He’s struck fear into the hearts and minds of four-man walls across the globe with dynamite free kicks clocked close to 150 kilometres per hour, so perhaps it should come as no surprise that Central Coast Mariners defender Eddy Bosnar has now been rated as one of the world’s most powerful strikers of a football.
Sandwiched between some star names in EA Sport’s FIFA 15 video game – released in Australia tomorrow – for “Shot Power”, Bosnar has been ranked fifth in the world for his ability to let fly with some absolute scorching shots capable of befuddling, baffling, and of course beating even the most confident of custodians.
The top ten for “Shot Power” is headed by Hertha Berlin’s Brazilian attacking ace Ronny, and also includes Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Hulk (Zenit St Petersburg), Zlatan Ibrahimović (Paris St Germain), Lukas Podolski (Arsenal), Fredy Guarín (Inter Milan), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Alberto Costa (Spartak Moscow), and Tom Huddlestone (Hull City).
Bosnar, who managed one long-range goal in the Hyundai A-League against Newcastle Jets last season – albeit with the aide of some calamitous goalkeeping from Mark Birighitti – said he reckons it’s “cool” that his lethal left leg has been recognised for its propensity to produce power.
“It’s pretty cool,” Bosnar said of his inclusion in the FIFA 15 rankings. “I found out through some friends in Europe and at first I thought it was a joke. But then I found out that EA Sports do check facts on all the players, so it’s quite cool to be listed next to some of these great players.”
With the Mariners’ Hyundai A-League season kicking off against their archrivals the Jets at Gosford’s Central Coast Stadium a fortnight Saturday, Bosnar admits he’s hoping there will be more opportunities for him to prove his power in Australia’s top flight this campaign.
“I’ve scored a fair few goals from outside the box in my career so hopefully I can add a few more this season,” he said. “First of all I need to work hard and make sure my name is on the team sheet, but I hope there will be opportunities throughout the season to unleash.”
Bosnar added that he’d most like to see one of his missiles whistle past Western Sydney Wanderers custodian Ante Covic.
“The most confident person I have played is (Ante) Covic, and he reckons he doesn’t need a wall from my free kicks,” he said. “We have some good banter about it, but hopefully I get to take some against Western Sydney this season and he’s in goal.”
Bosnar, who has played in Europe and Asia throughout his successful and well-travelled career, rates his left foot bomb for Suwon Bluewings against Ulsan Hyundai in K-League Classic in 2012 as his best, though remembers fondly a number of goals from outside the box during his days playing for JEF United Chiba and Shimizu S-Pulse in Japan’s J.League.
