Fabio Capello has named Peter Crouch as England’s number nine for the World Cup campaign 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.
Former Manchester United midfielder is probably the player who first comes to mind when thinking of past England number nines. 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.
Nat Lofthouse’s record for England is probably less well-known than Charlton’s but, in some ways, no less impressive. The former Bolton Wanderers forward played for Walter Winterbottom’s England side at the 1954 World Cup Finals in Switzerland and, over the course of a glittering international career, scored 30 goals in just 33 games.
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.
Crouch knows what it feels like to score at the World Cup, having scored the winner in England’s group match against Trinidad and Tobago in 2006. 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. Crouch will be hoping manager Fabio Capello gives him the chance to add to his impressive goal scoring tally in South Africa.
