Euro 2012: Surprising Names Sure to Score Goals in Bunches

If you're reading this article, you've almost certainly seen any number of Golden Boot articles.

Maybe even mine.

But it's easy enough to say Robin van Persie and Cristiano Ronaldo are going to score goals. They both have a penchant for doing just that.

Looking at circumstances and thinking about more than just a player's performance for club can reveal other players who have a great chance of lifting their team with goals from an unexpected source.

Let's check out a few players who you might not be expecting to see scoring much this month, but who may do just that.

Alan Dzagoev

Who would've thought that of all the prolific scorers in Group A, Alan Dzagoev would be the man stealing the show for Russia on Day 1 of Euro 2012?

Andrei Arshavin, Aleksandr Kerzhakov and Robert Lewandowski are all considerably more accomplished than Dzagoev, who is only 21 years old. Yet, it was Dzagoev who scored twice and looked to be Russia's most dangerous man.

And perhaps that's exactly why he was able to get the chances that turned into goals. In the buildup to both goals, the defenders clearly did not treat him with the attention they offered both Arshavin and Kerzhakov.

He was left completely unmarked on his first, a rebound off the post. On his second, the defenders simply didn't seem to think he could score from his position.

He proved them wrong.

While hindsight is 20/20, it's not hard to see him continuing his success, either. Defenses will continue to sell out to stop Russia's more experienced front men, leaving the chances to fall to Dzagoev.

Clear-cut favorites over Poland and Greece, Russia is going to continue to score goals in the group stage and beyond. Dzagoev should have plenty of chances to add to his tally.

Danny Welbeck

England are already in trouble at Euro 2012.

They probably could've survived the combination of injuries that have struck the team, if not for one glaring problem.

Wayne Rooney is suspended for the first two games.

One of which is against France, who has become the clear favorite to win the group.

With no equivalent to the Manchester United talisman, England will be forced to go to the well to try and find a miracle.

That well is Rooney's Man U strike partner, Danny Welbeck.

While Jermain Defoe may have been the choice against France, reports from The Independent say he will miss the game due to his father's death.

That leaves manager Roy Hodgson with a choice between Welbeck and Liverpool front man Andy Carroll, who had a disaster season.

Welbeck is a classy finisher and a young, athletic forward who can put pressure on defenses. If he gets chances, England will have a good chance to go through.

Niko Kranjcar

Niko Kranjcar has never been an abundant scorer for club or country, but he has always demonstrated the ability to find the back of the net when needed.

Son, your country needs you.

Sitting as massive underdogs to both Spain and Italy, Croatia will need to find goals from a team that lack a quality striker.

Instead, the squad will turn to its midfield for goals.

With one of the better tandems of central midfielders in the entire tournament, Croatia certainly stand a chance. While his former teammate Luka Modric steals the hype, it may soon be Kranjcar who steals the headlines.

His four goals in qualifying led the team, and they will need him to continue to produce if they are to shock Italy or Spain and progress into the knockout stages.

Juan Mata

While Juan Mata may be no secret at Chelsea, he's certainly not the finest scorer for Spain.

One would likely tip Fernando Torres, Fernando Llorente, David Silva and perhaps even Cesc Fabregas (if he could get on the field) as players who will definitely outscore Mata.

I truly don't believe Torres will finish the group stage as the starting striker for Spain. He is a shadow of his former self, and no part of me is convinced otherwise. When he looks like the player he once was, I'll believe he's become that player again.

Llorente will score goals, probably the most of any Spaniard.

I believe Silva, too, will have a successful tournament. He may even be Spain's second-leading scorer.

And then comes Mata, who may not even start. However, among the armada of world-class midfielders Spain has to choose from, it is perhaps Mata who will be first off the bench. His aggressive, high-energy play will help La Roja break through even the biggest parked bus.

And the fact that he isn't necessarily expected to score, as with others on this list, may be the reason he finds chances.

I expect Mata to be an integral part of Spain's Euro campaign, whether as starter or sub.

Miroslav Klose

Some will see Miroslav Klose on this list and immediately argue he does not belong. However, he scored nine goals in six qualifying games for the Euros, as well as providing two assists.

He scored against every opponent Germany faced in qualifying and put in at least one goal in each match he participated in.

And yet, Mario Gomez is the talk of the town, appearing on shortlists for both Golden Boot candidates and "exciting players to watch" lists all over the place.

Not to mention, he's the odds makers favorite for the Golden Boot.

Gomez will probably start the tournament for Germany, but anyone who doesn't think Germany's all-time leading scorer is going to see plenty of action is outside themselves.

Klose was born for major international tournaments. He is the second all-time leading scorer in World Cup history (behind the Brazilian Ronaldo) and Germany's all-time leading scorer.

When he gets on the field, expect goals.