Weekend Review: Bookies toast England and Argentina draws 

Bookies benefitted from two FIFA World Cup quarter-final fixtures going to extra-time, as the 2026 tournament enters its final week.

England (3/4) set up a semi-final fixture against Argentina by beating Norway 2-1 in extra-time on Saturday night.

Jude Bellingham cancelled out Andreas Schjelderup’s first-half opener, with his second goal coming minutes into extra-time.

Bet365 said it settled 6,658 wagers for the Real Madrid midfielder to score two or more goals, with extra-time included in the market.

Argentina (7/10) also failed to secure a result in 90 minutes against 10-men Switzerland.

Alexis Mac Allister put the 2022 World Cup holders a goal ahead after 10 minutes, only for Dan Ndoye to equalise with under 25 minutes remaining.

Breel Embolo was sent off five minutes later, but Argentina were unable to make the man advantage count in normal time.

With 10 minutes remaining until penalties, Argentina’s Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martínez both found the back of the net to secure their place in the semi-finals.

Commenting on the action, Betfred’s Alan Firkins confirmed the two draws were positive results for the trading desk.

He said: “There’s certainly been something for everyone at this FIFA World Cup.

“Two quarter-final ties going to extra-time was decent news for the trading desk, and some seismic shockers have peppered the fixture list over the last few weeks, too.

“However, a glance at the semi-finalists themselves, plus the goalscorers chasing the Golden Boot, confirms stacks of the usual suspects have found their goal-laden way to the latter stages and that’s rarely good news for the layers.

“England reached this point by scraping past Norway on Saturday but that was after extra-time too, and had the cards fallen differently at one or two crucial points, our quest would have ended there and then in the stifling heat of Miami.”

England’s star, Bellingham, has moved from 28/1 to 4/1 to secure the Golden Ball. With six goals, he is two behind Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi – who both sit on eight.

Bet365’s Steve Freeth remarked: “Move over Harry Kane – Jude Bellingham is the player that bet365 customers want to be with right now and you can understand why after he dragged England through to their fourth World Cup semi-final on Saturday night.

“At 4/1, he’s hot on the heels on Mbappé and Messi in the race for the Golden Ball having been 28/1 before the Mexico game, and 20/1 from 250/1 to finish as Top Goalscorer with his latest brace taking him level with Harry Kane.

“I’d go as far to say that if we had him in the running to be the UK’s next prime minister, he’d be backed off the boards.”

The other semi-final will see France play Spain on Tuesday.

Spain left it late to overcome Belgium on Friday night, with Mikel Merino coming off the bench to find the back of the net with two minutes remaining.

France (1/2) scored two second-half goals to beat Morocco, as Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé struck for Les Bleus.

FDJ United’s Ali Gill highlighted how the operator was able to make a profit on the quarter-final results, despite two favourites winning.

“Overall, the quarter-finals were a layer friendly affair,” he said. “Two draws were, of course, great results and, despite the other two results going to the favourites, all things considered we managed profit on both of those, too.

“As we move to the semi-finals, France remain clear and well-deserved favourites, but not a whole lot splits the rest of the pack in terms of price.”

World Cup 2022 runners-up, France, are 6/4 to win their second final in eight years, with Spain, England and current Cup holders Argentina 7/2.

Meanwhile in tennis, Wimbledon concluded on Sunday with Jannik Sinner beating Alexander Zverev, despite losing the first set 7-6.

Sinner took the next three sets 7-6, 6-3 and 6-4 to claim his second consecutive Wimbledon title.

In the women’s final, Linda Nosková clinched her first major title by beating Karolina Muchová by two sets to one.

BOYLE Sports’ Brian O’Keeffe said: “At SW19 [Wimbledon postcode], Jannik Sinner’s 3-1 victory over Alexander Zverev was a blow for the bookies, with the Italian heading into the third major of the season as the overwhelming favourite.

“It was a better result for us in the women’s singles as Linda Nosková edged past Karolina Muchová to win her first major title.”

Gill added: “Wimbledon finals weekend saw Sinner continue his fine form with a four-set win over Zverev, in a result which just about went the way of the punters. In the women’s draw, Nosková won her first Grand Slam with a 2-1 win over compatriot Muchová, in a result which was overall profitable for us.”