ɪnðə fˈɔːɹmɚ, ɪn ɐnˈʌðɚ dɪsplˈeɪ ʌv "tˈiːmfˈɜːst" ˈæɾɪtˌuːd ænd fˈɜːst dɪskˈʌvɚɹɪŋ hɪz vˈɜːsətˌaɪl kwˈɔlᵻɾiz dˈʊɹɹɪŋ ðə ɹˈaʊndʌv sˈɪkstiːn tˈaɪ ɐɡˈɛnst mˈɛksɪkˌoʊ æz bʌlɡˈɛɹiə pɹɪvˈeɪld ɪn ɐ pˈɛnəlɾi ʃˈuːɾaʊt hiː fˈɪld ɪn æt sˈɛntɚbˈæk, dˈuː tə ðɪ ˈæbsəns ʌv tɹˈaɪfɑːn ˈaɪvɐnˌɑːv səspˈɛnʃən ænd nˈɪkəlˌeɪ ˈɪliːv ˈɪndʒɚɹi.
In the former, in another display of "team-first" attitude – and first discovering his versatile qualities – during the round-of-16 tie against Mexico (as Bulgaria prevailed in a penalty shootout) he filled in at centre-back, due to the absence of Trifon Ivanov (suspension) and Nikolay Iliev (injury).