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.
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.
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 was England’s number nine for the 1954 World Cup finals in Switzerland and enjoyed a glittering international career in which he scored 30 goals in 33 games –a phenomenal record unlikely to be beaten.
Peter Crouch’s England teammate Wayne Rooney was the Three Lions number nine in Germany four years ago. 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.
