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ENGLAND'S DREAM TEAM

Player Profiles: Strikers

PLAYER:Dixie Dean

BORN:Birkenhead, 1907

TEAMS:Tranmere Rovers, Everton, Notts County, Sligo Rovers

CAPS:16, 18 goals

Dixie Dean's scoring record was so good it looks totally made up. Sixty league goals in a season? Get out of it! I just don't believe it. Plus, he scored 22 more in cup and international games that year. Surely this is some kind of Roswell-type prank? His England scoring record puts all our current forwards to shame. Dixie died watching his beloved Everton play Liverpool. I'm not sure he even existed.

PLAYER:Alan Shearer

BORN:Newcastle, 1970

TEAMS:Southampton, Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United

CAPS:63, 30 goals

How England miss Alan Shearer. Before a series of knee injuries he seemed like the perfect striker. Strong in the air, a great team player, a wicked shot with either foot, a great crosser and a clever striker. One of the few modern strikers tough enough to hack it in the old days (where there was a lot of hacking going on) he's more than earned his place as an England legend.

PLAYER:Gary Lineker

BORN: Leicester, 1960

TEAMS: Leicester City, Everton, Barcelona, Tottenham Hotspur

CAPS:80, 48 goals

One of the most natural finishers of the modern era, Saint Gary Lineker was top scorer at Mexico 86. His ability to time runs and lose defenders brought him top flight goals in England and Spain. The case against? He went through his whole career without a booking, which, frankly, just seems lazy. And he should have been flogged for producing a heavy metal rap record with Roy of the Rovers.

PLAYER:Geoff Hurst

BORN:Ashton-under-Lyne, 1941

TEAMS:West Ham United, Stoke City

CAPS:49, 24 goals

Unforgettable as a scorer of vital goals, his 1966 achievements alone could earn him a place in England's Dream Team. Who can forget those puffed-out cheeks and that confident strike? He did score other goals for England, including another hat-trick - against France in a 5-0 stuffing. Might never have had a chance if Greaves hadn't been injured. And 66 would have been just another rubbish year�

PLAYER:Jackie Milburn

BORN:Ashington, 1924

TEAMS:Newcastle United

CAPS:13, 10 goals

Wor Jackie, as we're obliged to call him, was one the quickest strikers of his era, despite wearing boots of brushed concrete, as they used to back in the day. Still revered on Tyneside, it's a mystery why he didn't play for England more than thirteen times, given that he scored ten goals and was prolific for Newcastle.

PLAYER:Kevin Keegan

BORN:Doncaster, 1951

TEAMS:Scunthorpe United, Liverpool, Hamburg, Southampton

CAPS:63, 21 goals

Little Kev has always been a passionate soul, playing the game with enthusiasm and a fetching bubble perm. Being twice named European Footballer of the Year is some achievement, but well deserved for his mixture and commitment and ability. A man of strange departures, his England career was over prematurely after only 26 minutes of World Cup football. (Best departure: smacking Billy Bremner after being sent off in the Charity Shield. Different class.)

PLAYER:Michael Owen

BORN:Chester, 1979

TEAMS:Liverpool

CAPS:54, 24 goals

Still the only player besides Beckham we can count on for a goal. Goes through barren spells, particularly when returning from injury, during which the media always write him off. Then, when he bounces back, the same media ask 'Was there ever any doubt?' England manager Glenn Hoddle once said he wasn't a natural finisher - but that's coming from the same bloke who then paid �6million for Helder Postiga�.

PLAYER:Nat Lofthouse

BORN:Bolton, 1925

TEAMS:Bolton

CAPS:33, 30 goals

Bustling old-fashioned centre forward from back when being old-fashioned was a new, fashionable thing. He was called the 'Lion of Vienna' for his battering-ram performance in helping England to a famous victory against Austria. He was also renowned for barging the keeper and the ball into the net in the 1958 Cup Final. Had an amazing record for England and was as tough as the old boots he wore.

