The Bulgarian national team lost all chances to play in the 2010 FIFA World Cup – South Africa, after losing by 0:2 from the current world champions Italy. Fabio Grosso (11) and Vincenzo Iaquinta (39) scored the goals for the host team during the first half of the game.

Thus, the Bulgarian team lost for the first time in the qualifications, after two victories and five draws in the previous seven matches. This ranks the team third in the group with 11 points. The team of Stanimir Stoilov lags five points behind the Irish team and nine points behind Italian team two matches before the end. The Ireland nationals have two matches – one with Italy and one with Montenegro. They have to lose one and come to a draw in the other, and the Bulgarian team has to win against Cyprus and Georgia to have a chance to qualify.

The Azzurri swiftly opened the game, with nine players from the team that won the World Cup in 2006. They pressed the team of Stanimir Stoilov throughout the game and deservingly won.