Tottenham Hotspur striker Peter Crouch will be wearing the England number nine shirt at the World Cup in South Africa. With 21 goals in 38 international appearances, Crouch’s record suggests he merits inclusion in that elite group of England legends to wear the number nine shirt that includes Bobby Charlton, Nat Lofthouse and Wayne Rooney.
Perhaps the most celebrated player to wear the number nine shirt at a World Cup is former Manchester United midfielder Bobby Charlton. The midfielder was an integral part of Alf Ramsey’s 1966 World Cup-winning side, playing in all 6 of England’s matches scoring 3 goals along the way. Charlton remains England’s record goal scorer, with 49 goals in 106 appearances – including, of course, that thunderbolt strike against Mexico at the 1966 World Cup.
Although less well-remembered, Nat Lofthouse’s goal scoring record for England is truly remarkable. England’s number nine during the 1954 finals in Switzerland, only Jimmy Greaves has come close to matching Lofthouse’s strike rate, which saw him score 30 times in 33 appearances.
At the last World Cup in Germany, Peter Crouch’s international teammate Wayne Rooney had the number nine shirt. The United forward would probably be the first to admit that, after breaking a metatarsal shortly before the start of England’s World Cup campaign, he achieved less than expected in Germany – something he will no doubt be keen to put right this time around.
Having grabbed the winner in England’s group match against Trinidad and Tobago last time around, Crouch knows what it feels like to score at the World Cup. Footballers and football supporters are notoriously superstitious, but few would read much into the fact that England’s number nine has failed to score at the last two World Cups. With his prolific record and proven ability to get goals when it counts, not many would bet against Crouch adding to his impressive goal tally in South Africa.
Tags: Bobby Charlton, Peter Crouch, Wayne Rooney