Crouch ready to lift England

BADEN BADEN, Germany, June 9: England will place their World Cup faith in a two-metre tall 'dancing robot' called Peter Crouch when they take on Paraguay tomorrow.

Criticised at Anfield for an abysmal start to his Liverpool career and booed by England fans as recently as October, Crouch is suddenly on the verge of becoming a national treasure.

Five goals in his last three full internationals have been key to his rehabilitation, along with a mildly embarrassing goal celebration when he impersonates a dancing robot.

Having performed it in front of his future king last week in Manchester, to Prince William's wry amusement, Crouch's spindly frame now has a deadly serious role to play in Frankfurt.

Aside from his own much-improved sense of goal, Crouch's mere presence in the penalty area causes panic among defenders unused to his aerial threat.

He can score goals or nod the ball down to a team mate in the danger zone, while that towering presence draws markers away from his predatory strike partner Michael Owen.

England beat Argentina 3-2 in a friendly last November simply because a late cross soared into the area and defenders made a beeline for Crouch, leaving Owen to nip in and head the winner.

Crouch's Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard believes Paraguay will be the next South American side to struggle to deal with his lanky team mate, who is standing in for injured Wayne Rooney.

''We're hoping they've never played against a Peter-type of player before,'' he told reporters yesterday.

''I see him day in day out in training and in games so I know what a talent he is. If he plays to his ability on Saturday, he can cause Paraguay's defence a lot of problems.'' England and Paraguay, who met at Anfield in 2002 for a friendly which the hosts won 4-0, will continue their group games against Trinidad&Tobago and Sweden.

Teams: England (4-4-2) 1-Paul Robinson; 2-Gary Neville, 5-Rio Ferdinand, 6-John Terry, 3-Ashley Cole; 7-David Beckham, 8-Frank Lampard, 4-Steven Gerrard, 11-Joe Cole; 10-Michael Owen, 21-Peter Crouch.

Coach: Sven-Goran Eriksson Paraguay: (4-4-2) 1-Justo Villar; 4-Carlos Gamarra, 5-Julio Cesar Caceres, 21-Denis Caniza, 3-Delio Toledo; 16-Cristian Riveros, 10-Roberto Acuna, 13-Carlos Paredes, 6-Carlos Bonet; 18-Nelson Valdez, 23-Nelson Cuevas Coach: Anibal Ruiz Referee: Marco Rodriguez (Mexico)

REUTERS