Biggest Football Day Of The Year So Far…10 Bets A Second To Be Placed
William Hill are expecting the England/Italy match to turnover in the region of £18m for British bookmakers, taking more than any of Englands group games, more than the Champions League Final and more than the title deciding Manchester derby at the end of last season. The turnover figures are boosted by the fact that the match is so close, with William Hill unable to separate the two sides. England are 9/5 to win in 90 minutes with the Italians the same price and the draw 19/10. Both sides are 10/11 to qualify.
This match is going to be keenly contested and very tight and we expect that this will drive turnover higher than it has been at any point throughout the course of the tournament, said Hills spokesman Joe Crilly. Despite the fact that we are expecting a huge day on Sunday, that will be dwarfed should England win and face Germany in the semis.
During the final group game of Englands campaign against Ukraine, William Hill took 6 bets per second and that number is set to increase to around 10 with up to £1.5m set to be staked in play.
All eyes will undoubtedly be on the mercurial talents of both Wayne Rooney and Mario Balotelli and William Hill are offering 12/1 that Balotelli sees red and 14/1 that Rooney does. It is 6/1 for either player to be sent off. Hills make Mad Mario 8/11 to be booked before Rooney (who is 4/1 to be booked before his Manchester City counterpart). Rooney is 9/2 to score the first goal, with Balotelli 11/2 to do so.
England have scored three headed goals in the tournament and William Hill make England 4/1 to score a headed goal against Italy. They have also taken advantage of their opportunities when they have (not so frequently) arisen and Italy are unsurprisingly 8/13 to have more shots on target.
Englands performances have been typified by their resilient performances while not having much of the ball and they are 4/1 to have less than 40% of the possession in their match vs Italy.
90 minutes: 9/5 England; 9/5 Italy; 19/10 draw
To qualify: 10/11 England; 10/11 Italy
Man of the match: 5/1 Steven Gerrard; 5/1 Andrea Pirlo; 6/1 Wayne Rooney; 7/1 Mario Balotelli; 7/1 Antonio Cassano; 8/1 Andy Carroll; 8/1 Danny Welbeck; 8/1 Antonio Di Natale; 10/1 BAR
England possession: 4/1 less than 40%; 4/6 40-50%; 7/4 51% or more
*settled by UEFA.com post match
Most shots on target: 8/13 Italy; 6/5 England
*settled by UEFA.com post match
4/1 England to score a headed goal
To be booked first: 4/1 Rooney; 8/11 Ballotelli; 5/4 neither booked
Joe Crilly
Press Officer
Twitter: @footy_joe
T: 0208 918 3746
M: 07850 518 164
E: jcrilly@williamhill.co.uk