Crouch looks for England opening
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Sep 15 2005
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By Ian Doyle Daily Post Staff
PETER CROUCH is targeting a place at next summer's World Cup - but not before proving himself as a Liverpool player.
England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson was on hand to witness the Anfield striker's impressive performance in the 2-1 Champions League win at Real Betis on Tuesday night.
It was Crouch's debut in the competition proper and Betis skipper Gutierrez Juanito later admitted the forward had been virtually unplayable.
But while admitting he has one eye on becoming a permanent member of Eriksson's England squad, Crouch believes he must first make his mark at Liverpool following his £7million summer move from Southampton.
"I'll have my own targets but I'll keep them to myself," he said. "I obviously want to establish myself as playing regularly at a great club like this. And maybe other ambitions will fall into place then.
"I'm not going to lie and say the finals are not something I've thought about and the result in Northern Ireland the other night might help my chances of getting to the World Cup this summer, but it's not my top priority."
Crouch continued: "You don't get international recognition without doing the job at club level so, if I do make it back into the England set-up, I'll have to have done the business here at Liverpool."
England came in for scathing abuse from critics after their qualifying defeat in Belfast to Northern Ireland this month, a result which means they must beat both Austria and group leaders Poland next month to ensure qualification to next year's finals in Germany.
But with Wayne Rooney suspended for the next qualifier, Crouch - who made his international debut against Colombia in New York in July - has been tipped for a starting role against the Austrians on October 8.
"I think the manager has said he wants a bigger man up front, there's a void to be filled there and I think I did reasonably well out in America," he added. "I think if you're playing well at a club like Liverpool you'll get a chance.
"The manager seemed to be positive in America, but obviously the club form is the key. I'd like to think I'd be the player that comes through over the next season. Obviously there are a lot of good strikers in the England side and I'd like to get in among them. Mr Eriksson was complimentary while I was away and so if all goes well hope-fully I'll be okay."
