Strictly closed-door training session for the Bulgaria

The BULGARIA team had a training session on the evening of Monday, June 15 at the stade Robert Bodin, Bondoufle, which is a 30 minute car journey south of PARIS. This took place in good weather conditions, unlike the morning session which was rained off. As usual, no journalists were allowed on the pitch. Fencing separates the main stands from the press stands, while the majority on the East side are set up on the grass in the style of a Greek amphitheatre.

After the traditional warm-up, consisting of jogging and stretches, they played a little match on both halves of the pitch between two groups of eleven. The principles focused on consisted of crisp, collective play and quick touches on the ball in search of unmarked partners; counter-attacking and switching from the wings to the centres from the corner flags. The training session rounded off with some more stretches and some sit-ups. Only STOITCHKOV (8) preferred to stay at the other end of the pitch to practise some long shots.

Then, in typical Bulgarian style, they went straight to their changing rooms without muttering a word to the journalists. The players then got back on their bus, which had been tightly parked down a side street leaving only just enough room for them to get on at all. The older players sat at the back of the bus, while the younger players sat at the front. The Bulgarians returned to their hotel escorted by four policemen on motorcycles.