The tall striker kept up his impressive goal ratio in 2009.

Peter Crouch
Age 28 Date of Birth 30.01.1981
Career Caps 36
Career Goals 18
Caps in 2009 6
Goals in 2009 4
Portsmouth and Tottenham Hotspur

The start of the year would see Crouch appear twice from the substitutes' bench, first in Seville as England were defeated by the European Champions Spain, then at Wembley in a four-goal triumph over Slovakia.

The friendly encounter with Slovakia would prove decisive for Crouch as injuries to Emile Heskey and Carlton Cole during the game would give him the opportunity to grasp his first start under Fabio Capello against Ukraine.

It was a chance that Crouch would not throw away, as he scored a spectacular volley in a crucial victory over England's Eastern European rivals in Group Six. Though Andriy Shevchenko gave the Three Lions a late scare, the winning goal came from captain John Terry and England remained on course for World Cup qualification.

The goalscoring did not stop there for the 6ft 7in forward, as Crouch scored in his next outing for England at home to Andorra. Stabbing home from close range to maintain an impressive scoring run, Crouch further proved his worth in the England squad as they ran out comfortable winners by six goals at Wembley.

His incredible scoring ratio was beefed up even further with a brace against Belarus in England's final World Cup qualifier. Making only his third start under Capello, Crouch took his tally to four goals in three appearances.

Those four goals allowed Crouch to maintain his record of scoring in every other game for his country, with 18 goals in 36 appearances for The Three Lions.

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