Weekend Review: England’s seven-goal show leaves operators down in the dumps

Operators lost out as punters revelled in England’s 7-0 thrashing of Croatia on Saturday night in the Nations League.

Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka both found the back of the net twice, with Jude Bellingham and Anthony Gordon also getting in on the action.

Morgan Rogers, who replaced Kane, also grabbed a goal – much to the delight of customers who backed Kane to score a hat-trick.

Commenting on the result, bet365’s Steve Freeth said: “We had 11 pre-game wagers placed on 7-0, as well as 303 on Harry Kane scoring a hat-trick, which on the face of it was a loser.

“However, his replacement, Morgan Rogers, came off the bench and notched the seventh.”

The mauling in the Croatian port city of Rijeka leaves England second in their group behind Spain, who made it three wins from three after beating Czechia 3-1.

BOYLE Sports spokesperson Brian O’Keefe noted England have dropped in price to win the international tournament, with Thomas Tuchel’s side now 5/1 and World Cup winners Spain still the favourite at 9/4 and France 3/1.

The top two teams in each of the four A groups will progress to the quarter-finals. A knockout tournament will then ensue, with the Nations League final scheduled for June 2027.

Bookmakers also lost as Wales beat 10-men Norway on Thursday night 2-1. However, the Republic of Ireland were unable to capitalise on its 3-0 win over Israel – with the two sides playing out a 1-1 draw when they met 48 hours later.

Betfred’s Alan Firkins said: “The Nations League has provided some perhaps unexpectedly exciting action, and the home nations have all had reasons to be cheerful.

“No one pretends that business or interest levels mimic those attached to the Premier League, but our customers have nevertheless enjoyed the wall-to-wall matches giving the past couple of weeks very much a tournament feel.

“The standout I guess was England’s 7-0 annihilation of Croatia in Rijeka on Saturday, but Wales’s 2-1 victory against Norway in Cardiff on Thursday, coming from behind, was a fine effort too.”

Elsewhere, Luke Humphries claimed the World Grand Prix by beating Gerwyn Price 6-4 and became the fourth player to win the title on more than one occasion.

Phil Taylor remains the most successful with 11, followed by Michael van Gerwen with six and James Wade with two.

O’Keefe remarked: “Luke Humphries ended his barren run without a PDC major trophy, beating Gerwyn Price 6-4 in the BOYLE Sports World Grand Prix in Leicester.

“Despite his early exit, Luke Littler remains favourite for the PDC World Championship.” This relevant? 

At the races, Daryz secured back-to-back Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe victories, beating Bay City Roller and Diamond Necklace, who finished second and third, respectively.

Despite coming in third, Diamond Necklace is the favourite to win the 2027 meeting at 10/1, with second-placed Bay City Roller coming in at 12/1.

Firkins said: “The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp was won in emphatic style on Sunday by last year’s hero Daryz, who came with a scintillating late rattle to catch the gallant outsider Bay City Roller in the final pulsating yards under jockey Mickael Barzalona.

“The Aga Khan’s four-year-old Sea The Stars colt was mightily impressive in the Parisien sunshine and was the heavily backed jolly, returned at odds of 6/5.

“First time a colt has gone back-to-back since Alleged and Lester Piggott in ’77 and ’78, and though a hat-trick bid is thought most unlikely with a career at stud waiting, he certainly occupies an exalted place among winners of the great race,” he added.