Ray Bradshaw gives us his Euro 2012 top scorer rundown!

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RayBradshawpic — By Ray Bradshaw (@comedyray)

Let’s be honest goals are the reason that we watch football, that feeling when the ball hits the back of the net can sometimes be the greatest feeling ever particularly if it’s your team that’s scored, or a spectacular own goal. This article will take a look at the potential top scorers in this years European Championships and give a run down on each player.

The key thing to remember about the European Championships is that every tournament with one exception has had a relatively low number of goals to win the Golden boot (the exception being Platinin in 1984 who scored 9 goals). In the last few tournaments 5 goals in six potential games has won it, with David Villa winning the accolade in 2008 scoring only 4 goals; 3 of which were in a group stage hat-trick against Russia. Here’s the rundown on the top 5 players that all bookies seem to think will be in contention for this tournament: (odds supplied by William Hill, 05/06/12)

Mario Gomez – 8/1

Mario Gomez has had a fantastic season with Bayern Munich and comes into the tournament after having scored a whopping 41 goals over the course of the season. The bookies have Gomez down as the favourite to win the golden boot, despite the fact that he played second fiddle to Miroslav ‘The Ultimate Tournament Player’ Klose in Euro 2012 qualifying. However Gomez started upfront in Germany’s final friendly against Israel, a game in which he scored the opener in a 2-0 victory. It wouldn’t be surprising if Joachim Low swapped between the two strikers during the tournament so Gomez may not get the game time that other strikers in tournament will.

Robin Van Persie 10/1

Pleasingly, the presence of Adebayor in the background of this photo makes RVP appear to be sporting a dreadlocked mullet.

Like Gomez, Robin Van Persie comes into the tournament off the back of an extraordinary season for his club in which he seemed to find the net every game. Van Persie has often come under criticism in his homeland for not giving the same type of performances for his national team that he does for his club. The key to whether Van Persie tops the scoring charts in Euro 2012 is if Klas Jan Huntelaar starts as well. Huntellar was the top scorer in qualifying with 12 goals. It’s possible that Van Persie could move out to the left in a 4-2-3-1 formation if Huntelaar gets the nod to start so he may not get as many chances from out there than he would in his normal central forward position that he does at Arsenal.

Slim Ronaldo — However many goals he scores and titles he wins…we’ll never be able to shake the view that if he’d been born 20 years earlier he could have been the 80s greatest pop star.

Cristiano Ronaldo – 12/1
The top European Scorer this season after narrowly beating Jordan Rhodes, Ronaldo comes into this tournament after finally winning La Liga with Real Madrid. His home country Portugal, however are in the so called group of death along with Germany, The Netherlands and Denmark so they may not progress any furtger than the group stage thus limiting the perma-tanned striker’s chances of bagging the Golden Boot. If he is to do so then there would need to be a shock in the group.

Karim Benzema – 14/1
It is fair to say Karim Benzema has never really flourished in a French jersey, his 13 goals in 42 appearances could be used as a statistic to back this up. However, under Laurent Blanc the much maligned French seem a different side from the squad that threw the toys out the pram so spectacularly in South Africa two years ago. Benzema has benefitted from the resurgence and will spearhead the French attack in a tournament where many pundits are viewing them as outsiders. If France do live upto this billing, then

Benzema will be there or thereabouts at the top of the scoring charts.

Fernando Llorente – 14/1

Spain were dealt a blow last week when Euro 2008 top Scorer David Villa was ruled out of the tournament due to injury. Despite the fact that he’s been injured since December, you kind of get the feeling that Spain weren’t fully prepared for this and are unsure of what to do now. Llorente had a good season with impressive Athletico Bilbao, but hasn’t really done enough with the national squad to merit such a high price. He may also not get the nod to start for the reigning champions as Del Bosque may push David Silva into the ‘fake 9’ position to keep the free flowing football style. With Robert Soldado surprisingly not selected for the squad, there is a strong onus on Fernando Torres, Alavro Negredo and Pedro to step upto the plate; a daunting thought when you think about the loss of form that both Torres and Pedro experienced at some point in the season.

The Outsiders

Huntelaar and Klose – 14/1
Huntelaar was on top form for the Netherlands during qualifying and Miroslav Klose always comes alive during these types of tournaments so may be worth a flutter.

Lewandowski – 20/1
Traditionally in tournaments, the Hosts always do better than expected thanks to the backing of their home fans. If Poland are to progress then expect Robert Lewandowski’s goals to help get them there.

David Sliva – 33/1
As mentioned earlier, the injury to Villa may Push Silva further forward than his role for Manchester City and he may reap rewards for it. Silva scored the winner in Spain’s friendly against China at the weekend and may pop up to score a few important goals for the Spanish between now and the end of the tournament.

Nikica Jelavic — “He can do it in Scotland, but can he do it against the likes of Wolves & Blackburn?” asked the English pundits. Eh, yes.

Jelavic – 40/1
Until a couple of days ago Jelavic wasn’t expected to start for Croatia but the injury to Ivica Olic has pushed the Everton striker to the starting 11. Jelavic finished the season magnificently and if Croatia have a good tournament he may follow in the footsteps of fellow countryman David Suker who won the Goldenboot at France 98.

Ashley Young – 66/1
Ashley Young probably wont finish as the top scorer at Euro 2012 but he does represent decent value for an eachway bet. He has either scored or assisted 11 in England’s last 20 goals, a run that includes him featuring in each of the last six goals for England, whether it be scoring or assisting. Young is expected to play just off the striker for England so he is sure to have a few cracks at goal.

Joleon Lescott – 300/1
This bet is particularly good for people who like wasting money.

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About the Author

Having made his comedy debut in September 2008, Ray has quickly established himself as one of the most exciting new acts on the comedy circuit. A two time Scottish Comedian of The Year finalist, Ray has travelled the lengths and breadths of the country telling jokes to anyone that will listen, making his name as an MC for various promoters.

Ray is a Partick Thistle fan who has an unhealthy obsession with Jean-Yves Anis and Paul Walker. The only players who have ever come close to such admiration since are Emile Heskey, Marlon “Fox in the Box” Harewood and Charlie Adam (his left foot only.)

Ray currently manages a saturday morning amateur team known as the mighty West Glasgow, where he is affectionately known as the “Ginger Mourinho” or simply the “Dick on the touchline”. A keen footballer, Ray likes to think his dead ball skills are similar to Shunsuke Nakamura, but at time they are more like Hiro Nakamura from Heroes. As a well known John Hartson impersonator, Ray is versatile in the emergency striker role when needed and can also kick Eyal Berkovic in the face upon request.

“Very funny” – STV

“a very promising writer, able to create some enjoyably twisted punchlines” – Chortle

Ray Bradshaw gives us his Euro 2012 top scorer rundown!

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