With world champions Spain firm favourites to retain their European crown, it’s probably no surprise that their record scorer David Villa features heavily in the betting to be Euro 2012′s leading marksman.
The Barcelona striker is 10/1 to be the tournament’s top scorer – but will the 30-year-old be in Vicente del Bosque’s squad? The 30-year-old is suffering from a stress fracture to the left leg and even his surgeon admits it will be tight as to whether he can regain full fitness before the competition gets under way in the Ukraine and Poland. So will that leave the Spanish relying on goals from Fernando Torres? The mis-firing Chelsea centre-forward scored the winner in the Euro 2008 Final against Germany but he’s hardly been prolific since his multi-million pound switch from Liverpool and that has affected his performances for his country as well. El Nino is 18/1 to be top scorer at Euro 2012.
The doubt over Villa’s participation has seen support for Germany’s Mario Gomez to be top scorer. He is now our 9/1 favourite, though the Bayern Munich forward wasn’t his country’s top scorer in qualifying (that was Miroslav Klose who is rated a 14/1 chance) and didn’t manage a goal in either Euro 2008 or the World Cup in 2010, even though Germany reached the latter stages on both occasions. The Netherlands are in Germany’s group and were the leading scorers in qualifying. Arsenal’s Robin van Persie is 12/1 to be the leading scorer in this summer’s tournament while Klaas-Jan Huntelaar is 20/1. The former Ajax striker didn’t make the grade at Real Madrid or AC Milan but has thrived since joining Bundesliga side Schalke 04 and, with 11, was the top individual goal-getter in the qualifying groups.

Portugal had to survive the play-offs before confirming their participation in the finals but will fancy their chances of progressing if Cristiano Ronaldo can continue showing the form he’s currently displaying at Real Madrid. Ronaldo is 12/1 in the Euro 2012 Top goalscorer betting having found the net seven times during qualifying. England’s best forward is undoubtedly Wayne Rooney but the Manchester United star will miss their first two group games against France and Sweden through suspension so is 33/1, though that’s still half the odds of Ireland’s all-time leading scorer Robbie Keane. The LA Galaxy striker is 66/1, while regular partner Kevin Doyle can be backed at 100/1. The odds on Manchester City’s Mario Balotelli making it through the tournament without blowing a fuse are probably remote, but the Italian has the talent to thrive if his country make it through a tricky group draw and he manages to keep a lid on things. Balotelli is 20/1 to emerge as top goalscorer in the Ukraine and Poland, the same odds as Ronaldo’s Real Madrid team-mate Karim Benzema of France.
Euro 2012 Betting