Euro 2012: Golden Boot Favourites | Thebigtip

 Even though there are still around 5 months to go for the start of the Euro 2012, but the excitement and preparations have already begun. 

It is surely going to be a great and an exciting tournament with lots and lots of goals. Many prizes will also be won like the Golden Shoe Award: given to the leading goalscorer in the whole tournament.  Here is the list of 10 players, who in my opinion are the favourites to win the Golden Show award.

10. Roberto Soldado, Spain

Soldado should’ve surely been placed at a much higher had it not been Del Bolque’s tactics. The Spanish coach tends to play only one striker and with Villa Spain’s prime striker, I don’t think so that Soldado will get much playing time in the tournament. But, if he is played regularly by Del Bosque then he will surely be one of the top almost contenders for the award. The Spaniard has been in fine form for his club and should pip Llorente for Spain’s second striker.

9. Lukas Podolski, Germany

Podolski comes on the ninth position in my list. The German international has been performing consistently for the country for many years. Even though he has struggled to find the net in the domestic league in the past few seasons, this season he has been in scintillating form, scoring 14 goals in 18 games for FC Koln. Also he has scored 43 times for the national team in just 91 appearances which makes a hot favourite for the Golden Boot.

8. Mario Balotelli, Italy

Balotelli has finally found his feet for Manchester City. The 21 year old has scored 11 times this season and has become an integral part of Mancini’s team. Even though he didn’t score a single goal in the qualifying campaign, his club performance makes him one of the favourites for the Golden Show award.

7. Miroslav Klose, Germany

Another German on the list. Klose could well be playing his last international tournament, and the 33 year old would surely like to end his career on a high. He scored 7 goals in the qualifying and has the experience of playing at the biggest stage. Even if he plays second fiddle to Gomez, you can still expect him to score 3 or 4 goals in the tournament.

6. Karim Benzema, France

Around 2 years ago, Karim Benzema was struggling at Real Madrid. Then come Mourinho; then came his form; and then came the goals. Now, he Real Madrid’s prime striker and if France are to win the Euro 2012, they will need Benzema to be in fine form. The 24 year old has scored 17 times this season and if France are able make it into the semis or the final, Benzema will surely have a chance to win the award.

5. Klass Jan Huntelaar, Netherlands

Huntelaar is currently one of the best strikers in Europe. The 28 year old has found the net 26 times for Schalke in as many games was also the leading scorer in the qualifiers with 12 goals in just 8 games.Huntelaar is just 10 goals away from Patrick Kluivert's all-time 40 goal record for Oranje which is quite an achievement for a player who has represented his country just 49 times.  However, Huntelaar could find himself confined to the bench for most of the games as Van Persie, and not him, would go into the tournament as Netherland’s prime striker.

4. Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal

Ronaldo will surely go into the tournament as one of the prime favourites for the Golden Boot, even though Portugal are drawn with Germany and Netherlands in the group stage. He scored 7 goals in the qualifiers and if Portugal are somehow able to make it into the knockout round then the 27 year old can surely win the award.

3. Robin Van Persie, Netherlands

RVP had a scintillating 2011 with Arsenal and that is the only reason that he is placed so high in the table. He scored 6 times in the qualifiers and if he remains injury-free then you can surely expect 4-5 goals from him in the tournament.

2. David Villa, Spain

He would’ve been first on my list if he wouldn’t have fractured his leg. Due to the fracture, he could miss 1 or 2 games for Spain in the tournament. Even though he was in poor form for Barcelona before the injury, if he is able to recover in time, he will surely be the prime favourite for the Golden Boot.

1. Mario Gomez, Germany

Gomez had a phenomenal 2011 for both club and country scoring more than 50 goals. He will go in as Germany’s first choice striker and I expect him to score around 5-6 goals in the tournament. He netted 6 times in the qualifier and with Villa’s injury, he will surely go in as the favourite to win the award.