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Bosnia striker shortage points to no Haifa scorer

NO strikers, no goalscorer.

It’s not exactly a carefully developed punting strategy involving clever models, fancy graphs and detailed statistical analysis.

But it’s pretty effective when you’re punting on any team other than Vicente del Bosque’s Spain or Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona.

Huge problems up front mean Bosnia manager Safic Susic has already dismissed his side’s chances against Israel in Sunday’s Euro 2016 qualifier.

In a touching show of faith in his squad, Susic said: “If Dzeko can’t play we will be resigned to playing for a draw against Israel because we have no hope of winning without him.”

Shortly after that Dzeko was ruled out. He joined fellow striker Vedad Ibisevic on the sidelines, so Bosnia are without a front man. Putting all your eggs in one basket is rarely a good idea, especially if that basket is struggling with a calf injury.

Anyway, are there really no other forwards in the whole of Bosnia-Herzegovina? I find that hard to believe.

Actually, I’ve just looked into it and the only one I’ve found is a bloke called Ermin Zec, who made two appearances for Croatian side Rijeka before having an argument with the manager. He’s now without a club. Not exactly rich pickings is it?

Israel have been playing well but they’re no world-beaters. And the biggest danger I can see to backing no goalscorer in Haifa is their in-form striker Omer Damari.

If he pops up with a hat-trick, I imagine I’ll be saying the first letter of his first name of the first three of his surname.

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