Giovanni Trapattoni was keeping his feet firmly on the ground despite seeing his Republic of Ireland side take a significant step towards World Cup qualification in Bulgaria.

Stiliyan Petrov has admitted he would be “honoured” if offered the Aston Villa captaincy by manager Martin O’Neill.

SHOULD Giovanni Trapattoni feel the need to give his charges any extra motivation before their crunch World Cup qualifier against Bulgaria tonight, he could do worse than pin the thoughts of Nasko Sirakov on the wall in the dressing room in the Vassil Levksi stadium.

BULGARIA coach Stanimir Stoilov makes no bones about the fact that, as far as World Cup qualification is concerned, his team is drinking in the last chance saloon in Sofia tonight.

Giovanni Trapattoni will send his Republic of Ireland team into World Cup battle in Bulgaria tomorrow night intent only on victory.

Republic of Ireland skipper Robbie Keane has put his defenders on red alert to the threat Dimitar Berbatov poses to their World Cup dreams.

THE Irish squad arrived in Sofia last night with assistant manager Liam Brady describing Paul McShane as the visitors’ biggest injury doubt ahead of tomorrow night’s World Cup clash with Bulgaria.

GERMAN-based striker Dimitar Rangelov will miss Bulgaria’s Group Eight qualifier with Ireland on Saturday.

BULGARIA captain Dimitar Berbatov has warned his Manchester United team-mates John O’Shea and Darron Gibson to expect a hostile atmosphere when the Republic of Ireland play their World Cup qualifier in Sofia on Saturday.

MANCHESTER UNITED star Dimitar Berbatov was among 17 overseas-based players named by Bulgaria coach Stanimir Stoilov yesterday in his squad for next month’s World Cup Group Eight qualifier against Ireland.

KEVIN DOYLE was last night ruled out of the Republic of Ireland’s crucial World Cup Group 8 qualifier against Bulgaria in Sofia next month, after being told he faces between four and six weeks on the sidelines.

IN THE week leading up to Saturday night’s game at Croke Park, there had been mixed signals coming from Bulgarian coach Stanimir Stoilov.

Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni absolved Kevin Kilbane of any blame for the own goal which cost his side two vital World Cup points.

Aiden McGeady handed the Republic of Ireland a major boost when he was declared fit for tonight’s World Cup qualifier against Bulgaria.

The coach of Bulgaria, Stanimir Stoilov, has confirmed that Dimitar Berbatov is in Manchester and will not play in their World Cup qualifier against Ireland tomorrow.

Dimitar Berbatov’s presence or otherwise at Croke Park tomorrow evening remained a topic of discussion in Ireland today.

Richard Dunne is keeping his fingers crossed Shay Given is fit to lay the foundation for the Republic of Ireland's big World Cup push.

Giovanni Trapattoni is relieved Bulgaria striker Dimitar Berbatov will not have the chance to dent the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup dreams.

REPUBLIC of Ireland internationals Shay Given and Aiden McGeady are nursing injuries ahead of Saturday’s World Cup qualifier against Bulgaria but assistant manager Marco Tardelli has expressed confidence that both will be fit for the game.

Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov has been ruled out of the Bulgaria squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Ireland and Cyprus with an ankle injury.

BULGARIAN manager Stanimir Stoilov has recalled several experienced internationals for the crucial World Cup qualifiers against Ireland and Cyprus.

Giovanni Trapattoni has named a 26-man squad for the Republic of Ireland's forthcoming World Cup qualifiers.

TIME, I think, for something upbeat to combat the brutal weather and even more brutal headlines. Time to look on the bright side.

FORMER Chelsea coach Avram Grant has met the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) to discuss the vacant post of national manager but is unlikely to be appointed because of salary demands.

Aston Villa 1 Litex Lovech 1 (Villa win 4-2 on aggregate)

Ashley Cole was left out of the Chelsea team to face Levski Sofia and replaced by Wayne Bridge as Jose Mourinho sprang a surprise in the Champions League.