Weekend Review: Spain's late strike snatches Euro 2024 away from England

An 86^th minute winner from Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal broke English hearts and ensured La Roja lifted a record fourth European Championship on Sunday night as the bookies also took a beating.

Spain ran out 2-1 winners, with Cole Palmer cancelling out Nico Williams’ opener, only for Oyarzabal’s close range effort to inflict further misery on Gareth Southgate, the team, hopeful fans and several operators.

The loss represents a second successive Euros final defeat for England, who were on the wrong end of penalty shootout heartache against Italy at Euro 2020.

Kindred Group’s Ali Gill said the punters managed to get the upper hand in the final game of the tournament after a difficult month.

He said: “After what can only be described as an incredibly tough four weeks for punters in terms of results, they at least signed off with a positive result as the final came in pretty much as bad as it possibly could for the book in one of the worst results we’ve seen in a long time.

“To top it off, at some very backable odds pre-tournament, Spain winning also saw the outright book finish in the red too. 

“But no complaints after what has been a far from vintage tournament on the pitch but one that has by and large been one-way traffic for players.”

Steve Freeth of bet365 revealed that Spain’s success was also bad news for the bookmaker, that also took a “substantial hit” when it came to individual player markets.

With star talent throughout the Spain squad in the shape of 17-year-old Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo and player of the tournament Rodri, there was plenty for punters to get stuck into.

He explained: “We made Spain fifth favourites coming into this tournament and we’ve been made to pay. 

“Not only that we’ve taken a substantial hit in a number of player markets with 33/1 Rodri being named player of the tournament, 18/1 Lamine Yamal landing the young player award as well as being 40/1 for most assists, a 2-1 win for Spain in normal time was not only our worst result on the night, it was our worst result of the tournament.

“We’ll be joining the England fans in licking our wounds.”

Freeth added the operator saw 17.7% of its outright bets on pre-tournament favourites England, while Spain, who set off at 9/1, were down on 8.9%.

He continued: “But, bet365 customers were only impressed with one team on the run to Berlin. 

“Luis de la Fuente’s side would go off 4/6 favourites and understandably so if you compare the relative performances and draw that both had to overcome as punters ended on top with the best team winning.”

The tournament’s final produced a similar story for Betfred, according to Alan Firkins, who talked up England’s efforts but conceded the operator was a “loser” on Sunday night.

Firkins said: “Let’s give the players massive credit. As for the manager, he has to ponder whether another World Cup campaign can help him find the key to fully unlocking the potential in his squad. 

“Business was brisk during the tournament and, as we were top-price Spain on the day, the final was a loser for us. The outright market was kinder, but overall our customers thoroughly enjoyed the weeks of cut and thrust over in Germany.”

LiveScore Group’s head of trading Francisco Cano echoed a similar sentiment as, despite plenty of action across LiveScore Bet and Virgin Bet, it was a tough evening for the traders.

He said: “The great turnover figures did not translate into positive margins given the result as everyone was expecting over 2.5 goals and both teams to score. 

“Similarly, the pre-tournament odds on Spain winning the outright competition were relatively high across the industry, resulting in a negative margin.”

Away from the Euro final, Freeth revealed bet365 paid out more than £8m thanks to the firm’s ‘Extra Time Extra Chance’ offer, with prop bets being carried over past the 90-minute mark.

Other markets cited as big hits were for goals to be scored outside the box, including from Yamal in the semi-final against France and Xavi Simons’ belter at the same stage against England, both 22/1.

Meanwhile, the Euro 2024 final wasn’t the only high-profile sporting event of the weekend, with both the women’s and men’s Wimbledon singles finals taking place on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

Carlos Alcaraz secured his second consecutive Wimbledon title after a dominant straight-set triumph over Novak Djokovic.

The women’s title was won by Barbora Krejčíková, as the 31^st seed won 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 against world number five Jasmine Paolini.

Reflecting on the weekend’s action at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, Gill explained how the tennis produced far better results for the bookmaker than the football.

He said: “At Wimbledon, the men’s final went to 21-year-old Carlos Alcaraz who successfully defended his title. 

“He went off as odds-on favourite despite playing one of the best to ever play the game in Novak Djokovic, but the 3-0 sweep took punters by surprise and that was a very positive result in the book. 

“The women’s title went the way of Barbora Krejčíková for her maiden Wimbledon victory in a result which saw us marginally ahead.”

Elsewhere, Saturday was also a busy day of racing at Newmarket, with Gill revealing it was a mixed afternoon for Kindred.

Mill Stream (11/1) emerged victorious in the 144^th edition of the July Cup to win by a neck after emerging from a wide position late on.

The four-year-old edged out Swingalong in second and Vandeek in third. Inisherin, the favourite, ended two-and-three-quarter lengths back in fifth place.

Elsewhere, Enfjaar won the John Smith’s Cup Handicap after going off at 15/2 and beating the favourite Botanical into second, while 4/6 Ancient Truth came out on top in the Superlative Stakes.

Gill remarked: “A super Saturday of racing saw 11/1 shot Mill Stream take the July Cup in a battling finish against Swingalong at 22/1. No surprise that was a bumper result for us.

“However, in the John Smith’s Cup Handicap, despite beating the 9/2 favourite, 15/2 shot Enfjaar was well backed on the day and that went to the punters, as did the Superlative Stakes where 4/6 favourite Ancient Truth won well under Will Buick.”

Betfred’s Firkins added: “Newmarket handler Charlie Appleby invariably enjoys the July meeting at HQ and his Ancient Truth, comfortable winner of the Superlative Stakes, is now 12/1 fav for the 2,000 Guineas.”