Peter Crouch's celebrated Robot Dance has made a swift transition from the soccer pitch to the dance floor.

A jerky routine reminiscent of Star Wars' C3PO, the dance was first seen on television when the 6' 7" striker scored in last week's England [Images] friendly against Hungary.

Its fame spread like wildfire, stealing the headlines just as the public was beginning to wilt under the barrage of speculation about Wayne Rooney's [Images] broken metatarsal.

Prince William [Images] asked to see the routine when he visited the England training camp and now bookmakers say Crouch is the tournament's top novelty bet.

"Doing the Crouch" has also spawned a new dance craze among clubbers.

"From Burnham-on-Crouch to Crouch End, people are doing the Crouch," The Guardian said in a poll on how to do the Robot special.

Hip, it ain't. "More like what embarrassing uncles do at weddings" is a typical reaction from the unconvinced.

But as World Cup fever mounts ahead of England's first game against Paraguay on Saturday, gamblers are hooked.

"It is our top novelty bet," said Graham Sharpe, spokesman for bookmakers William Hill. "It has eclipsed interest in what haircut Beckham will be sporting for the opening game."

"We are offering odds of 2-1 that he will perform it once in the tournament, 3-1 to bring it out twice and 4-1 for three or more. We have already seen bets of 500 pounds," he added.

William Hill even offered odds of 50-1 that Crouch would win TV dance contest "Strictly Come Dancing."

Crouch first launched the routine at a pre-tournament party given by England captain David Beckham [Images] and his wife Victoria at their lavish "Beckingham Palace" home.

The Liverpool striker, once mocked by critics who said he was too gangly to be an effective striker, takes his instant celebrity status with a hefty pinch of salt.

"I was goaded into it by the rest of the lads," a bashful Crouch said of his impromptu display before William, second in line to the throne and honorary president of the English Football Association.

Shaking his head in amused bewilderment, Crouch said: "He's the future King of England and I've just done a stupid dance in front of him. It's all a bit surreal to be honest."

Crouch joins a long list of goal scorers whose jubilation spills over into riotous and sometimes calamitous celebrations.

Brazil's [Images] Romario did a rocking baby routine with Bebeto, Cameroon's Roger Milla danced with a corner flag.

Ireland's Robbie Keane somersaults and pretends to fire a gun. Germany [Images] coach Juergen Klinsmann used to do a diving routine with his former Tottenham Hotspur team mates.

Nigerian striker Julius Aghahowa could always get a job in a circus if all else fails -- he celebrates with seven perfectly executed backflips.

But exuberance can cost strikers dearly.

Portsmouth's Lomana LuaLua does several somersaults -- and injured himself last season with one such routine, missing the next key relegation match.

(Additional reporting by Ken Ferris)