£25 Million To Be Bet On Euro Final

William Hill are expecting around £25 million to be staked in the UK on the Euros Final this weekend as 11/10 favourites, Spain, take on 11/5 Italy. The draw is offered at 21/10. Hills make Spain 8/15 to lift the trophy while Italy are 6/4 to do likewise.

“The England/Italy match has been our highest turnover match of the Euros so far but we are expecting the Final to far exceed that,” said Hill’s spokesman Joe Crilly. “Our punters are used to not having England in a major final and tend to get involved in the Final regardless of a Three Lions presence.”

Mario Balotelli was the architect of Italy’s victory against Germany and he is 15/2 to score the first goal of the game and 11/1 to score two or more goals. Balotelli is the 5/4 favourite to be named as the tournament’s top scorer and 10/1 to win Player of the Tournament.

At the end of the Premier League season, Balotelli had a small falling out with his manager at Manchester City although the way in which he has played in this tournament makes Hills think those cracks may have been papered over and they offer 1/33 that he is still at the Etihad next season (10/1 to have departed).

“Andrea Pirlo has been the main man for Italy in this tournament so far and is rightfully the odds-on favourite to win the Player of the Tournament award but if Super Mario puts in a similar performance on Sunday to the one he did on Thursday, he may well grab the award for himself, as well as the Golden Boot,” said Hill’s spokesman Joe Crilly.

Euro 2012 top goalscorer: 5/4 Mario Balotelli; 8/1 Mario Gomez; 8/1 Alan Dzagoev; 8/1 Mario Mandzukic; 8/1 Cristiano Ronaldo; 9/1 Fernando Torres; 11/1 Cesc Fabregas; 25/1 BAR

Player of the tournament: 8/11 Andrea Pirlo; 7/2 Andres Iniesta; 10/1 Mario Balotelli; 10/1 Xabi Alonso; 16/1 Iker Casillas; 16/1 Gianluigi Buffon; 16/1 Xavi; 16/1 Cristiano Ronaldo; 20/1 Cesc Fabregas; 20/1 Antoinio Cassano; 25/1 BAR

Tournament winner: 8/15 Spain; 6/4 Italy

Final:

90 minutes: 11/10 Spain; 11/4 Italy; 21/10 draw

Match to go to penalties: 4/1

First scorer: 6/1 Fernando Llorente; 6/1 Fernando Torres; 7/1 Cesc Fabregas; 7/1 Alvaro Negredo; 15/2 Mario Balotelli; 8/1 Antonio Cassano; 9/1 Pedro; 9/1 Antonio Di Natale; 10/1 BAR

To win in extra time: 10/1 Spain; 12/1 Italy

To win on penalties: 9/1 Spain; 9/1 Italy

Joe Crilly
Press Officer

Twitter: @footy_joe

T: 0208 918 3746
M: 07850 518 164
E: jcrilly@williamhill.co.uk

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Spot Kick Heartache 9/2 For Roy’s Boys

No strangers to penalty exits, William Hill are offering 9/2 that England are knocked out of the Euros in the cruellest of ways (they are 1/8 to not be eliminated by penalties). Elimination at the hands of spot kicks is quoted at 9/2 but 1/8 that penalties do not decide the Three Lions’ fate.

William Hill are betting on how many of the quarter finals will go all the way to a penalty shootout with 4/6 being offered for all four to be finished without a shootout. One game is 11/8, two is 7/1, three is 25/1 and all four matches to go to a shoot out is 100/1. Germany are 14/1 to win the final with spot kicks.

There has not been a nil-nil scoreline in the Euros since the semi finals of Euro 2008 but William Hill go 5/6 for there to be at least one 0-0 draw (in 90 minutes) in the remainder of the tournament. It is also 5/6 there won’t be. After 24 matches every game has had at least one goal.

“The competition could get edgier as more and more is put on the line but we feel the quarter finals will be settled, at the maximum, within 120 minutes but good news for England is that their fate is not fancied to be settled by penalties. That should keep fingernails from biting a bit,” said William Hill spokesman Mark Young.

After the first round of the Euros, William Hill can report that they have just about broken even. The book has been aided by a couple of high profile draws but the positives from that have been negated by the fact that England, Wayne Rooney, Mario Gomez and Cristiano Ronaldo have all been on form.

