PAN PYLAS
Associated Press

On July 10 in World Cup history: Iordan Letchkov’s header enough for Bulgaria to beat Germany in East Rutherford, New Jersey, in 1994.

For the first time since 1978, there would be no Germany in the World Cup final after Bulgaria defeated the defending champion 2-1 in the quarterfinals. Few gave Bulgaria much of a chance against a team that still possessed several players, such as captain Lothar Matthaeus and striker Jurgen Klinsmann, who won the World Cup four years earlier. Bulgaria came back from a goal down to win 2-1 following a curling free kick from Hristo Stoichkov and a powerful header from the balding Letchkov. Bulgaria’s surprise journey came to an end in the semifinals against a Roberto Baggio-inspired Italy. Its fourth-place showing was its best ever and Stoichkov ended up as the tournament’s joint top scorer with six.

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