Weekend Review: England’s perfect penalties set up Dutch duel

After 120 minutes and five perfect penalties, England booked their place in the Euro 2024 semi-finals as operators were left smiling following three 90-minute draws in the four quarter-final ties.

Breel Embolo gave Switzerland a 1-0 lead with 15 minutes to go, only for Bukayo Saka to equalise five minutes later with a stunning strike and his best moment of the tournament. Neither team were able to find that extra gear in 30 minutes of extra time, meaning the game would be settled from the spot.

Jordan Pickford saved Manuel Akanji’s opening effort and with all five England players on target, including a no-look effort from Ivan Toney, Gareth Southgate’s side booked a final-four showdown with the Netherlands on Wednesday night.

The match will be a rematch of the Euro 96 group stage tie which ended 4-1 to the Three Lions, the last time the two teams squared off at a major tournament.

Netherlands came from behind to beat Turkey 2-1, while France needed penalties to beat Portugal and send Cristiano Ronaldo home in tears in his final European Championship performance after a 0-0 draw across 120 minutes.

Spain broke German hearts with a 119^th minute winner, with Mikel Merino’s goal ending the host nation’s dreams of winning on their home turf.

Dani Olmo gave Spain the lead just after the break, only for Florian Wirtz to equalise with a minute of normal time remaining.

With only one quarter-final settled without the need for extra-time or penalties, bet365’s Steve Freeth said the firm has paid out £8m as a result of its Extra Time Extra Chance offer.

The operator also saw several prop bets land, including England’s Jude Bellingham having multiple shots on target and referee Anthony Taylor booking seven players in the match between Spain and Germany.

Freeth said: “The concession is for pre-game player market bets being paid in bet credits if they win in extra-time and it’s for singles, multiples and bet builders.

“We had two of our most popular bets landing in the England versus Switzerland clash in extra-time. Jude Bellingham taking over 1.5 shots and over 0.5 on target.

“Not only that, we saw Declan Rice also having a shot on target to go with his over 0.5 tackles and over 0.5 fouls committed in normal time in a boosted bet builder.

“And then there was the small matter of Anthony Taylor producing seven cards, including a red for Dani Carvajal in the extra 30 minutes between Spain and Germany.

“We paid out a big number with our Super Boosted England to qualify (4/7 – Evens) but it was still a favourable result in Dusseldorf as have been the other three matches as the majority of teams take the cautious approach.

“However, it’s not all one-way traffic as the Extra Time Extra Chance offer goes to prove,” he added.

For Kindred Group, Ali Gill noted the England win was the firm’s best result of the weekend.

Gill said: “The struggle for punters in the Euros continued at the quarter-final stage as three of the four matches finished a draw in 90 mins.

“On Saturday, England did it the hard way once again, coming from behind to force extra-time, this time round adding the pain of penalties for supporters. I don’t think anyone enjoyed it except the traders, as that result finished as very comfortably our best over the whole weekend.

“Despite Netherlands coming from behind to beat Turkey, that finished another good result in the book, as overall Euro 2024 has been a layers delight up to now.”

As the tournament draws to a close, Spain are currently favourites with Betfred to go all the way at 15/8, with England 5/2 and World Cup 2022 finalists France coming in at 11/4.

Betfred’s Alan Firkins said: “We’re all going through the Euro wringer, but Fred’s certainly not losing the faith like many pundits and fans as we were top price for Switzerland on Saturday. Not a bad result then in 90 minutes, and of course a brilliant one eventually for all us patriots dreaming of making another final perhaps, or even more.”

Freeth also detailed some outstanding liabilities for bet365 in the individual player markets, with the standout success stories of Bellingham and Spanish teenager Lamine Yamal catching the eye.

He said: “As for the outrights, we’d take an England win right now with Spain (9/1 into 2/1) being the bogey in all of them.

“Having got rid of Bruno Fernandes and Toni Kroos we have one sizeable loser left in the player of the tournament book thanks to Rodri.

“We’ll do well to get Lamine Yamal (18/1 – 4/7) chinned in the young player award after some sensational showings and he also features heavily in the most assists market, having shortened from 40/1 into 11/10, so it’s fair to say we’d happily take France boring their way to a semi-final victory over Luis de la Fuente’s outfit.”

Across the Atlantic at the Copa América, it was a disappointing end to the tournament for Brazil as they went out on penalties to Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay.

A dour 0-0 draw led to the shoutout, with Juventus’ Douglas Luiz and Real Madrid’s Éder Militão both failing to convert, ending hopes of a Brazil versus Argentina final.

Betway’s Mike Reading said: “Sunday’s Copa América results were a rollercoaster as heavy favourites Colombia won by a large margin against Panama, which represented a terrible result for us.

“However, the 0-0 draw between Uruguay and Brazil after 90 minutes brought some relief to our trading team. It was a result that improved further when Uruguay knocked Brazil out on penalties, ending their tournament and their chances in the outright betting market.

“World champions Argentina are now the odds-on favourites to win this year’s competition at 4/5 across the board.”

Elsewhere, in horseracing over at Sandown, City of Troy (1/4) took the Coral Eclipse after setting off as the odds-on favourite but it was a hard-fought victory under Ryan Moore.

The three-year-old was unable to replicate his performance in the Derby but was able to fend off the challenge of 11/1 shot Al Riffa to give trainer Aidan O’Brien another win this season.

O’Brien said next up would either be the Juddmonte International at York or the Irish Champion Stakes for the runner.

Meanwhile, Queen of the Pride (100/30) beat favourite Tiffany in the Lancashire Oaks at Haydock after a quick change of pace to quicken three lengths clear.

Firkins said: “City of Troy was workmanlike in taking the Eclipse on Saturday at Sandown, and he’s becoming a difficult horse to pigeonhole.

“Aidan O’Brien talks him up so much that you just have to take notice, but his Classic season is having its ups and downs, for sure.

“I really enjoyed the brilliant performance of Roaring Lion filly Queen of the Pride in taking the Lancashire Oaks at Haydock, especially as we know what the limited progeny of that outstanding, much-missed multiple Group One-winning colt means to Oisin Murphy, the Gosdens and owners Qatar Racing.”