Everyone in Bulgaria knows the story of how it qualified for the 1994 World Cup in the United States and eliminated France on Emil Kostadinov‘s last-secondgoal on a pass from Luboslav Penev after French star David Ginola‘s ill-fated decision to throw in one last crossinstead of killing the clock. But no one until now knew how Kostadinov and Penev had to sneak into France at an illegal border crossing to get to the game.
“This story sounds like alegend now but it’s true,” teammate Zlatko Yankov, capped by Bulgaria 80 times, said. “They had visa problems and they needed help from our keeper
Yankov said he and his teammates were convinced their bid for qualification was over. Instead, they won, 2-1, to eliminate the French, who needed only one point from itslast two games at home and then also lost to Israel, 2-1, on a last-second goal. Bulgaria went on to finish fourth at USA ’94.
“We’re just waiting for the referee to blow thefinal whistle at that moment,” said Yankov. “We and even our coaching staff on the bench were convinced that it’s over and nothing more can be done. Ginola could’ve done better– to waste some time and it should’ve been the end of the match. But he probably thought they could win the game.”