The England number nine shirt has been handed to Tottenham Hotspur striker Peter Crouch for 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.
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. With 49 goals in 106 appearances, Charlton is still England’s record goal scorer.
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.
Four years ago, Sven Goran Eriksson named talismanic striker Wayne Rooney as England’s number nine for the tournament. 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.
