Golden boot dark horses

Many of the world’s top strikers will participate at Euro 2016, but some lesser known players will also fancy their chances of finishing as the tournament’s top goalscorer.

One such player is Austria’s Marc Janko, who scored seven of his countries 22 goals during an unbeaten qualifying campaign that has seen them reach their first major finals since they co-hosted the European Championships with Switzerland in 2008.

The 32-year-old has a wealth of experience at international level, scoring 26 goals in 51 appearances for Das Team and he has also been in prolific form at club level this season, finding the back of the net 16 times in 20 league appearances for Swiss side Basel.

With Austria having seemingly been handed a favourable draw for the finals, Janko will fancy his chances of challenging for the golden boot.

Another player who could stake a claim to win the golden boot is Russia’s Artyom Dzyuba, who scored eight times in qualifying, his only international goals to date.

The 27-year-old has an impressive record of a goal every two games for Leonid Slutsky’s side and he has managed to replicate that record at club level during his first season with Zenit St Petersburg.

Russia, like Austria, will fancy their chances of progressing to at least the knockout stages of the competition, although Dzyuba himself will face competition from the likes of Aleksandr Kokorin and Aleksandr Kerzhakov for a starting berth in France.

Italy will be able to call upon a proven goalscorer at club level in Graziano Pelle, even if he does lack international experience.

The Southampton forward has scored four goals in 11 appearances for the Azzurri, and he is likely to lead the line for the Antonio Conte’s side in France, which means he will need to be amongst the goals if the 2012 Euro finalists are to succeed.