Ireland v Bulgaria Live

The Republic of Ireland will aim to maintain their unbeaten record in qualifying when they host Bulgaria at Croke Park this weekend. Giovanni Trappatoni’s men have picked up 10 points from four games, and you can watch them in their endeavour to make it 13 by signing up to watch live World Cup qualifying at oleolefootball.watchlive.net

The Republic have the same number of points as world champions Italy, but are second on goal difference in Group 8. They’ve beaten Georgia twice, drawn with Montenegro and also got the better of Cyprus in Dublin. Tottenham Hotspur striker Robbie Keane leads the scoring charts in Group 8 with three goals.

Goalkeeper Shay Given and Celtic winger Aiden McGeady are both carrying minor niggles, but should be fit in time for this game. However Espanyol defender Steve Finnan is an absentee because of a hamstring injury.

Bulgaria have drawn all their three games in Group 8- against Montenegro, world champions Italy, and Georgia. They failed to score against both Italy and Georgia, and have been hit by the news that star striker and skipper Dimitar Berbatov is out of this clash because of an ankle injury.

In Berbatov’s absence, Aston Villa midfielder Stiliyan Petrov will wear the captain’s armband. Bulgaria will also be without winger Martin Petrov and defender Alexander Tunchev. Hertha Berlin’s Valeri Domovchiyski has been called up as a replacement for Berbatov. Stiliyan Petrov and Blagoy Georgiev are the only two Bulgarians to have scored in qualifying so far.

This is an important game for the Republic, because their next qualifying game is against Italy on April 1. Bulgaria have been robbed of their best player, but the Lions will not go down without a fight. Sign up today to watch Republic of Ireland v Bulgaria live as it happens.