How Many Quarter Finals will go to Penalties?
4/6 None
11/8 One
7/1 Two
25/1 Three
100/1 Four

Score line of 0-0 in the rest of the tournament?
5/6 yes, 5/6 no

England to exit the tournament in a penalty shootout?
1/8 no, 9/2 yes

14/1 Germany to win the tournament on penalties

Further Information
Mark Young
PR Assistant, William Hill
Email: myoung@williamhill.co.uk
Phone: 02089183981

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Rooney Return To Push Three Lions Into Quarter Finals

Wayne Rooney returns to the England team on Tuesday night as they look to rubber stamp qualification to the quarter finals with victory over the co hosts Ukraine.

Roy Hodgson is ready to unleash Rooney on Euro 2012 after sitting out the opening two fixtures leading William Hill to produce special prices around the England man.
In a Goals Match Bet, Rooney is 7/2 to score more than the Ukraine. It is 1/1 for the tie. He is 4/11 to score no goals on Tuesday, 9/4 to score one, 9/1 for two and 33/1 to find the net three or more times.

The Three Lions could yet fail to qualify. They are 9/4 to finish third in the group and 2/1 to win the group. William Hill believe they will finish second at 11/10 and qualify for the next round where they will play the winner of Group C.

“Carroll, Walcott and Welbeck all scored against Sweden but Rooney is the X Factor in the England team and with barely a half of football under his belt in the last month he will be itching to go out there and prove his worth for England,” said William Hill spokesman Mark Young.

England Finishing Position: 2/1 Winner, 11/10 Second, 9/4 Third.

Goals Match Bet: 7/2 Rooney, 1/1 Tie, 5/4 Ukraine

Rooney Goals Vs Ukraine: 4/11 Zero, 9/4 One, 9/1 Two, 33/1 Three or More
*Bets are void if Rooney doesn’t start

Group D winner: 8/15 France; 2/1 England; 6/1 Ukraine

Group D to qualify (not to): 1/200 France (25/1); 2/7 England (5/2); 5/2 Ukraine (2/7)

Joe Crilly
Press Officer

Twitter: @footy_joe

T: 0208 918 3746
M: 07850 518 164
E: jcrilly@williamhill.co.uk

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383 Bets Per Minute As England Fight Back To Defeat Sweden

Following England’s stunning victory over Sweden on Friday night William Hill are sweating. This is due to the fact that British bookmakers could be forking out over £10m should the Three Lions go on and win the trophy.

“Despite the turmoil that faced the England team just months before the tournament was to begin, patriotic punters have gone mad for England and they are by far the worst result for us at this moment in time,” said Hill’s spokesman Joe Crilly. “The two opening performances of the tournament have more than justified our punter’s support as well.”

During the game 34,504 bets were staked with Hills, equating to 383 bets per minute and 6 bets per second on the outcome of the game. England were still relatively well fancied when they were 2-1 down and punters were piling into them at 2/1.

Joe Crilly
Press Officer

Twitter: @footy_joe

T: 0208 918 3746
M: 07850 518 164
E: jcrilly@williamhill.co.uk

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England Defensive? 12/1 To Be Tournament’s Top Scorers

William Hill have almost £1 million liabilities on England winning the Euros and after Friday’s thrilling victory over Sweden, look like they will at least qualify for the quarter finals – meaning that by the time they kick off against Ukraine, that liability could well be into seven figures. England are 2/7 to qualify from Group D and 2/1 to win the group. The Three Lions are 10/1 to win the tournament.

After their one goal apiece against Sweden Danny Welbeck and Andy Carroll are both 3/1 to be England’s leading scorers at the Euros, while with four goals already, England are 12/1 to be the tournament’s leading scorers. Wayne Rooney is 1/20 to return against the Ukraine and Hills make his 2/1 that he scores one goal, 10/1 two and 33/1 three or more.

“England threw off the defensive shackles that Roy Hodgson’s sides have shown in the past and the last 20 minutes showed that England can attack with the best and we think they could now prove a few people wrong (including Laurent Blanc) and be the tournament’s top scorers,” said Hill’s spokesman Joe Crilly.

Despite the victory, John Terry did not have his best game in an England shirt and he is 9/2 to fail to start against Ukraine while James Milner is 9/4 to be dropped to the bench.

