World Cup 2018 Top Goal Scorer Prediction
Top Contenders for Golden Boot Award Winner for FIFA World Cup 2018 with Their Betting Odds
Top Contenders for Golden Boot Award Winner for FIFA World Cup 2018 with Their Betting Odds
After scoring from the penalty spot to help England reach the World Cup 2018 quarter-finals, captain Harry Kane is huge odds-on favourite to become the first Englishman since Gary Lineker to win the Golden Boot.
Kane’s goal was his sixth of the tournament so far, despite only playing three of England’s four matches, and the Tottenham Hotspur striker is two clear of nearest rival Romelu Lukaku in the race to be crowned top goalscorer.
With a maximum of three games left for some of the world’s leading strikers, however, the race for the Golden Boot is not yet over – Lukaku, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar are among those still hoping to make their mark when it matters.
So is it worth backing an outsider to come good, or is the smart money all on Kane? Here’s a closer look at Kane and the players still in contention to stop the England captain…
Kane started the 2018 World Cup with two goals against Tunisia and followed that up with a hat-trick against Panama to finish the group stages as top goalscorer despite not featuring in England’s defeat to Belgium in their final group game.
His goal from the penalty spot against Colombia – his third penalty of the tournament so far – takes Kane to six in total and, coupled with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal and Diego Costa’s Spain exiting the World Cup, he is now clear favourite.
You can get 6/17 on Kane finishing as top goalscorer with 888sport. His hopes of adding to his six goals will depend on England getting past Sweden’s stubborn defence in the quarter-finals, however. Nevertheless, six was enough to win the Golden Boot four years ago, and more than enough in 2006 and 2010.
Potential remaining fixtures
Quarter-final: England vs Sweden
Semi-final: Russia/Croatia
Final: Uruguay/France/Brazil/Belgium
Romelu Lukaku is now Harry Kane’s nearest challenger, having scored four times in Belgium’s first two matches against Panama and Tunisia. He missed the game against England injured and then failed to find his best form against Japan but, crucially, Belgium are still in action.
The Red Devils face Brazil next, however, so Lukaku’s best chance of adding to his four goals may have passed – Brazil have a brilliant recent defensive record. Even if Belgium do find a way through, Lukaku’s record against stronger opponents for club and country has been vastly worse than that against lesser opposition teams in the last few seasons.
Had Belgium been rewarded for winning Group G with a more favourable route through the knock-out stages than a match-up with the tournament favourites in the last-eight, Lukaku may have seemed a better bet.
As it is, if he is to add to his four goals, Belgium will probably have to upset the odds against Brazil.
Potential route to the final:
Quarter-final: Brazil
Semi-final: Uruguay/France
Final: England, Sweden, Russia, Croatia
France’s teenage sensation arrived on the biggest stage when he netted twice in the second-round win against Argentina. Added to his goal against Peru in the group stage, he now has three for the tournament.
Mbappe became the first teenager since Pele to score twice in one match with his heroics against Argentina and he will face Uruguay in the quarter-finals full of confidence.
Uruugay boast a brilliant defensive record but Mbappe could be the game changer in that game and – if he does – he is guaranteed two more games to catch Kane at the top of the Golden Boot charts.
France’s attacking depth means Mbappe is not the only focal point in the French attack, however – Antoine Griezmann is on penalty duty (and has scored two spot-kicks already), while Olivier Giroud plays in the number nine role.
More performances like the one against Argentina and Mbappe is very much a favourite but it will be a big ask to score at least three more than Kane from now on.
Potential route to the final:
Quarter-final: Uruguay
Semi-final: Brazil/Belgium
Final: England, Sweden, Russia, Croatia
While Kane and Lukaku were in the goals early in the tournament, Edinson Cavani has come to the fore in his last two matches – though he hit the woodwork in Uruguay’s opening game and was a constant threat in the group stages.
The PSG striker scored in the win against Russia and then scored both goals against Portugal to outshine Cristiano Ronaldo and earn Uruguay their quarter-final spot.
His chances of adding to that tally look slim, however, hence the high odds – the striker is a big doubt for the game against France after later hobbling off against Portugal with a calf injury.
Even if Cavani does play, Uruguay have the toughest potential route to the final – France in the last-eight, followed by Brazil or Belgium in the semi-finals.
Potential route to the final:
Quarter-final: France
Semi-final: Brazil/Belgium
Final: England, Sweden, Russia, Croatia
Hosts Russia’s incredible World Cup journey is not over yet and big striker Artem Dzyuba is key to their chances of reaching the semi-finals now.
One of two Russian players with three goals, alongside Denis Cheryshev, Dzyuba’s aerial prowess came to the fore with his first touch of the tournament – when he stepped off the bench to head in against Saudi Arabia on the opening night.
It earned him a starting spot, and he has added two more goals since – including the equalising penalty against Spain.
Russia now face Croatia for a place in the semi-finals and a guaranteed two more games – this is a big chance for them to make history and Dzyuba is a key part of that.
Potential route to the final:
Quarter-final: Croatia
Semi-final: England/Sweden
Final: Uruguay/France/Brazil/Belgium
While he has only two goals from Brazil’s first four matches and has attracted ridicule for his play-acting in the second round against Mexico, Neymar remains a golden boot contender thanks to Brazil being tournament favourites.
The Selecao face Belgium – who Japan and Tunisia have both scored twice against – in the quarter-finals and a win will earn Brazil two more matches.
With Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi heading home after the last-16 stage, this is Neymar’s chance to prove he deserves to be revered in the same way as the other two – and some big performances and plenty of goals will go a long way to doing that.
Clearly Neymar is Brazil’s main man and he now has a point to prove after criticism of his histrionics in the second round. He may be four behind Kane, but he is definitely not out of contention.
Potential route to the final:
Quarter-final: Belgium
Semi-final: Uruguay/France
Final: England, Sweden, Russia, Croatia