PLAYER:Raich Carter

BORN:Sunderland, 1913

TEAMS:Sunderland, Derby County

CAPS:13, 7 goals

People think Raich was a strange name, but in fact his real name was Horatio. Presumably he took Raich to avoid ridicule... He was regarded as the best inside forward of his generation and is still thought of as one of Sunderland's greatest players. His England career was rudely interrupted by WWII, during which time he still managed to add 17 unofficial caps and 18 goals to his official total.

PLAYER:Roger Hunt

BORN:Golborne, 1938

TEAMS:Liverpool

CAPS:34, 18 goals

A prolific scorer throughout the 60s, the Kop used to call him Sir Roger. Blessed with electric pace, he scored a record 285 goals for Liverpool. He got a lot of stick for depriving Jimmy Greaves of a World Cup Final place, despite the fact it was actually Geoff Hurst who replaced Greavsie. Less eager than the Kop to bestow honours, it took the Queen some 34 years to award him a well-deserved MBE.

PLAYER:Stan Mortenson

BORN:South Shields, 1921

TEAMS:Blackpool

CAPS:25, 23 goals

A brilliant centre-forward for Blackpool, Stan Mortenson must have wondered how he managed to score a heroic winning hat-trick in a Cup Final and not end up man of the match. The 53 Final became known as the Matthews Final for the winger's glittering display, but it was Mortenson who put it in the net, as he often did. Twenty-three goals in twenty-five games for England ain't too shabby either.

PLAYER:Tommy Lawton

BORN:Bolton, 1919

TEAMS:Everton, Chelsea, Notts County

CAPS:23, 22 goals

Tommy Lawton was considered Dixie Dean's successor, partly because of his extraordinary aerial ability. His headers were like most strikers shots and there are tales of him scoring with his head from 20 or 30 yards. And that's when footballs were made of lead. Caused a sensation when Everton signed him at 17 for a then scandalous �6,500. Rivalling Lineker on the good behaviour front, he, too, was never booked.

PLAYER:Tommy Taylor

BORN:Barnsley, 1932

TEAMS:Barnsley, Manchester United

CAPS:19, 16 goals

United fans who witnessed the 50s will tell you that Tommy Taylor was the best striker the club ever had, at least until Van Nistelrooy showed up. To avoid placing the burden of the joint record transfer tag on his shoulders, Matt Busby paid �29,999 for him, plus �1 to the tea lady who looked after him at Barnsley. He scored 128 goals in 189 games before losing his life at Munich.

PLAYER:Wayne Rooney

BORN:Liverpool, 1985

TEAMS:Everton

CAPS:10, 3 goals

It remains to be seen if Everton's young hero will become an international legend, but his prodigious talent suggests he can. He's still a baby in international terms, though a veteran in short size. His performance in the vital qualifier against Turkey showed that on the big occasions he can produce his full range of skills, from breathtaking control to visionary passing. Never been seen in the same room as Desperate Dan.

PLAYER:Wilf Mannion

BORN:Middlesbrough, 1918

TEAMS:Middlesbrough

CAPS:26, 11 goals

Will Mannion was an icon on Teesside who perfected the body swerve while it was still illegal in some states. His dribbling skills gained him a reputation as an entertainer, and a place in an England team alongside Matthews and Lofthouse. The Mannion Match is still the stuff of legend in Middlesbrough, when his awesome display was attributed to his desire to show off to his fianc�e. Bless.

PLAYER:Peter Beardsley

BORN:Newcastle, 1961

TEAMS:Newcastle United, Liverpool

CAPS:59, 9 goals

Peter Beardsley's contribution can never be captured in statistics (as his rather shabby statistics show), as he was a player fellow strikers loved to play alongside. Just ask Gary Lineker. Another great team player, he always had time on the ball and the ability to create chances for his partner with an intelligent pass. A diminutive, unlikely genius who made other strikers look good, and not just physically�

PLAYER:Paul Mariner

BORN:Bolton, 1953

TEAMS:Plymouth Argyle, Ipswich Town, Arsenal

CAPS:35, 13 goals

Paul Mariner was a nightmare for defenders. He was great in the air and skilful on the deck, plus he had 70s hair to the max. Some considered him an eccentric, never a popular trait among footballers, but he looked like he had everything until he moved to Arsenal and it all went a bit pear-shaped. Famously, had one of the biggest noses in football. Which was also a bit pear-shaped.