England top goalscorer: 3/1 Danny Welbeck; 3/1 Andy Carroll; 11/2 Theo Walcott; 6/1 Wayne Rooney; 10/1 Joleon Lescott; 10/1 Ashley Young; 14/1 BAR

Match odds: 23/20 England; 5/2 Ukraine; 11/5 Draw

To start vs Ukraine: 5/6 Carroll; 5/6 Welbeck; 1/20 Rooney

How many will Rooney score vs Ukraine: 2/5 none; 2/1 exactly one; 10/1 exactly two; 33/1 three or more

John Terry to start vs Ukraine: 1/8 yes; 9/2 no

James Milner to start vs Ukraine: 1/3 yes; 9/4 no

Group D winner: 8/15 France; 2/1 England; 6/1 Ukraine

To qualify from Group D (not to): 1/200 France (25/1); 2/7 England (5/2); 5/2 Ukraine (2/7)

England to be the highest scoring team in the tournament: 12/1

Joe Crilly
Press Officer

Twitter: @footy_joe

T: 0208 918 3746
M: 07850 518 164
E: jcrilly@williamhill.co.uk

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You Bet England Can Hold On To Ball And Hit The Target

Under Roy Hodgson, England have not yet managed to achieve over 50% possession in three games, but William Hill think that could all change against Sweden on Friday. The firm make the Three Lions 8/11 to have 50% possession or more during the match (Evens that they do not). Against France, England had just one shot on target, but again, Hills think that they will better that against a somewhat weaker Sweden team. It is 5/6 for England to have 7 or more shots on target during the game (with the same price offered for fewer than seven).

“Hodgson has claimed that he does not pay much credence to statistics but we are sure that he will be acutely aware of the fact that England need to improve in the attacking third and we think that he will set England up in such a way to do so,” said Hill’s spokesman Joe Crilly.

England are 11/10 to win their game against Sweden and with Danny Welbeck expected to start again for Hodgson’s side, he is 6/1 to open the scoring.

The early kick off in Group D sees the Ukraine take on France and Andriy Shevchenko is 11/1 to bag another two goals or more in the match. France are 11/10 to win, while the home side are 5/2.

11/4 Sweden; 11/10 England; 21/10 Draw

First Scorer: 6/1 Danny Welbeck; 13/2 Andy Carroll; 7/1 Ashley Young; 15/2 Jermain Defoe; 8/1 Zlatan Ibrahimovic; 9/1 Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain; 9/1 Theo Walcott; 10/1 BAR

England possession vs Sweden: 8/11 over 49.5%; 1/1 under 49.5%

England shots on target vs Sweden: 5/6 over 6.5; 5/6 under 6.5

Man of the Match (Sweden vs England): 6/1 Steven Gerrard; 6/1 Zlatan Ibrahimovic; 7/1 Ashley Young; 7/1 Danny Welbeck; 8/1 Andy Carroll; 10/1 Ola Toivonen; 10/1 Markus Rosenberg; 11/1 Alex Oxlade Chamberlain; 12/1 BAR

5/2 Ukraine; 11/10 France; 9/4 Draw

Joe Crilly
Press Officer

Twitter: @footy_joe

T: 0208 918 3746
M: 07850 518 164
E: jcrilly@williamhill.co.uk

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Euros Latest: Shevchenko 10/1 For Golden Boot

Euro co-hosts, Ukraine went top of Group D after an Andriy Shevchenko brace and William Hill make them 4/6 to qualify from the group and 4/1 to win it. Shevchenko is 10/1 to bag the golden boot.

“Shevchenko is a national hero in the Ukraine and even more so now,” said Hill’s spokesman Joe Crilly. “Just imagine what it would be like if he ended the tournament with the golden boot.”

England drew with France and given the way in which the Three Lions have set up in Roy Hodgson’s first three games, they could all be tight affairs and they are 14/1 to remain unbeaten but to go out at the group stages.

