ONE of the markets I like best at major tournaments is top team scorer.
There's often an obvious favourite but with most big nations it's usually a choice of two.
When looking at the minnows it could be anyone – a centre-half, penalty taker or a sub who only plays a few minutes – because it might only take one goal to win it.
Also worth remembering is the fact dead-heat rules apply.
I was going to scour Oddschecker for best prices but earlier I spotted a coupon in William Hill dedicated to the market so I'm using that as a reference point. If you're having bet check for best price.
So let's start with some of the more obvious players – Brazil's Neymar, England's Harry Kane, France's Antoine Griezmann, Lionel Messi of Argentina, Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal, Poland's Robert Lewandowski, Egypt's Mo Salah.
It's difficult to back against any of them and while most are odds on William Hill offer Neymar at 5-4, Griezmann at 13-8 and Mane at 5-2. Kane and Salah are both 10-11 and I fancy doing a fivefold and fourfolds.
Looking at some of the lesser-fancied teams and Pablo Guerrero, cleared to play after initially being banned, is 5-2 to be Peru's top marksman ahead of Jefferson Farfan, Iceland's Gylfi Sigurdsson is 5-2 in front of Alfred Finnbogason and Spurs star Son Heung-Min is 2-1 for South Korea. That's worth a 1pt Trixie.
There are countries where picking a winner is almost impossible – for example Uruguay who have Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez. Diego Costa is favourite for Spain but the goals could be shared and Isco might have a chance at 9-2.
Romelu Lukaku netted a couple for Belgium against Costa Roca but there is a question mark over his record against better teams. He is 15-8 favourite while penalty taker Eden Hazard is 4-1.
Timo Werner is Germany's big hope up top but you can't rule out Thomas Muller at 3-1 and Colombia have joint 5-2 favourites in the shape of James Rodriguez and Radamel Falcao.
So for a long-shot Trixie I'm chancing Isco, Hazard and Muller.
1pt Fivefold
- Neymar, Griezmann
- Mane, Salah, Kane
- Perm and 4 and all 5 (6 bets at 1pt)
1pt Trixie
- Guerrero
- Sigurdsson
- Son
- Perm any 2 and all 3 (4 bets at 1pt)
0.5pt Long Shot Trixie
- Isco
- Hazard
- Muller
- Perm any 2 and all 3 (4 bets at 0.5pt)
Resident football tipster at Scotland's most read newspaper, the Daily Record, for over 20 years and proud host of one the best betting communities on the web with daily betting tips.
What about Mitrovic for Serbia?
If you take big teams to win their group, top goal scorer in the group with Skybet is worth a look, e.g. Timo Werner 5/1 in Germany group