Belgium are tipped to make noise this summer in Brazil. The small European nation has a wealth of young footballing talent, and having all found their stride together at the right time, that provides for an intriguing bet as a potential sleeper at the 2014 World Cup. Belgium's striker Romelu Lukaku is one name that is undoubtedly ready for the big stage. And what makes his prospects for top goal scorer even more enticing is the recent news that Belgium's other top striker, Christian Benteke, was lost to injury after tearing his Achilles. Lukaku will now be the leading man atop Belgium's formation, and he will be afforded plenty of chances with the team's brilliant midfield providing service from their attack-minded playmakers.

Lukaku is a physically imposing young player. At 6-foot-3 he has the size and strength to battle defenders on the ball and really assert himself in the box and in goal-scoring opportunities. The physical style in the English Premier League ,where he plays for club side Everton, has been a great experience and one that has really shown he can play with the best in the world on a weekly basis.

Romelu Lukaku 2014 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot Top Goal Scorer Storylines

At just 20 years of age, Lukaku has burst onto the scene this season in the EPL. He is property of Chelsea but is currently on his second consecutive loan spell away from Stanford Bridge. Lukaku was impressive last season for West Brom Albion, scoring 17 times from 35 matches. This season has been even stronger for the young Belgian at Everton. He has 13 goals in 25 matches while also establishing himself as a top choice for the national team during the qualifying process in additional to international friendly matches. But if you followed his career prior to the bright lights of the English top flight, the production should come as no surprise. Lukaku plied his trade for Belgian side Anderlecht from 2009-2011, and in that time he was a true finisher to the tune of 33 goals from 73 appearances for the Brussels-based club.

Romelu Lukaku 2014 World Cup Golden Boot Top Goal Scorer Betting Odds and Key Stats

No doubt, at 33/1 Romelu Lukaku is a cheeky selection to win the Golden Boot. However, if his team performs as the true underdogs of the tournament, as some think they can, then this number isn't as much of a stretch as it appears on paper. Lukaku is currently in the form of his life as the youngster is playing brilliantly for his club in England. Thus, it's understandable to think he can carry that quality into the summer for his country. And when you consider the favorites for top goal scorer, all have the pressures to perform, both individually and as leaders for their team. Belgium are in fact too green and inexperienced to know better on this stage. While they have been labeled a tournament dark horse, they have all the freedom to play knowing the likes of Brazil, Argentina, Spain and Germany are the countries with pressure to win. The same goes for the top players on those teams. Lukaku can play with a sense of ease, as he does with Everton, without the big pressures of expectations. That is a luxury to have on such a big stage, surely.

Romelu Lukaku 2014 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot Top Goal Scorer Picks and Predictions

Wagering on Lukaku for the Golden Boot should likely go hand-in-hand with your consensus approach to Belgium's World Cup prospects. I do see this sleeper living up to basic underdog status, at least initially, finding their way into the knockout stages of the World Cup and being fair game to play the role of underdog and potentially scoring an upset or two. That will give Lukaku plenty of opportunity to finish and play a role in this goal-scoring race. For the price, he is worth taking a look at to ride a long shot with a potential huge payout.

Strike Point Sports has established themselves as one of the top soccer handicappers with their success on the big tournament stage. From the 2006 World Cup, Euro 2008, 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012, SPS earned $100 clients over $8,200 in profit from these four major events. This summer's World Cup is going to be another moneymaking opportunity, and they are looking forward to their soccer selections and another winning tournament.

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