Robert Lewandowski, Ciro Immobile and Harry Kane have something in common: They are all mentioned in the same breath when it comes to the question of which attacker could become the top scorer at the European Championship. As a former top striker and today’s TV expert, Jan-Aage Fjörtoft is very familiar with international football. In an interview with the SPORTBUZZER, the sports portal of the editorial network Germany (RND), the 54-year-old talks, among other things, about his favorites for the top scorer’s crown and also explains why France will probably not be the top scorer.
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SPORTBUZZER: Mr Fjörtoft, are you still sad that Norway is not part of the European Championship?
Jan-Aage Fjörtoft (54): Yes, but unfortunately we’re used to the fact that we haven’t been to the European or World Championships recently. Football is brutal. You are either good enough or you are not. As simple as that.
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Who will be the top scorer in the European Championship?
So that’s an interesting question. Of course, that often depends on how far the teams get. For example Poland around Robert Lewandowski, who always scores a lot of goals. Then it’s easy to go to the favorites: who will score the penalties? I think Ciro Immobile or Harry Kane have a good chance. Of course, I haven’t forgotten France. But I’ll say the two.
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Can Robert Lewandowski with the Poles also shine like at Bayern?
Robert Lewandowski will do his game. But like everyone else, he is also dependent on his teammates. He’s not all alone. I’ve seen a lot of good Poland games. But of course: With Bayern, one of the best teams in the world, it’s “easier” in quotation marks. Still, scoring goals is never easy. Otherwise everyone would do it. Of course it will be more difficult for him because he is not playing for one of the best teams at this European Championship. But Poland can also be an outsider and surprise with Robert’s self-confidence after his scoring record in the Bundesliga (41 goals this season; d. Ed.).
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Who is currently the best German center forward for you? Timo Werner, Kevin Volland – or is it Thomas Müller?
The interesting thing is that they are three very different strikers. Volland is more of the number nine striker who had a good time at AS Monaco. Werner is underestimated – including what he did at Chelsea. He played a very important role under Thomas Tuchel. He pulls the team apart and gives them space. The opponent has to defend himself more because he is so fast. Müller is a completely different type. He can also be the top scorer. Everything is included with Thomas. I am happy that he is back. Who is really the better depends on how Germany wants to play.
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Fjörtoft: France will score the most European Championship goals – but not the top scorer
Does France have the best storm after Karim Benzema’s comeback?
I think so. France will go far in the tournament. Of all the teams, they are perhaps the best. I’m happy that Benzema is back. He has shown that he is an excellent player at Real Madrid even without Cristiano Ronaldo. I still believe that the offensive row will split the goals. There are so many good attacking players in France. For me there is no clear number one. If you had asked which team will score the most goals, I would have said France.
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Which striker do you think will make the breakthrough at the EM?
First of all: As a former striker, I’m also happy that veteran Goran Pandev (37 years old: the editor) made it to the European Championship with North Macedonia. At England there are a lot of interesting attacking players that coach Gareth Southgate can provide – like Phil Foden for example. I would be happy and it could also be that Kai Havertz with his self-confidence after the goal in Porto (he scored the 1-0 winner for Chelsea in the Champions League final against Manchester City; d. Ed.) Play a role becomes.
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Perhaps also the courted Portuguese André Silva, who could increase his market value and be even more expensive to sell for Eintracht Frankfurt?
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I hope not. Because I want him to stay (laughs). It’s very interesting: André was somewhat overshadowed in the Bundesliga by Robert Lewandowski and Erling Haaland, who deservedly got a lot of attention. He fell a bit under the radar – but you know that if the game goes well for the Portuguese, he will score his goals too. It wouldn’t be a real breakthrough, though, because he did incredibly well in the Bundesliga (28 goals in 32 league games for Frankfurt; d. Red.).
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Finally, the usual question: who will be European champions?
I believe France. And Italy is an outsider for me.
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Tip: You can also find the complete SPORTBUZZER coverage of the EM 2021 in the super fast EM app from Toralarm. And like to follow @sportbuzzer on Instagram!
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