Betting giants reveal how many England fans think Three Lions will win World Cup
Even though Thomas Tuchel’s side are among the favorites to lift the trophy, only a fifth of England fans back the Three Lions winning the FIFA World Cup.
That figure leaves England significantly behind many of its European rivals when it comes to domestic support for the national team, according to new data from leading bookmakers.
Betting analysis from Ladbrokes and Coral owner Entain sheds light on the extent of “patriotic betting” ahead of the men’s football tournament starting on Wednesday.
Portugal leads the way with a remarkable 57 percent of all domestic bets placed on its national team.
France emerges as the second most patriotic country in terms of betting, with 29 percent of bets in the domestic market backing its teams.
It is followed by Austria with 25 percent and Germany with 24 percent. By contrast, England’s home support of 20 per cent highlights a significant lack of trust among their own fans.
Sentiments are even lower north of the border; Just nine per cent of all bets on Scotland back their team, currently priced at 300/1 to win.
The data from Entain covers bets placed up to (3 June inclusive) and includes figures on the percentage of bets and bets placed by punters on their home country in each market.
Betting odds across Entain’s global markets show Spain leading the team as the most supported team overall, followed by France, with England and Portugal in third place.
Despite the trust between rival countries, Spanish punters are less patriotic; 16 percent of bets favor home country.
The data also revealed that cross-border support was limited; 8 per cent of Scots are betting on England to win and just 1 per cent of British punters are backing Scotland to lift the cup.
Tom Ritzema, Entain’s group trading director, said the risks showed “football loyalty and betting logic do not always go hand in hand”.
“England fans are passionate, but years of near misses have led them to think beyond their own country,” he said.
“Portugal stands out as the most patriotic market, with fans firmly supporting their teams, while countries such as France and Germany also show strong belief.
“But what is striking when looking at the global picture is that Spain remains the most popular choice in our markets, showing that neutrals and patriots alike are looking for their winners beyond national borders when it comes to this World Cup.”
