Buzzin Football

castrol performance research

Using data collected over the last two years of competitive international games, Castrol Performance have analysed some of the key individual head to head areas of tonight’s Euro 2012 qualifier between England and Bulgaria.

On paper the statistics are stacked in England’s favour and it would appear that Bulgaria need a miracle to get anything out of this game.

While Glen Johnson poses a massive threat to any team with his frequent excursions into the opponents half of the field where he produces his best football, it is a commonly held opinion that he still has a lot to learn in the art of defending.

This is borne out by the stats that claim Zhivko Milanov has won an incredible 100% of his tackles compared to just 78% for Johnson. However the Bulgarian is not prolific at pushing forward and has completed no dribbles compared to 59% completed by Johnson, no goal assists and no shots on goal. Johnson meanwhile has assisted in four of England’s goals and had seven shots himself.

In midfield Stiliyan Petrov proves to be a fantastic ball winner, claiming 94% of tackles won compared to Steven Gerrard’s measly 65%, the Bulgarians pass rate is also superior to the England player with 86% success to Gerrard’s 77%.

However the Englishman comes into his own in front of goal with four goals scored to Petrov’s one, 23 shots compared to 11 and an incredible 21 chances created including assists to the Bulgarians four.

In the front line England’s Theo Walcott has shown that his blistering pace can unsettle some of the best defenders and compared to Martin Petrov he is a far better dribbler of the ball, but both players have created nine chances and one assist, while Walcott edges it with eleven shots on goal  and three goals scored. Petrov very close with nine shots on goal and two scored.

It is not so easy to compare Wayne Rooney with his opposite number in the Bulgarian team as between them strikers Dimitar Rangelov and Valeri Bojinov have completed half the time on the field compared to the England striker.

Neither Bulgarian has managed to hit the target during that time though, while Rooney has scored nine times for England. Between them the two Bulgarians have managed eleven shots to Rooney’s 42 and created nine chances compared to 26 for the Manchester United player.

On the evidence of these facts England will find the Bulgarians a difficult team to break down through midfield and defence, but England have enough strike power to win the game comfortably and put some points in the bag for the Euro 2012 qualifiers.