By Richard Pedler

JAKARTA (JP): Bulgaria has still not won a World Cup match. In 16 attempts, they have drawn six and lost 10.

Regular qualifiers from 1962-74, their last appearance was at Mexico '86, reaching the second round for the first time before losing to USA '94 group rival Argentina. Despite possessing a strikeforce as potent as any in Europe, they will do well to match that achievement.

In an astonishing upset, Bulgaria completed the double over France to secure (literally) last-minute qualification. But Bulgarian soccer suffers from acute lack of funds and inept organization.

Clubs have been singularly unsuccessful in European competitions, the Bulgarian League is cash-starved and sponsorless, and the Federation has failed to provide the team with any meaningful pre-World Cup fixtures.

So national coach Dimitar Penev has not been able to assess the form of his 11 foreign-based players, or solve the defensive and midfield frailties that surfaced in defeat to lowly Austria.

Problems

The problems start with captain and French Second Division keeper, Mikhailov. He is poorly protected by a dour defense continually under pressure and a midfield weak at covering up the holes.

But the Bulgarian attack is one of the strongest in the world. Two world class strikers, Hristo Stoichlov and Emil Kostadinov are supported by attacking midfielders Sirakov (with a strike rate of a goal every three games) and Balakov (leading scorer at Sporting Lisbon).

Stoichkov won the European Golden Boot with 38 goals in 1990. He was insulted at being placed second in the 1992 European Player Of The Year Award balloting after helping Barcelona win the European Cup. His left foot is the best around, and this is his chance on the world stage.

Kostadinov was the Foggia player who broke AC Milan keeper Rossi's unbeaten record earlier this season. But he can be wasteful with chances, and hadn't scored for over a year until the match in Paris.

The third striker is controversial manager's choice, Lubo Penev. But whether his uncle and coach, Dimitar, will go for three out-and-out strikers is the key to Bulgaria's World Cup campaign. The strikers need to keep the ball upfield to relieve the pressurized defense. The more attackers the better, but coach Penev is traditionally cautious, which may be his undoing.

Nepotism

Recently, accusations of nepotism from attacking midfielder Nasko Sirakov have led to his exclusion from the squad. "I will not put up with it," Penev explains.

"He has never missed an opportunity to attack me in the media. He whines over my team selections and tactics and accuses me of favoritism because my nephew Luboslav Penev is a regular in the side."

Come USA' 94, the absence of Sirakov could be the difference in a group where all the teams bar one are relatively unknown entities. The Balkan showdown with Greece should be interesting. In their last two meetings, back in the Italia '90 qualifiers, the sides each won once, Bulgaria 4-0, Greece 1-0. This time much more is at stake.