Chris Smalling is expected to start for England tonight

The Bulgarians themselves may not be too interested with only 15,000 tickets sold to home fans at Sofia’s 40,000 capacity Vasil Levski Stadium, but there is a rather important European Championship qualifier going on tonight.

With England top of Group G and a home game against Wales to come on Tuesday, automatic qualification may seem like a foregone conclusion.

However, they still have to travel to Montenegro - below England only on goal difference – in their final game, knowing that defeat in Podgorica could mean the play-offs. France, Portugal and Sweden are possible opponents.

Failure to win tonight could really cost England. Although they have won five of the nine games between the two nations, most recently when Jermain Defoe scored a hat-trick in a 4-0 win at Wembley a year ago (just one goal less than his entire haul for Tottenham last season), it won’t be easy.

Bulgaria need to win to keep their slim hopes of qualification alive and if they can pull of a shock, and get something from their next game in Switzerland, then in their final game against Wales they’ll be in with a chance of pinching the runners-up spot.

Despite some expectation-lowering comments from their outspoken manager, German legend Lothar Matthaus, they won’t roll over and accept defeat. The quality of the glorious side that finished fourth at the 1994 World Cup, when Stoichkov, Letchkov and Mihailov became national heroes, simply isn’t there and Matthaus knows it – but he also knows they have fight.

Captain and Aston Villa midfielder Stiliyan Petrov, veteran of over 100 international caps, has said a feeling of discipline and professionalism has been instilled by Matthaus, a man whose reputation as one of the best midfielders of his generation should be enough to inspire any team.

Determined they may be, but it may count for nothing if there is no skill to match. With Dimitar Berbatov retired from international football, Bulgaria’s hopes up front will rest with Ivelin Popov of Gaziantepspor (seven goals in 25 games) and Tsvetan Genkov of Wisla Krakow (no goals in 16 games). Bolton’s Martin Petrov should start on the left wing, and will be their biggest threat.

The newly announced fourth best team in the world (England, of course!) have a few selection problems of their own. Chris Smalling and Phil Jones have both made excellent starts to their Manchester United careers and could be given international debuts in defence, with Rio Ferdinand and Glen Johnson injured. Gary Cahill is another option.

Darren Bent, who had been enjoying a good run as Fabio Capello’s first choice number nine, is injured, and Andy Carroll is unfit, so Wayne Rooney may start alone in attack. Theo Walcott has been paired with him in training, and although the Arsenal man isn’t used to starting games as a central striker, this could be a good chance to try it.

Assuming Walcott does start up front, Ashley Young and Stewart Downing will be the men to provide width. This would mean only two spots available in central midfield, with Scott Parker likely to partner Frank Lampard. If Capello favours an extra man in his engine room, then Downing could be replaced by Gareth Barry, with Walcott moving wide to make a 4-5-1.

Tom Cleverley, another United youngster called up to the squad for the first time, and a player that shows a flair and energy like no other England midfielder in the current squad, could get his debut too.

For England, three points here and three more against Wales would ensure a play-off spot at least. Bulgaria’s chances hang by a thread, and they need all the support they can get. Unfortunately it appears not that many of their countrymen care.

Possible England team: Hart; Smalling, Terry, Jones, Cole; Walcott, Parker, Barry, Lampard, Young; Rooney.