The Golden Boot and the broken boot
One of the most popular 'side' competitions in the world cup is the Golden Boot. The top goalscorer for the tournament. Typically a Golden boot winner will finish with around 6 goals although Jus Fontaine holds the record at a massive 13 goals. The further the progression the better chance the team has of supplying us with the overall winner but not always the case. In Mexico in 1986 Gary Lineker claimed the boot with 6. England went out in the quarter finals, and memorably Oleg Salenko in 1994 winning with 6 for Russia while his team failed to make it out of the group stages!!
This year could see another Eastern European take the boot. Schevchenko has a very very handy group stage up against Tunisia and Saudia Arabia (who Germany put 9 past last time out!!)) and he has recently secured a move from AC Milan to Chelsea so his future is secured. That however can be a bad thing and the World Cup often provides a shop window for unsettled players to put themselves in. Much has been made of the Juventus scandal in italy where the famous black and white stripes may see themslves relegated from Serie A to Serie B following match fixing allegations. Should this happen, one can expect a veritable Moses like exodus of the top internationals. David Trezeguet and Zlotan Ibrahimovic (France and Sweden) respectively need a good world cup to cement their value in foreign markets. Sweden however, do not look like contenders. So Tezeguet would shade this one.
My vote however is going to a very very very unsettled player with a huge point to prove. Ruud Van Nistlerooy is desparate to prove himself on the world stage after falling out with Alex Fergusn at Man Utd following Keane's transfer to Celtic. He was unceremoniously dropped from the first team, and all but transfer listed as he was excluded from taking part in Keanes testimonial match at the seasons close. He is playing in a very tough group that includes Argentina, but, he is playing with the best Dutch team in two decades. The supply line comes thick and fast from Van Persie, Robbben, Van Der Vaart and Van Bommel, and his strike partner in Dirk Kuyt is a tremenduous foil for Ruuds predatory instincts at 16/1 he gets the Hibernian fiver for today.
Our balance is now 90 euro for the remainder of the tournament.
Tomorrow, the games commence...
This year could see another Eastern European take the boot. Schevchenko has a very very handy group stage up against Tunisia and Saudia Arabia (who Germany put 9 past last time out!!)) and he has recently secured a move from AC Milan to Chelsea so his future is secured. That however can be a bad thing and the World Cup often provides a shop window for unsettled players to put themselves in. Much has been made of the Juventus scandal in italy where the famous black and white stripes may see themslves relegated from Serie A to Serie B following match fixing allegations. Should this happen, one can expect a veritable Moses like exodus of the top internationals. David Trezeguet and Zlotan Ibrahimovic (France and Sweden) respectively need a good world cup to cement their value in foreign markets. Sweden however, do not look like contenders. So Tezeguet would shade this one.
My vote however is going to a very very very unsettled player with a huge point to prove. Ruud Van Nistlerooy is desparate to prove himself on the world stage after falling out with Alex Fergusn at Man Utd following Keane's transfer to Celtic. He was unceremoniously dropped from the first team, and all but transfer listed as he was excluded from taking part in Keanes testimonial match at the seasons close. He is playing in a very tough group that includes Argentina, but, he is playing with the best Dutch team in two decades. The supply line comes thick and fast from Van Persie, Robbben, Van Der Vaart and Van Bommel, and his strike partner in Dirk Kuyt is a tremenduous foil for Ruuds predatory instincts at 16/1 he gets the Hibernian fiver for today.
Our balance is now 90 euro for the remainder of the tournament.
Tomorrow, the games commence...
posted by Derek Keogh | 1:25 PM
1 Comments:
My 'special' report on the US team will follow in the next few days prior to their big kick off against The Czechs on Monday. Unfortunately for the USA, they've been landed in the group of death alongside two very very strong Europeans. The Italians and the aforementioned Czechs.
With this in mind an escape from the group would be a collossal achievement.
However, if they finish second in their group they would be facing the might of Brazil in the first knock out stage.
If they win the group against an injury ridden Italian squad (and remember The Italians are notoriously slow starters, Ireland beat them in their first game in 94), they would be virtually guaranteed a quarter final slot as their knockout game would be against Japan or Croatia!!
After that it's 90 minutes on a football pitch. ANYTHING can happen!
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