Weekend Review: Harry Kane finds form as first goalscorer in handsome win for England
England thrash Ukraine 4-0 to set up semi-final showdown against Denmark as Italy take on Spain at Wembley
England’s quarter-final heroics at Euro 2020 gave punters two reasons to celebrate as the Three Lions march on to their second semi-final appearance in consecutive major tournaments under Gareth Southgate.
Southgate’s side romped to a 4-0 win against Ukraine, with goals from Harry Kane (2), Harry Maguire and a first international goal for Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson sealing victory in Rome.
England will now face Denmark, who edged past the Czech Republic 2-1 in their quarter-final, at Wembley on Wednesday 7 July for a place in the final against either Italy or Spain.
England were well-backed at odds of 1/2 against Ukraine and handsomely repaid that faith, much to the dismay of the bookies who may have been hoping for an upset in private.
Come for Gareth Southgate's celebrations…
…stay for @ChrisPowell1969's
pic.twitter.com/GvnF5uPhOl
— England (@England) July 4, 2021
England are now generally 6/4 favourites in the outright betting to lift the trophy, followed by Italy at 9/4, Spain at 3/1 while Denmark are the outsiders of the quartet at 10/1.
Betfred’s Alan Firkins said: “England’s wonderful run in Euro 2020 is great for turnover, and our customers helped themselves to a bit of double delight on Saturday courtesy of resurgent Harry Kane’s goalscoring exploits against Ukraine. A far sterner test awaits against Denmark.
“England are of course a big loser in the outright book, but Fred has reiterated that he’d be delighted to cough up,” he added.
William Hill’s Rupert Adams noted: “The England result was obviously not good with a decisive victory and Harry Kane opening the scoring – the only consolation was that both teams did not score.”
On the other side of the draw, Italy continued their great form with a 2-1 win over Belgium while Spain needed penalties to dispatch a stern Switzerland side after the game finished 1-1.
Sweet dreams, everyone!
#VivoAzzurro #BELITA #EURO2020 #ITA pic.twitter.com/c17GBOtGuf
— Italy
(@Azzurri_En) July 2, 2021
Kindred Group’s Ali Gill said England’s well-backed win was offset by some of the other fixtures over the weekend.
Gill said: “As we get to the business end of the Euros and football’s journey home ramps up, it was a weekend for the punters on Saturday as England thrashed Ukraine and Denmark saw off a late Czech rally to make the semis.
“Both games left us well in the red, although the quarters all told left us about level after Friday went to the layers. Our patriotic Belgian contingent were disappointed to see their team lose to Italy, and Spain drawing with Switzerland in 90 mins was another great result for the book,” he added.
Elsewhere, in horseracing, St Mark’s Basilica ridden by Ryan Moore ran out a worthy winner in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown in a small but competitive field.
The three-year old was only one of four horses competing in the race including Addeybb and Mishriff, but the Aidan O‘Brien-trained colt was able to keep his cool and ease past his older rivals to victory.
St Mark’s Basilica
Dewhurst
What a fabulous colt he is. It’s a record-equalling sixth success in the @Sandownpark showpiece for Aidan O’Brien and a second victory in it for Ryan Moore. pic.twitter.com/uuPL70uZKM
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 3, 2021
Firkins said: “Fabulous performance from the well-backed St Mark’s Basilica at Sandown – a display of real authority – and the Eclipse hero is now a warm order at around 6/4 with Betfred for York’s Juddmonte International in August.”
Gill added: “The Eclipse at Sandown on Saturday attracted a small but high-quality field. Although heavily backed late on, punters had lined up to oppose St Mark’s Basilica early in the day and we ended up almost exactly level after the finishing post as he won at evens.”