Bulgaria's combative goalless draw against world champions Italy last night can inspire them to their first win in the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign when they visit Georgia this week, their coach said today.
"It's a really tough group as all of the teams have a chance (to qualify)," Plamen Markov told reporters.
"We did very well to match the world champions and I'm very pleased with the players' attitude."
Markov is all too aware he has a difficult task crossing swords with some of the soccer's finest tacticians in Marcello Lippi, Giovanni Trapattoni and Hector Cuper (Georgia).
"We can get a good result in Georgia if we don't underestimate them and show the same determination," he said. "They have several very good players."
Bulgaria know they must play for nothing but victory in Tbilisi and should quickly turn their thoughts from Saturday's solid defensive display into much more attack-minded approach against the Georgians.
Manchester City striker Valeri Bojinov is injured but Bulgaria have little to worry about with the potent strike force of Dimitar Berbatov and Martin Petrov and in-form midfielder Stilian Petrov.
"If we play against the other teams like we did against Italy, I don't think we will have problems to win," said midfielder Chavdar Yankov.
Brazilian-born defender Lucio Vagner limped off with injury in the first half against Italy and will definitely miss the Georgia trip but Stanislav Angelov is available again after suspension.
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