The Hindu : Brazil, Spain and England are top contenders

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jun 18, 2002

Sport

Sport - Football

Brazil, Spain and England are top contenders

LONDON JUNE 17. Brazil, Spain and England were rated on Monday as the top three favourites to win the World Cup by British bookmaker William Hill.

Brazil was listed at 2-1, followed by Spain at 7-2 and England 4-1.

Rival bookmaker Coral listed Brazil as favourite at 9-4, followed by England 10-3 and Italy 7-2 and Spain 4-1.

Brazil reached the quarterfinals on Monday by beating Belgium 2-0, while Spain beat Ireland on penalties Sunday and England thrashed Denmark 3-0 on Saturday.

William Hill predicted that Friday's quarterfinal between England and Brazil would generate more betting than the final itself.

``The combination of patriotic fervour and the traditional glamour and charisma of Brazil will make this the match everyone wants a flutter on,'' said William Hill spokesman Graham Sharpe, who predicted 20 million pounds ($28 million) would be wagered on the match.

Other odds given by William Hill were: Italy 9-2, Germany 6-1, Senegal 20-1, Japan 28-1, the United States 33-1, Turkey 50-1 and South Korea 66-1.

Coral had Germany on 6-1, Senegal on 20-1, Japan and the U.S on 40-1, Turkey on 50-1 and South Korea on 66-1. — AP

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