Bookmakers certain Cup winners,except if England win
(AFP)
Updated: 2006-06-15 11:28 British bookies are rubbing their hands with glee
at the prospect of their greatest ever World Cup victory, with only one
disastrous possibility standing in their way: England winning the tournament.
"Let's be clear: if England win the World Cup, it will be the worst result in
our history in terms of payouts," Simon Clare from Coral told AFP.
At bookmakers Ladbrokes, William Hill, Coral, Paddy Power and Bet365, the
favourites to win the trophy are the same: Brazil first, then England, Germany,
Argentina, Italy and France.
England's position as second favourites owes much to patrotic betting by the
nation's punters.
But for the bookmakers, there is a down side to the wads of cash backing
England coming their way: if captain David Beckham lifts the trophy, they will
have some huge payouts to make.
But the farther England progress in the competition, the more money the
bookmakers rake in.
"For us, the best thing would be for England to get to the final and lose on
penalties," said Graham Sharpe from William Hill.
A Brazil victory would also get the bookmakers opening their wallets, but
their losses on that outcome would be nowhere near as large.
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