Super Mario Brothers Head To Head On Thursday
Germany are 2/5 favourites to progress to the final of the Euros, also offered at 10/11 by William Hill to win the match in 90 minutes. Germany are expected to win the match comfortably, and Mario Gomez and Miroslav Klose are 9/2 favourites to open the scoring. As if to highlight the perceived dominance of the German side, only one Italian player is in the top five in the first scorer betting the mercurial Mario Balotelli (13/2).
The Italian has the potential to light up any stage with his ability but he is also prone to seeing the occasional red mist. Super Mario is 12/1 to receive a red card in Thursdays encounter in 90 minutes. It is 25/1 that a red card is the first thing that happens to Balotelli in the match. The favourite is that he gets subbed at 11/10, 13/8 he will finish the match, 5/2 he will be booked and 4/1 he will score. With a character like Balotelli on the pitch, each of those are as likely as the other but William Hill believe he will behave himself without scoring and will be replaced.
There is another Super Mario expected to be on the pitch on Thursday night and that is the German one, Gomez. The joint top goal scorer at Euro 2012 is 5/2 that he will be beat Balotelli in a goals match bet with the Italian at 10/3. The odds suggest they may do as well as each other with a tie rated at 8/15.
It could be argued that Gomez has been the stand out performer in a Germany team that has done so well at this tournament but Balotelli, while not being as prolific, has the ability to turn a game on its head in an instant, said Hills spokesman Joe Crilly.
Germany/Italy:
Match betting: 10/11 Germany; 7/2 Italy; 11/5 Draw
To qualify: 2/5 Germany; 7/4 Italy
Man of the Match: 7/2 Mesut Ozil; 9/2 Andrea Pirlo; 11/2 Mario Gomez; 7/1 Miroslav Klose; 8/1 Mario Balotelli; 9/1 Lukas Podolski; 9/1 Marco Reus; 9/1 Antonio Cassano; 10/1 Antonio Di Natale; 10/1 Bastian Schweinsteiger; 11/1 BAR
Match to go to penalties: 5/1
First scorer: 9/2 Mario Gomez; 9/2 Miroslav Klose; 13/2 Lukas Podolski; 13/2 Mario Balotelli; 15/2 Marco Reus; 8/1 BAR
The Mario Derby:
Gomez Vs Balotelli (Bets void if both players dont start)
5/2 Gomez, 8/15 tie, 10/3 Balotelli
12/1 Balotelli to receive a red card (90 mins only)
What will Balotelli do first? (90 mins only)
11/10 Be subbed, 13/8 Finish the match, 5/2 Booked, 4/1 Score, 25/1 receive a red card
Joe Crilly
Press Officer
Twitter: @footy_joe
T: 0208 918 3746
M: 07850 518 164
E: jcrilly@williamhill.co.uk