Euro 2012 is only a matter of months away, and excitement is growing in fans and players alike. The tournament in Poland and Ukraine is set to be one of the most open of recent times, with holders Spain sure to be challenged by the likes of Netherlands, Germany, France, Italy and England. Any successful team needs a leading goalscorer, and some of the most prolific marksmen on the planet will be on show this summer.
The Euro 2012 Golden Boot will be contested by a large number of attackers, with the eventual winner likely to be in a successful side that makes the latter stages of the tournament; here are some of the main contenders:
Mario Gomez is the current favourite for the accolade, as the Germany international striker is sure to lead the line for Joachim Low’s side. The Germans were unrelenting in qualifying, winning all ten of their Group A games, with Gomez netting six times in the process. The Bayern Munich attacker is the Bundesliga’s current top goalscorer with 18 strikes, and in a much-fancied Germany team Gomez is expected to hit the net on regular occasion. His international team-mate Miroslav Klose is also in the running at fifth favourite, with Arsenal target Lukas Podolski back in 11th.
Robin van Persie runs Gomez close as second favourite, and the Netherlands frontman will take some stopping; the Arsenal hitman is the Premier League’s top goalscorer with 25 goals, and he has been in incredible form of late. Van Persie scored six goals in qualifying, and is ready to replicate his stellar club performances on the international stage. Although Van Persie is a sure starter in Bert van Marwijk’s side, Klass-Jan Huntelaar may also play and could be a good bet for the Golden Boot. The Schalke striker has re-found his killer instinct in the Bundesliga, and topped the Euro 2012 qualifying goal charts with 12 strikes; he is seventh favourite to lift the individual crown.
Spain are the team to beat this summer, with a fantastic World Cup winning side at the peak of their abilities. However, with a dearth of talent at his disposal, it will be interesting to see who Vicente Del Bosque selects in attack. David Villa would surely have played if fit, but the Barcelona attacker is recovering from a broken leg and faces a race against time to be available for the competition; despite this he is still third favourite to lift the Golden Boot. Roberto Soldado may well start instead after excellent form for Valencia and in international friendlies; he is sixth favourite. Fernando Torres faces a battle to be selected after a terrible year, however the Chelsea forward is still eighth on the list.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s club form has been exemplary over the last five seasons, however the only criticism of the Real Madrid attacker is that he does not show this for Portugal. Despite this, the former Ballon d’Or winner is fourth favourite to tleadthe goalscoring charts. Mario Balotelli is the most fancied of Italy’s strikers in ninth place, despite being left out of the squad for the recent friendly defeat to the United States, whilst Karim Benzema heads France’s hopefuls as tenth favourite.
England’s shining light Wayne Rooney is down in 19th, largely due to the fact that he will miss two games in the group stages due to suspension, with currently injured colleague Darren Bent way down in 36th. The next Three Lions boss may have to rely on youth at the tournament, with Daniel Sturridge and Danny Welbeck at 38th and 39th on the list to excel if given a chance.
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