there.
14:48Petrescu still going forward here.
14:51Great, loud appeals for a penalty as he went down.
14:54And you can tell from Petrescu's expression
14:56what the verdict is.
14:58Nice playoff.
14:59Dangerous little ball, and he's got his back to it,
15:02but I don't think, really and truthfully,
15:04anyone, maybe except a most staunched Romanian fan,
15:08would expect a penalty for that.
15:09In fact, I think the challenge took place
15:11just in the arc on the edge of the penalty box anyway,
15:14so it wouldn't have been a penalty.
15:15However, here goes Lechkov.
15:17He could seal it for Bulgaria.
15:19Very good save by Staglia.
15:23Kishyshev.
15:25Tremendous effort from the full-back.
15:28But wide, and that means...
15:31That's...
15:31He's shaking his head.
15:32He's shaking his head there is Lechkov.
15:36But I don't think he can blame himself.
15:37This goalkeeper,
15:39who really didn't do himself any favours
15:42in the first game against France,
15:44keeps them in what little chance they've got
15:45of getting qualified for the next round of the tournament,
15:48keeps them in here by coming out
15:49and doing exactly what you'd expect Peter Schmeichel to do.
15:53And the follow-up shot from this man,
15:55who they're going to be without in the next game,
15:58is a tremendous strike.
15:59I don't know how far wide it is,
16:00but he doesn't half hit it.
16:01Took a deflection, in fact.
16:03So it should have been a corner, that.
16:04I don't think it's been given.
16:10Great work by the keeper here.
16:12Now watch.
16:12Does this deflect off the defender?
16:14I think it did.
16:17They won't be going into the quarter-finals
16:19unless they can produce a bit of magic here
16:21in the last eight and a bit minutes.
16:26Two teams qualifying from each group, remember?
16:28Gulka sets one up here for Munchiano.
16:31We know he can hit them.
16:33And it was a good save again from Mikhailov.
16:35However, the linesman was flagged offside,
16:37so had that gone in, it wouldn't have counted.
16:39That would have been unfortunate.
16:40Just tremendous to watch.
16:42Tremendous to see.
16:43And the fact the game ended in a draw
16:44meant that none of them went on disappointed.
16:47Now, Hadji with this free kick.
16:48Three minutes less than that, in fact, remaining.
16:50And completely sloppy marking there by the Bulgarians.
16:55And it was amazing that Prodan was just left all alone
16:58for the second time in this half.
17:00Keep falling to the wrong people.
17:01It's Prodan.
17:02It's a great chance.
17:03But he's half scared of what's happening behind him.
17:06He thinks he's going to get hit either by the keeper
17:07or the centre-on.
17:08But he's waving play on.
17:11Hadji with a throw in.
17:15That could be dangerous as well.
17:17Ivanov just got his head to it.
17:18Radiccioja knocking it back in.
17:19And the effort, yet again, by Prodan, ironically,
17:24goes wide.
17:25And with it, perhaps, goes Romania's chances.
17:28Well, again, they're unlucky.
17:29It falls to the wrong person for me.
17:31But this is a real chance again.
17:33Battle, a good flick back from Radiccio.
17:35Deflect off a defender.
17:36And a forward might have made better contact.
17:41But he keeps getting there.
17:42This guy's very, very genuine, his progress.
17:51And it's Lechkov who's going to come off.
17:55And the man who's going to come on
17:57will be well known to English fans as well.
18:00Buncho Kunchev.
18:04Who, of course, these days plays for Luton.
18:07And he's just had his first season with them,
18:09which ended in relegation, sadly, for them.
18:11Had a couple of years at Ipswich before that.
18:18Illy's header finds Hadji.
18:20A moment of magic, perhaps, from Hadji.
18:23But it's not to be,
18:24as Jodinov makes a good, clean challenge.
18:28Two and a half minutes of stoppage time.
18:30And Stelje decides to entertain the crowd.
18:33Now you know why he's a goalkeeper.
18:35He came out, took his eye off the ball.
18:36The next thing he's got to go back and retrieve it.
18:39He took his eye off the ball against the French,
18:40that was for sure.
18:42Now then, Hadji again,
18:44tackled by Ivanov.
18:46This could be a significant moment.
18:48The free kick has been given.
18:49Romania will feel that if there's any justice in this game,
19:01they'll score from this free kick and perhaps save themselves
19:03because they will still look back on that first half moment
19:06when Muntianu's shot clearly crossed the line without being seen by any of the officials.
19:11So, are we to see some late drama here at St. James' part?
19:18Hadji and Muntianu himself over the ball.
19:23Hadji hits it.
19:25Straight back to him.
19:26And again, Bulgaria had the bodies in the way.
19:30That was enough.
19:35That just about sums up Hadji's championship.
19:38He's had no effect on it.
19:40He's a great player.
19:40And it's a championship that could come to a premature end for him
19:46and his Romanian teammates.
19:48The celebrations are of a Bulgarian nature.
19:52The battle of the Balkans, as they called it,
19:54has been won by Bulgaria
19:56and by Stoichkov's early goal.
20:00But there will be much controversy
20:01over Muntianu's disallowed effort.
20:05The big talking point, I think, of this game.
20:07Final score at St. James' part.
20:10Bulgaria 1, Romania 0.
20:12We'll be back after the break.
20:25Welcome back here at St. James' part.
20:27It's finished.
20:28Bulgaria 1, Romania 0.
20:30And it leaves the Group B table looking like this.
20:33Bulgaria go top with four points
20:35ahead of France and Spain
20:36who meet in the next game in the group.
20:38That's on Saturday.
20:38It's live, by the way, only on ITV.
20:41Jack, your thoughts on the second half, on the game?
20:44Well, the whole game was an entertaining game.
20:46A lot of it was played in the midfield in the second half.
20:48People didn't really get behind anybody.
20:50There was very little incident in the girl mouth
20:52that was of any relevance.
20:54But I thought...
20:56I lost a five at the game.
20:58But I thought I won on points
21:00and he won on the game.
21:02And your response to that?
21:03We've not got much time.
21:04Well, I don't really want to take any money
21:05from his pension, to be honest.
21:07I'm a bit...
21:07Ivanhoff the star, would you say, or Balikov?
21:10Yeah, I think there were a few individual performances
21:12that were good.
21:13Balikov, I thought, played well.
21:14Ivanhoff at the back
21:15and Stoichkov in his magic.
21:16OK.
21:17Jack, Graham, thanks once again
21:19for your company, as always.
21:21Now then, let me tell you,
21:21you can see highlights of a vital game
21:23in Group A tonight,
21:24Switzerland against the Netherlands.
21:25It comes in our programme later this evening
21:27at 10.40 with Jim Rosenthal.
21:30As for the next live game exclusive to ITV,
21:32well, that's tomorrow
21:33and it features the second favourites,
21:35Italy and the Czechoslovakian...
21:37or the Czech Republic, that is.
21:39That's at 7.15.
21:40But this afternoon,
21:41it's been a story of the goal that wasn't.
21:44Romania, one down
21:45from a second-minute strike for Bulgaria.
21:48And then came Montiano's 25-yard shot.
21:51Crossbar, over the line and out.
21:53No goal, the decision.
21:55And Romania will be going home early.
21:57Surely, in this day and age,
21:59it's time for instant replays.
22:01Thanks for being with us.
22:03Bye-bye for now.
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