World Cup Top Scorer

Impossible to disagree with the Spanish pairing of David Villa and Fernando Torres heading most Golden Boot markets, 11/1 with Bet 365 and 12/1 with Sky Bet respectively, but the dynamic duo may just cut each other’s throats in the scoring charts and instead it is perhaps best to concentrate on top teams who rely on one main striker to find the net.

At 16/1 with VC Bet England’s Wayne Rooney fits the profile perfectly and, with Capello’s men surely due for a stay in South Africa of at least five matches, the Manchester United striker looks tremendous value.

Rooney burst onto the international scene at Euro 2004, scoring four goals in as many games as England were eliminated at the quarterfinal stage, and no player thrives on the big occasion more.

With England lacking another recognised striker alongside Rooney, the shot shy Emile Heskey appears set to partner him in attack, his goals will be crucial if they are to succeed and I am backing him to produce.

Rooney has notched 11 times for his country in the last 15 months and a record of 25 goals in 57 appearances for the 1966 winners is very tidy indeed.

Following Cristiano Ronaldo’s Old Trafford exit in the summer Rooney has been asked to take up a more central role in the search for goals by Sir Alex Ferguson, he often played wide-left last season, and has flourished for the English champions this term.

Rooney has 12 Premier League goals to his name already during the current campaign but he looks equally threatening in the white shirt of England and his blossoming partnership with Steven Gerrard for the national side has started to reap rewards.

Gerrard, an increasingly positive influence on matches under Capello, often looks for his Liverpudlian chum in the final third and I’d want very few other midfielders in South Africa supplying a final ball in preference to the Anfield captain.

Given his importance to England, Rooney is virtually assured of playing every minute for the Three Lions, injury permitting, and he has attractive looking games against Algeria, USA and Slovenia in the group stage in which to fill his boots.

I can see him making hay, England are scoring plenty these days, and while it’s a disadvantage that he must gave way to Frank Lampard in penalty taking duties it isn’t enough to dissuade me that this is cracking bet.

I’m very keen on Rooney’s claims, and therefore won't be spreading around the stake too much, but one player worth siding with at big prices is giant Serbian striker Nikola Zigic.

The beanpole forward has struggled to make an impact for his club side Valencia this season, Zigic is clearly behind David Villa in the pecking order, but remains one of the first names on the team sheet for national coach Radomir Antic and the 150/1 with Bet 365 is probably on the large side.

Zigic enjoyed a terrific loan spell at Racing Santander during the second half of last season, scoring 13 times in 19 appearances, and, while it would clearly be more beneficial were he featuring regularly for the La Liga club, he is the main threat for a very talented Serbia side.

The likes of Dejan Stankovic and Milan Jovanovic should ensure they create plenty of chances and Zigic could enjoy himself against a far from solid German defence, Ghana and Australia in Group D.