14/1 – England to go unbeaten but fail to qualify

Group D winner: 6/4 France; 7/4 England; 4/1 Ukraine; 11/2 Sweden

Golden boot: 5/1 Mario Gomez; 8/1 Alan Dzagoev; 10/1 Zlatan Ibrahimovic; 10/1 Andriy Shevhenko; 12/1 Karim Benzema; 14/1 Antonio Di Natale; 14/1 Mario Mandzukic; 16/1 BAR

Tournament winner: 5/2 Germany; 3/1 Spain; 9/1 France; 10/1 Italy; 12/1 Holland; 12/1 England; 12/1 Russia; 20/1 Portugal; 25/1 Croatia; 401Ukraine; 40/1 Denmark; 50/1 Poland; 100/1 Czech Republic; 100/1 Sweden; 100/1 Greece; 250/1 Republic of Ireland

To qualify from the group (not to): 4/9 France (13/8) ; 8/15 England (11/8); 4/6 Ukraine (11/10); 9/2 Sweden (1/8)

Joe Crilly
Press Officer

Twitter: @footy_joe

T: 0208 918 3746
M: 07850 518 164
E: jcrilly@williamhill.co.uk

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William Hill Expect To Take £100m For Euros…bookies Batten Down The Hatches

William Hill are gearing up for a potential £100m tournament with the European Championships just around the corner. Hills offered 16/1 on England (now 10/1) on Saturday and added to their liabilities of over £1m on the Three Lions, while punters have also been backing Spain (11/4), Germany (3/1) , Holland (13/2) and France (10/1).

“We are incredibly excited about this tournament and so are our punters,” said Hill’s spokesman Joe Crilly. “In fact, we alone are expecting to take £100m across all channels throughout the course of the Euros.”

Germany’s Mario Gomez is the 8/1 favourite to win the Golden boot and given the expansive way in which the energetic and youthful German side play, they could well reach the Final (6/4) and score plenty of goals along the way. Gomez is followed in the betting by 10/1 Robin van Persie and 12/1 Cristiano Ronaldo, who had two of the most remarkable goalscoring records in world football last season. Being banned for the first two matches of the tournament, Wayne Rooney is 33/1 to end the tournament as top goalscorer while Thomas Muller, who won the Golden Boot at the 2010 World Cup, is 25/1 to do the same in Poland and Ukraine.

England are 13/8 to be eliminated at the group stage and 15/8 to go out in the quarter finals but should there be an early exit for Roy’s boys, all English eyes will turn to one man. Howard Webb is 10/1 to referee the Final, while Scotland’s Craig Thompson is the same price.

William Hill Euros Odds:

Euro 2012 Winner: 11/4 Spain; 3/1 Germany; 13/2 Holland; 10/1 England; 10/1 France; 14/1 Italy; 20/1 Portugal; 20/1 Russia; 50/1 Ukraine; 50/1 Poland; 50/1 Czech Republic; 50/1 Croatia; 66/1 Sweden; 66/1 Greece; 80/1 ROI; 100/1 Denmark

To reach the final: 5/4 Spain; 6/4 Germany; 5/2 Holland; 9/2 France; 9/2 England; 11/2 Italy; 13/2 Portugal; 7/1 Russia; 16/1 Croatia; 16/1 Poland; 16/1 Ukraine; 20/1 Czech Republic; 25/1 Greece; 25/1 Sweden; 25/1 Denmark; 33/1 Republic of Ireland

Top Goalscorer: 8/1 Mario Gomez; 10/1 Robin van Persie; 12/1 Cristiano Ronaldo; 14/1 Fernando Llorente; 14/1 Karim Benzema; 14/1 Klaas Jan-Huntelaar; 14/1 Miroslav Klose; 18/1 Fernando Torres; 20/1 Robert Lewandowski; 25/1 Mario Balotelli; 25/1 Lukas Podolski; 25/1 Thomas Muller; 33/1 Cesc Fabregas; 33/1 Wayne Rooney; 33/1 Antonio Di Natale; 33/1 David Silva; 33/1 Wesley Sneijder; 33/1 Alvaro Negredo; 33/1 Rafael van der Vaart; 33/1 Antonio Cassano; 40/1 BAR

…other notable goalscorers… 50/1 Danny Welbeck; 50/1 Steven Gerrard; 50/1 Andy Carroll; 66/1 Ashley Young; 80/1 Theo Walcott; 80/1 Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain; 80/1 Frank Lampard; 100/1 Robbie Keane

Player of the tournament: 10/1 Mario Gomez; 12/1 Mesut Ozil; 12/1 David Silva; 14/1 Cristiano Ronaldo; 14/1 Robin van Persie; 14/1 Andres Iniesta; 16/1 Bastian Schweinsteiger; 16/1 Xavi; 16/1 Fernando Llorente; 20/1 Arjen Robben; 20/1 Fernando Torres; 20/1 Klaas-Jan Huntelaar; 20/1 Thomas Muller; 20/1 Lukas Podolski; 25/1 Karim Benzema; 25/1 Wesley Sneijder; 33/1 Franck Ribery; 33/1 Mario Balotelli; 33/1 Samir Nasri; 33/1 Steven Gerard; 33/1 Cesc Fabregas; 40/1 Mario Gotze; 40/1 Antonio Di Natale; 40/1 Nani; 40/1 Rafael van der Vaart; 40/1 Toni Kroos; 40/1 Antonio Cassano; 50/1 BAR

