Peter Crouch in action, photo by Phil Chambers

“He’s big, he’s red; his feetstick out the bed! Peter Crouch, Peter Crouch!”

That’s what Liverpool Football Club fans sing about their team’s striker, Peter Crouch, and standing at 2.01 meters it’sno wonder. Crouch is the tallest man ever to have played in the English Premiership and for thenational squad.

Although he has been described asganglyandungainly, he hassilenced his criticswith two outstanding performances in recent pre-World Cup ‘friendlies’ against Hungary and Jamaica.

He opened his account with a fantastic goal against Hungary in the 84th minute of the match. However, if the goal was spectacular, the celebration was even more remarkable. Crouch ran to thetouchlineand began to dance ‘robotics’, apparentlyparodyingthe dance moves with which he had impressed the rest of the team at David and Victoria Beckham’s pre-World Cup party.

“The Crouch”, as the dance has come to be known, was seen again during England’s 6-0 victory over Jamaica when thelankystriker scored ahat-trick. He might easily have scored a fourth but missed a penalty.

Despite the missed penalty, Crouch has earned his boss’s approval and won a place in thestarting line-upfor England’s first World Cup game against Paraguay.

“Peter had a fantastic game. He had almost everything in the air and scored goals. I think he will start next Saturday. He deserves it”, said Sven Goran Eriksson, the Englandhead coach.

English hopes have also been raised by the return to training of Wayne Rooney. The 20 year-old Manchester United star has beenout of actionsincefracturing a bonein his foot in May. He has received intensive medical attention including sleeping in anoxygen chamberto help the injury toheal.

England fans are praying that he willcome off the benchto join the rest of the team in winning the World Cup for England.