Crouch can be surprise top scorer by slaying minnows
Published:Bobby Charlton, Alan Shearer… Peter Crouch. This may seem like an incongruous sequence, but Crouch will be the latest in a long, illustrious line of players to wear the number 9 shirt for England at a World Cup.
With an international record of 21 goals in 38 caps, Crouch merits the prestigious squad number, and the Tottenham striker looks set to continue his impressive form in Group C.
Crouch has developed a reputation for being a ruthlessly regular goalscorer against lesser nations, and he will be raring to go against England’s weak opposition.
Indeed, the calibre of England’s opponents – USA, Algeria and Slovenia – will enhance Crouch’s chances of claiming the Golden Shoe, which he is generously priced at 50/1 to win.
He also has seven goals in his last six England appearances, so at 5/1 he is good value to finish the tournament as England’s top scorer.
This will be Crouch’s second World Cup, and he has experience of scoring at major tournaments, netting against Trinidad and Tobago four years ago.
Having landed the number 9 shirt, Crouch appears to be firmly in Fabio Capello’s plans for the starting line-up against the USA on June 12th.
And with Jermain Defoe and Emile Heskey settling for the peripheral numbers of 19 and 21, Crouch seems the likeliest candidate to partner Wayne Rooney in attack.
Who do you think will be England’s top scorer? Frank Lampard is 9/2. See the full England specials market.
