Perhaps Israel national team soccer player Ben Sahar was on to something.The forward made waves before Friday’s Euro 2016 qualifying match against Bosnia - which Israel proceeded to lose 3-1 - when he said that “the hostile Muslim spectators at the game [in Zenica] will spur us on.”His comment raised eyebrows, yet it appears that his concerns were well-founded. Pictures emerged of mobs of Bosnian fans stepping on a replica Israeli flag before the match. There were also reports that some extremist fans were chanting anti-Israel and anti-Jewish slogans.Two goals by striker Edin Visca and a penalty from Edin Dzeko helped Bosnia to a 3-1 win, reviving the hosts' chances of reaching the finals in France.Visca scored in the 42nd minute after Israel took a surprising lead against the run of play a minute earlier through striker Tal Ben Haim.Manchester City's Dzeko put the hosts in the lead in added time in the first half and Visca put the match to bed with a header from close range in the 75th.Wales, who beat Belgium 1-0, top the group with 14 points, three clear of Friday's opponents.
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if(window.location.pathname.indexOf("647856") != -1) {console.log("hedva connatix");document.getElementsByClassName("divConnatix")[0].style.display ="none";}Cyprus and Israel have nine and Bosnia are on eight points, with Andorra propping up the group on zero. All teams have played six matches.Reuters contributed to this report.
