There are only two World Cup qualifying matches left on the books for Bulgaria, but the question whether Bulgaria will travel to South Africa need not be asked.

Bulgaria is third in its group with 11 points, trailing nine points behind group leaders Italy and, crucially, five behind second-placed Republic of Ireland with 16.

With the qualifying cycle drawing to a close, Bulgaria will travel to Cyprus for a match on October 10. It will be followed by the mid-week finale on October 14 against Georgia at home, before the country finally accepts the inevitable and bids farewell to a trip to South Africa in 2010.

The game in Larnaka, at 8pm Bulgarian time, can hardly be considered a mouth-watering encounter for either side as the actual outcome will have little constructive effect on either Bulgaria or fourth-placed Cyprus. Perhaps the only positive effect in the aftermath of a Bulgarian away victory, apart from pride, of course, is that it would marginally improve Bulgaria’s coefficient come the qualifying draw for the 2012 European Championships.

Still, any effort at this point would largely be considered as too little too late, although there is still hope, mathematically.

Bulgaria could still qualify for the playoffs and keep its hopes for a ticket to Sough Africa, but those forlorn hopes rest on the side bagging six points from its remaining two matches – not an impossible task by any means – but also on Ireland losing at home both to Italy and Montenegro.

Alternatively, an Irish defeat to Italy and a draw with Montenegro with goal difference going into effect in the end, could also work for Bulgaria. The Irish now have a goal difference of plus-four, compared to Bulgaria’s plus-three.

Bulgarian National Television will broadcast both matches, with live coverage of the Cyprus match set to begin at 7.45pm, Bulgarian time. Bulgaria’s final clash against Georgia at the Vassil Levski stadium in Sofia will kick off at 9pm.