Miroslav Klose

While winning the World Cup is definitely Klose’s top priority, he also realizes he’s getting close to the World Cup record for total goals in tournament games. Ronaldo of Brazil holds the record with 15, while Klose is within range at 12, and is level with Brazilian legend Pele. The 32-year-old Klose, who was actually born in Poland, has scored two goals so far in this year’s event.

The striker is playing in his third World Cup and scored five goals in each of the previous two tournaments. He’s the only player in South Africa at the moment who has a realistic shot of equalling Ronaldo’s record at this year’s Cup.

Klose won the golden boot award for most goals at the 2006 World Cup in Germany and he realizes he has a good chance to add to his total in South Africa. He said if he can match his last two finals appearances he’ll catch up with Ronaldo, but it will be a difficult task, especially with Argentina next in line for the Germans.

In recent interviews it appeared Klose was close to retiring from the national team, but he states he’d like to play at the European Championship in the Ukraine and Poland in 2012. He admits this is due to his Polish heritage and because he has relatives living there and his love for the people and the country.

Klose didn’t have the greatest of seasons with Bayern Munich in the German Bundesliga this year as he didn’t see a lot of action and managed only three league goals. However, he’s reacquired his scoring touch at just the right time to help Germany go for their fourth World Cup triumph.

Bookmakers are offering wildly varying odds for Klose to achieve a second World Cup Golden Boot, with the best offers at the time of writing being 33-1 from bwin and William Hill. Most major bookies are offering either 25 or 28, but Betfred believe this gamble to be worth a paltry 20-1.

At 31, Miroslav Klose is the oldest of the frontrunners to come out of the competition as the top goalscorer. With age comes experience, and Klose has already racked up 94 international appearances and 48 goals for Germany.

His club career has also been very impressive. Staying in the German Bundesliga for his whole career to date, he currently plays for top German side Bayern Munich, having transferred there from Werder Bremen in 2007. Last season, he was Bayern’s top scorer with 20 goals – despite spending a significant portion of the season out with injury. He was also the second highest scorer in the UEFA Champions League.

During Klose’s career with the national side, Germany have come second in the 2002 World Cup and the 2008 European Cup, and third in the 2006 World Cup where he won his Golden Boot. Odds suggest that Germany are expected to be close, but not close enough again in South Africa, with the team fifth favourites with average odds of 12-1 to finish the tournament as champions.

Germany are starting the competition in one of the trickier of the eight groups. Whilst not quite as tough on paper as Brazil’s “group of death”, Germany face Australia, Serbia and Ghana, all of whom have the potential to do well. Klose will need all of his skill and experience to notch up a good goal count in these three games.

Klose scored five goals to cement his Golden Boot win in 2006, but with tough competition from the likes of David Villa and Fernando Torres from favourites Spain, Luis Fabiano, Robinho and Kaka from Brazil, Lionel Messi from Argentina and of course England’s Wayne Rooney, it is very possible an even higher goal tally from a possible seven tournament games will be required to win the accolade this time around.

Backing Klose for the Golden Boot alongside Germany to win fetches odds of up to 125-1. This price is currently offered by Sky Bet, 888sport and Blue Square. The odds do go down as low as 66-1 with Betfred, currently offering the worst price on this double, and 80-1 from Ladbrokes and William Hill.