Huge patriotic gamble on England goes astray

Coral avoided paying out on a huge patriotic gamble yesterday ahead of the England’s game against Italy. The leading bookmaker saw a lot of interest in the Three Lions before their World Cup opener in which Roy Hodgson’s men were backed into 7-4 from 21-10 which would have seen the industry pay out millions if England had won.

Going in their second game of the tournament, England are 13-5 with Coral to win their final two games in Group D. They are 10-11 to make it through to the knockout stages, but also 10-11 to exit the tournament following the group games.

Coral make England 11-8 favourites to beat Uruguay on Thursday in a crucial clash after both sides lost their opener.

“We dodged a bullet yesterday on England as we saw a flood of bets for them ahead of kick-off. Although the result worked out in our favour, we want England to progress out of this group and deep into the tournament,” said Coral’s John Hill.

“The Uruguay game is now huge as neither side can afford to lose. England will start as slight favourites but there is not much between the two sides in the betting,” added Hill.

**World Cup outright

3 Brazil, 7-2 Argentina, 7 Germany,  10 Spain, 14 Holland, 16 Italy, 20 Belgium, France, 25 Portugal, 28 England, Colombia, 33 Chile, 66 Uruguay, 80 Japan, Switzerland, 100 Russia, Mexico, 125 Croatia, 150 Bosnia & Herzegovina, Ghana, Ivory Coast, 200 Ecuador, 250 Nigeria, USA, 300 Greece, 400 South Korea, 750 Algeria, 1000 Australia, Costa Rica, 1500 Cameroon, 2500 Honduras, Iran.

**To win Group D

4-11 Italy, 5 Costa Rica, 15-2 England, 14 Uruguay

**To qualify from Group D

1-10 Italy, 10-11 England, 11-8 Costa Rica, 10-3 Uruguay

**England v Uruguay