…other notable player of tournament… 50/1 Frank Lampard; 66/1 Wayne Roney; 66/1 Ashley Young; 80/1 Joe Hart; 80/1 Theo Walcott; 100/1 Scott Parker; 100/1 Andy Carroll; 100/1 John Terry; 150/1 Ashley Cole; 150/1 Shay Given; 150/1 Robbie Keane

England top scorer: 6/1 Wayne Rooney; 6/1 Steven Gerrard; 6/1 Danny Welbeck; 13/2 Ashley Young; 7/1 Andy Carroll; 9/1 Theo Walcott; 10/1 Jermain Defoe; 12/1 Frank Lampard; 20/1 No goalscorer; 25/1 BAR

England stage of elimination: 13/8 group stage; 15/8 quarter finals; 9/2 semi finals; 15/2 runner up; 10/1 winner

Who will referee the final: 3/1 Viktor Kassai; 6/1 Pedro Proenca; 7/1 Damir Skomina; 8/1 Cunyet Cakir; 8/1 Nicola Rizzola; 10/1 Craig Thompson; 10/1 Jonas Eriksson; 10/1 Howard Webb; 10/1 Stephane Lannoy; 12/1 Wolfgang Stark; 12/1 Carlos Velasco Carballo; 14/1 Bjorn Kuipers

Joe Crilly
Press Officer

Twitter: @footy_joe

T: 0208 918 3746
M: 07850 518 164
E: jcrilly@williamhill.co.uk

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Rio Odds On To Never Don The Three Lions Again

The decision to leave Rio Ferdinand out of the England squad, despite the catalogue of injuries, has stirred consternation amongst the masses and William Hill think that this could be the final nail in the long serving defender’s international coffin. He is 4/9 to never play for England again and 4/1 to announce his international retirement before the start of the 2012/13 Premier League season.

“Rio is a veteran of over 80 England caps but it looks like he will fail to add to his impressive tally,” said Hill’s spokesman Joe Crilly.

Hills are now betting on when Ferdinand will retire from football completely and offer 10/1 that he does so this year. Ferdinand fans need not worry, however as the odds of 6/4 suggest it is much more likely he is still playing in 2015.

“Players often add a couple of years to their playing careers by retiring from international football and Rio’s omission could be a blessing in disguise,” said Crilly.

Rio Ferdinand to announce his international retirement before the start of the 2012/13 Premier League season: 4/1

Rio Ferdinand to play for England again: 4/9 no; 13/8 yes

What year will Rio Ferdinand retire from professional football: 10/1 2012; 15/8 2013; 13/8 2014; 6/4 2015 or later

Joe Crilly
Press Officer

Twitter: @footy_joe

T: 0208 918 3746
M: 07850 518 164
E: jcrilly@williamhill.co.uk

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Kelly To Replace Cahill…but He Will Not Replace Him In Starting Xi

Gary Cahill has been withdrawn from the England squad to add to Roy Hodgson’s woes and his replacement, Martin Kelly, is 1/3 with William Hill to see no action during the Three Lions three group games (9/4 to make any kind of appearance vs France, Ukraine or Sweden). Cahill’s injury means that a maximum of 10 of Saturday’s XI vs Belgium will be able to start against France and Hills offer 7/1 that all ten of those take their places next week. The most likely, however, is eight of the players to start at 8/11 with nine at Even money.

“Cahill will be a big loss considering the fact that it looked like he was going to be starting alongside Terry and now it looks like Lescott will have to step up to the plate,” said Hill’s spokesman Joe Crilly.

How any of England’s starting XI vs Belgium will start against France: 25/1 seven or fewer; 8/11 eight; 1/1 nine; 7/1 ten

Martin Kelly to make any kind of appearance during England’s group stages: 9/4 yes; 1/3 no

Joe Crilly
Press Officer

Twitter: @footy_joe

T: 0208 918 3746
M: 07850 518 164
E: jcrilly@williamhill.co.uk

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