FT · World: International Friendly · Friday, 05 June 2026

Moldova 22 BulgariaMatch recap & Bawler model verdict · Friday, 05 June 2026

> Model verdict
✗ Result against the lean

Pre-match, Bawler had Moldova at 20%, draw at 35%, Bulgaria at 45%. Against expectation, the match finished 2-2. The model's headline call was Bulgaria to win.

> Pre-match probability vs result
Moldova win
20%
Draw
35%
Actual ✓
Bulgaria win
45%
> Expected vs actual goals
Model expected (xG)
0.791.32
Total 2.11
Actual
22
Total 4 (+1.9 vs xG)

Match overperformed xG by 1.9 goals. Above-expectation scoring — could be finishing, set-piece luck, or genuine attacking quality the model under-rated.

> Bawler's picks · how they landed
Banker
X2
Pre-match: 77%
✓ Won
Value
Away Win
Pre-match: 53%
✗ Lost
Dark Horse
Draw
Pre-match: 25%
✓ Won
> What we said pre-match
"Bulgaria's 0.52 xG advantage and 45% win probability make the X2 (draw or away win) the logical banker at 77%, shielding against Moldova's home-field unpredictability in a friendly with thin goal-scoring margins."

> More from Bawler