World Cup Countdown: England 20/1 to repeat Robson’s ‘82 heroics

The days to the World Cup finals are dwindling faster than the Liberal Democrats’ share of the vote in the recent European elections.

And to celebrate the countdown reaching day number 20, Ladbrokes have dished up another tasty looking treat of a special.

The firm are offering 20/1 that England can provide the tournament’s quickest goal.

Of course, providing such early World Cup finals fireworks is nothing new to the Three Lions.

Back when the shorts were a little snugger and the hair a little longer, Bryan Robson bagged the opening goal against France in the group stages of the 1982 World Cup in Spain.

So rapid was Robson’s effort, it remained a record which stuck for the next 20 years until Turkey’s Hakan Suker spoiled the party by notching during the 2002 edition with a mere 10 seconds on the clock.

Although Roy Hodgson’s troops are missing a recognised long-throw merchant in the mould of mullet-sporting Manchester United missile-launcher Steve Coppell, there is plenty of scope for an early one in Brazil.

Liverpool teammates Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling have troubled the scorers as early as the third and fourth minutes respectively this season.

Studger, who is the likelier of the two to start, could easily catch the likes of ageing Uruguay centre-back Diego Lugano on the hop in their Group D encounter.

However, even if England can come flying out of the proverbial blocks like ‘Captain Marvel’ back in 1982, they’ll still have their work cut-out to beat the Three Lions record set by Tommy Lawton back in 1947, when he scored after only 17 seconds against Portugal.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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