Former Juventus and Fiorentina striker Valeri Bojinov insists he and his Bulgaria teammates will play Italy ‘without fear’.
The 29-year-old is currently playing with Ternana in Serie B, and could represent his country for a 43rd time against the Azzurri tomorrow.
“We will play without fear,” Bojinov declared as he spoke to Calciomercato.
“We have respect for Italy, of course, but we’ll be playing in Sofia, in a stadium filled with our people.
Former Juventus and Fiorentina striker Valeri Bojinov insists he and his Bulgaria teammates will play Italy ‘without fear’.
The 29-year-old is currently playing with Ternana in Serie B, and could represent his country for a 43rd time against the Azzurri tomorrow.
“We will play without fear,” Bojinov declared as he spoke to Calciomercato.
“We have respect for Italy, of course, but we’ll be playing in Sofia, in a stadium filled with our people.
“I’m confident, because while, yes, we are young, we have the hunger and desire to prove we can beat a strong national team like Italy.
“It would be an honour and a pleasure for me. I think it’s destiny, it cannot be coincidental that I come back to play for Bulgaria and it’s Italy…
“I’ve scored goals against [Italy goalkeeper] Gigi [Buffon] in training, but also in an official match when I was at Fiorentina.
“To give all of Bulgaria a reason to cheer would be huge, especially against Italy and a goalkeeper like Buffon.
“[Marco] Verratti, [Simone] Zaza and [Ciro] Immobile are, in my opinion, the future of Italy. Lorenzo Insigne also has a lot of quality, despite his injury.
“If you look after these talents, and focus on them, then the national team will go far.
“I think they’re a national team which reflects their Coach [Antonio Conte]: solid, aggressive and hungry.
“In his three years with Juventus, Conte built a team with these qualities, and he’ll do the same with the national team.
“Obviously it’s not all about him, but he conveys his determination and his desire. It’s no coincidence that he won three Scudetti and has started a good cycle with Italy.
“I hold him in huge esteem, I’ve played against him and I’ve come across him as a Coach. Quite simply, he’s number one, because he did incredible things with Juventus.
“I wish him the best, but only after the game against Bulgaria!”
The 29-year-old has also played for Parma in his career, and the forward discussed their financial crisis, as well as the state of Italian football in general.
“I was hurt by what happened. I didn’t expect something like that at Parma where everything seemed fine.
“In fact I can tell you a little story. Before I signed with Ternana last summer, the sporting director [of Parma] Pietro Leonardi, with whom I have a fantastic relationship, called me.
“Leonardi wanted me to return to Parma, but I didn’t do anything. I had already given my word to Ternana and I didn’t want to double-cross them.
“Maybe God helped me make that choice, seeing the chaos which has broken out in Parma, a city and a team to which I’m very attached.
“I’m really saddened to see them in this state.
“Seeing things like this is really bad. Believe me, it hurts. I’m Bulgarian, but my second home is Italy.
“I see football which has fallen very badly, the stadiums are empty, people no longer love football.
“Except for Juventus who fill theirs almost every Sunday, every stadium is in total crisis. The structures and the system don’t work like they do in England or Germany.
“We players don’t have a magic wand, I’m sorry to see Italy, a country that I love, fall to such a level.”