England Watch – Peter Crouch
Wednesday, 24 Jan 2007 18:13
Crouch showing his best moves
Of all the players at the heart of the debate over England's options up front, no one player seems to polarise opinion more than Peter Crouch.
Fans either love him or hate him, leading to the Liverpool forward being described by several commentators and critics as something of a "cult figure", thus preventing him from receiving the kind of critical acclaim he perhaps deserves.
So,
Alistair Potter asks, which way will public opinion, and more importantly Steve McClaren's opinion, of the lanky one drift in the lead-up to South Africa 2010?
Name: Peter James Crouch
Position: Striker
Club: Liverpool
Age by South Africa 2010: 29
As a youth player at Tottenham Hotspur, 'Crouchy' turned more heads for his unusual height than anything else, although this particular eye-catching facet seems to take precedence with critics over his undeniable natural skill.
Media commentators frequently refer to his "great touch for a big man", which perhaps does him a disservice as his close control and superb first touch are both elements of his game that set him head and shoulders (ahem) above most of the rest of the Premiership.
Crouch already has a substantial amount of full international experience, with 16 England caps to date.
His stock as an international-calibre forward rose considerably in 2006, as he became the first England player ever to score ten goals in a single calendar year – against Uruguay (1), Hungary (1), Jamaica (3), Trinidad and Tobago (1), Greece (2) and Andorra (2).
It is due to Crouch's distinct lack of pace that he draws most criticism, however. Despite covering considerably more ground than any other top-class forward with a single stride, the 6ft 7in striker strangely lacks the speed that many deem necessary for inclusion in England's first-choice XI.
However, his supporters point to the calibre of past England heroes such as Teddy Sheringham who played at the top level for years without ever being hampered by the perceived flaw.
Quite simply, Crouch is an anomaly – a rare talent with the ball at his feet and a handful for defenders. While he may lack pace and also, strangely, an inability to head the ball as well as many of his shorter compatriots, he is undoubtedly an asset for Steve McClaren.
Even if he is unlikely to command a regular first-team place when England's full complement of forwards is available, Crouch can provide an alternative option – a target man and an outlet when the first-choice game plan (sure to include Wayne Rooney and, probably, the shorter, pacier Michael Owen) is not working.
It was this role that Crouch played to perfection in the thrilling 3-2 pre-World Cup friendly victory over pre-tournament favourites and eventual quarter-finalists Argentina.
His height caused all sorts of problems for the South American defenders, who had never seen anything like him as he bounded onto the pitch.
This is the main argument, even adhered to by Crouch's detractors, for his inclusion in England's 2010 squad and why McClaren would be foolish to overlook such a unique English talent.
England's 2010 World Cup squad
*Players in bold – tickets to South Africa booked already
Goalkeepers
Paul Robinson
Possibles:
Chris Kirkland,
Ben Foster,
Rob Green,
Scott Carson
Defenders
John Terry,
Ashley Cole,
Rio Ferdinand,
Jamie Carragher
Possibles:
Glen Johnson,
Joleon Lescott,
Micah Richards,
Ledley King,
Michael Dawson,
Anton Ferdinand,
Leighton Baines,
Justin Hoyte,
Curtis Davies,
Wes Brown,
Phil Bardsley,
Michael Mancienne
Midfielders
Steven Gerrard,
Frank Lampard,
Owen Hargreaves,
Joe Cole,
Michael Carrick
Possibles:
Aaron Lennon,
Tom Huddlestone,
Nigel Reo-Coker,
Lee Cattermole,
Shaun Wright-Phillips,
Stewart Downing,
Giles Barnes,
James Morrison,
Kieran Richardson
Forwards
Wayne Rooney,
Michael Owen
Possibles:
David Nugent,
Theo Walcott,
James Vaughan,
Gabriel Agbonlahor,
Jermain Defoe,
Peter Crouch,
Darren Bent,
Dean Ashton,
Cameron Jerome