Draw in Sofia does not help Swiss

A goalless draw in Sofia did neither Bulgaria nor Switzerland any favours in their attempts to reach the finals of the Uefa 2012 football tournament in Ukraine and Poland.

Both sides are now six points behind Group G contenders England and Montenegro.

Switzerland, coached by former Dortmund and Bayern Munich trainer Ottmar Hitzfeld, could not gain the upper hand against a Bulgarian side under the guidance of Germany’s Lothar Matthäus.

The most notable actions of the game came when Alexander Frei was twice denied by home goalkeeper Nikolay Mihaylov.

Ivelin Popov shot wide for Bulgaria in the first minute, and Dimitar Makriev let fly shortly afterwards, but while Popov and Stiliyan Petrov − making his 100th appearance for Bulgaria – pulled the strings in midfield, the best chance of the half went to Switzerland, when Frei’s close-range header was superbly saved by Mihaylov.

With both sides desperate for points, the game ebbed and flowed in the closing stages but neither team could find the back of the net.

In the group standings after four games, England and Montenegro both have ten points, while Switzerland and Bulgaria have four, and Wales are firmly at the bottom with no points.

Switzerland are due to play their next group match against England in Wembley stadium, London, on June 4.