PLAYER:Teddy Sheringham

BORN:Walthamstow, 1966

TEAMS: Millwall, Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Portsmouth

CAPS:51, 11 goals

Was described by Brian Clough as the slowest footballer he'd ever seen, but everyone knows Teddy's speed is in his brain. He sees passes and runs that others aren't aware of and is still a regular scorer even at the age of 64. Was caught smoking before World Cup 1998, joining a cherished (by tobacco addicts) band of pro footballer weed fiends, including Ossie Ardiles, Gianluca Vialli and our very own Gazza.

PLAYER:Ian Wright

BORN:Woolwich, 1963

TEAMS:Crystal Palace, Arsenal, West Ham

CAPS:33, 9 goals

Wrighty came to pro football late but made up for it with prolific goal-scoring at Palace and a record-breaking spell at Arsenal. Should have been a major international talent but somehow failed to convince for England. Scored four goals against� oh, San Marino, forget it. Still, he was a goal machine in the League and one of the game's 'characters'. Unless you played against him�

PLAYER:Tony Woodcock

BORN:Nottingham, 1955

TEAMS: Nottingham Forest, Cologne, Arsenal

CAPS:42, 16 goals

A lively and intelligent forward, Woodcock flourished under the blunt tutelage of Brian Clough before trying Germany and then Arsenal. A classy, skilful forward, he was rarely prolific but a great strike partner. He took Keegan's place with the little big man was injured at Spain 82. Scored twice against Turkey in those halcyon days when we could still beat them 8-0 without thinking about it.

PLAYER:Trevor Francis

BORN:Plymouth, 1954

TEAMS:Birmingham City, Nottingham Forest, Manchester City, Sampdoria, Sheffield Wednesday

CAPS:54, 12 goals

An elegant striker, almost too elegant, some would say. Trevor Francis looked exceptional from the day he made his league debut as a 16-year-old. Blessed with pace and close control, he went on to win the European Cup with Forest, before a successful spell in Italy. As a manager, his will to win was evident when he fined a player for selfishly attending the birth of his first child rather than playing.

PLAYER:Mick Channon

BORN:Orcheston, 1948

TEAMS:Southampton, Manchester City

CAPS:46, 21 goals

A sound striker during a period of struggle for England, Mick Channon produced a decent goal return for his country. His trademark windmill celebration might seem quaint now, but at the time it was cutting-edge. A good provider as well as scorer, Channon's entire international career took place during the time when England failed to qualify for successive World Cups. Shameful, but hardly all his fault�

PLAYER:Allan Clarke

BORN:Willenhall 1946

TEAMS:Leicester City, Leeds United

CAPS:19, 10 goals

'Sniffer' is not exactly the kind of nickname a chap would want in these scandal plagued times, but it was apt given Clarke's uncanny ability to be in the right place at the right time. He was strong despite his slight build and boasted a good goal-scoring record for England. Is fondly remembered at Leeds as one of their greatest players. Gets bonus points for his classic, understated single arm celebration.

PLAYER:Bobby Charlton

BORN:Ashington, 1937

TEAMS:Manchester United

CAPS:106, 49 goals

Still England's record goal scorer and he wasn't even a striker, in the modern sense. Bobby Charlton didn't just invent the comb-over, he could also shoot from distance and had an amazing range of passing with either foot. Recognised around the world for his grace and athleticism he epitomised the Corinthian spirit with his modesty and honesty. And he couldn't half bladder a ball...

PLAYER:Jimmy Greaves

BORN:East Ham, 1940

TEAMS:Chelsea, AC Milan, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham

CAPS:57, 44 goals

You might not have loved his hilarious double act with Ian St John, but in his playing days Jimmy Greaves was razor sharp. He scored an incredible 44 goals in just 57 internationals, and some 357 goals in 515 club matches. It's a funny old game, but it must have seemed anything but when he missed out on World Cup glory in 1966 after a minor injury led to his being replaced by some bloke called Geoff Hurst. The rest, as they say, is history.

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