Top England goal scorer betting

Odds on England top scorer for 2010 World Cup

Fourteen years ago a fresh-faced Gary Lineker scooped the coveted Golden Boot award, notching six goals at the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico. How Fabio Capello will be hoping one of his strikers can emulate Lineker’s achievement in South Africa. Fifteen players have scored for the three lions since the Italian was appointed in 2008, and after touching down in Johannesburg it is worth considering who will spearhead England’s pursuit of World Cup glory. Well, let’s take a look at the candidates.

Latest England top goal scorer odds from Paddy Power – Click here for £10 free bet

Wayne Rooney – 6/4
Frank Lampard – 4/1
Steven Gerrard – 8/1
Peter Crouch – 9/1
Jermaine Defoe – 8/1

We can only start in one place. Since bursting onto the international scene in 2003 and becoming the youngest player to score an England goal; Wayne Rooney and goal scoring have been used simultaneously in the same sentence, and it comes as no surprise that he heads the market to finish as his country’s leading marksmen in this years showpiece event. Come on, it is hard to look elsewhere considering Roon represents our biggest chance yet of following in the footsteps of the lads in ’66. At 7/4, and barring any injuries or dismissals (just cast your minds back to Portugal in 2006), Wayne seems certain grab the goals in South Africa. Despite never scoring in his maiden World Cup in 2006, it’ll take more than this to scare the punters off this time around. Its Rooney’s time to shine and this World Cup gives Wayne Rooney the chance to cement his status as one of the best players in the world.

After missing consecutive spot-kicks for club and country, Frank Lampard’s odds to be England’s top scorer may have drifted slightly. But what does that matter, England are notorious for missing penalty kicks in vital shootouts anyway. The Chelsea ace has vowed to continue to take penalties and Capello’s has backed the midfielder should he get the chance from twelve yards in the tournament. SkyBet are offering 11/2 the ex-West Ham outscores his team-mates and may well be nibbled at before the big kick off against the USA.

Peter Crouch’s only World Cup goal to date came four years ago against Trinidad and Tobago, but will England fans be treated to more of his robotic dancing this year? The beanpole striker has promised to bring back ‘the robot; dance celebration – but only if he scores in the World Cup FINAL in South Africa. Yes Peter, we need to get there first! It is unclear whether Capello will pair Crouch with Rooney or decide to utilise his height from the substitute’s bench – SportingBet offer best odds of 8/1 that he scores the majority of England’s goals this summer.

If goals are going to come from midfield, Steven Gerrard probably looks next best behind Lamps to supply them. The Liverpool captain’s two goals in Germany four years ago were enough for him to finish as his country’s leading goal scorer, so could his goals propel England’s march to towards the World Cup final? He is best priced at 9/1 with Boylesports to do so – probably best left should Capello occupy him in an unfamiliar left-sided role.
Crouch’s club strike partner Jermain Defoe is next best in the betting contenders at 10/1 with Paddy Power. A dip in form in the latter stages of the Premier League, means Jermain needs to rediscover that killer instinct infront of goal, and quick. Defoe has not been a regular under Capello but has still managed to net eight times under his reign and was England’s third top goal scorer in 2009. Given time on the pitch, could it be his chance to burst onto the international scene with the majority of England’s goals?

Mr.Capello’s decision to include just four strikers in his squad, probably meant Emile Heskey was chosen at the expense of Sunderland’s Darren Bent – this despite the latter bagging 24 goals for his club this season. Heskey is no stranger to pulling on the three lions jersey with 58 caps to his name, but a poor return of just seven goals acknowledges the long 20/1 market price being offered by the bookmakers.  Joe Cole, John Terry and Aaron Lennon are best of the rest for leading goal scorer contenders with prices starting at 16/1. In the very unlikely event that England fail to score in South Africa, Betfred offer 125/1 that there is no England goalscorer.

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