That's what my brother made from a €10 bet. He predicted all four group winners in Euro 2004: Portugal, France, Czech Republic and Sweden. Sweden left it very late, though. With minutes remaining in their last group stage game against neighbours Denmark, they were trailing 1-2, a score which would have elevated the Danes. Luckily for (exceedingly jammy) John, the Swedes managed a late equaliser.
You see, kids: Gambling does pay!
UPDATE: Seems like I underestimated his winnings: it was more like €570!
No no no! :)
http://www.gavinsblog.com/mt/archives/001288.html
Posted by: Gavin | June 22, 2004 at 11:04 PM
The one gamble that always, always, pays off is the English bubble. At a certain point in international football tournaments, the Sasanaigh convince themselves, after easy early victories, that the trophy is within in their grasp, after an assured victory over paper tigers, like Brazil in '02. Given a little bit of skill in timing, it never goes wrong.
Posted by: Peter Nolan | June 23, 2004 at 12:31 AM
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I for one am glad to see the Italians go home. There's nothing I like less than seeing a team so rich in attacking talent suddenly decide to sit on a one-goal lead two-thirds of the way through a game. This time there'll be no Byron Moreno for the Azzuris to blame - they brought this result on themselves.
What's really making me curious at this point is wondering whether it'll be Rudi Völler's uninspiring team or the ever-squabbling Dutch who'll make it through Group D. This really shouldn't have been a contest - why can't the Dutch get their act together?
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Posted by: Abiola Lapite | June 23, 2004 at 02:21 AM
This really shouldn't have been a contest - why can't the Dutch get their act together
It's true, but Holland have become as disappointing as Spain. Both teams have a surfeit of talented players but always seem to fall short at major finals, causing many a rational punter to lose his shirt. Spain's problem seems to be a lack of nerve, the confidence seems to drain away. Holland's problem is intercine strife, they need their manager to be like Rodney King: "Why can't we all just get along?"
As for qualifying, it is really out of their hands. I would love to see the Dutch virtuosos go through, instead of the grim German hacks but while they should have no problem dispatching Latvia, it is far from certain that Germany won't beat the superior Czechs. The Czech second string team will probably still steam forward in numbers and you'd have to, regrettably, fancy the German defence to hold firm and catch the weaker Czech defense on the break.
Posted by: Frank McGahon | June 23, 2004 at 09:27 AM
Frank, surely your brother's not going to keep that money after last night's "Scandinavian fix"? He must recognize that the Danes let the Swedes get that draw. :-)
Posted by: John | June 23, 2004 at 10:03 AM
I really don't want the Germans to win tonight. They are ridiculously dull.
I'd actually prefer Holland to go through, but could live with Latvia getting it because it would be a huge upset.
Posted by: John | June 23, 2004 at 10:05 AM
Frank, surely your brother's not going to keep that money after last night's "Scandinavian fix"?
Well, I am going to Rome on holiday in September so he could always give it to me to spend there. I am sure that the extra cash injection into the Italian economy would be welcome after last night's disappointment.
Posted by: Frank McGahon | June 23, 2004 at 10:21 AM