England cut from 12-1 for Euro 2016 success

RARELY can a friendly result have caused such a stir in the betting markets but England’s excellent performance in beating Germany 3-2 in Berlin on Saturday has seen their odds seriously contract to win Euro 2016.

England, reasonably friendless at 12-1 before the comeback success over the world champions, are as low as 8-1 and a best-priced 10-1 with Coral and Paddy Power to win a first European Championship crown.

Superb second-half goals from Harry Kane and substitute Jamie Vardy cancelled out Germany’s advantage before Eric Dier won the match with a last-gasp header and debate will now rage as to whether injured captain Wayne Rooney deserves to regain his starting spot.

Rooney is seen as a certainty to be in Roy Hodgson’s 23-man squad at 1-10 and despite the fearless performances of his younger Three Lions, the skipper is still expected to line up for England in their Euro 2016 opener against Russia in Marseille on June 11.

Bet365 rate Rooney 4-7 to start, while Hills are 7-4 that England’s record goalscorer misses out on the team.

Beating Kane to the central striking role could be an issue, but there are still various ways for Rooney to make his mark in the starting 11.

Rooney could play wide instead of Adam Lallana or Danny Welbeck, or Dele Alli could be shifted to one of those positions so the Manchester United man can play slightly behind Kane.

Hodgson also has the option of a midfield diamond that would allow Rooney and Kane to play together and keep Alli in the number ten position.

However, Rooney must be slightly nervous as it was a good night for most of the starters in Berlin and Sky Bet cut a number of those to retain their spots for the Russian encounter.

Right-back Nathaniel Clyne is now 4-11 from 4-7, Dier is 10-11 from 5-4, Alli is into 1-3 and Danny Welbeck is 5-4.

Vardy is a 7-4 shot with Hills to get the nod, while it was a bad evening for absent winger Raheem Sterling - he is now 1-2 with Sky Bet to start against Russia.

Danny Rose impressed on his international debut at left-back but Sky Bet see him as a 6-5 poke to oust fellow left-back Ryan Bertrand who is the same price in one of the few positions that still looks up for grabs.

Hodgson, almost reluctantly, called it his finest moment as England manager but he may want to share some of the credit with Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino as 40 per cent of Saturday’s starters ply their trade at White Hart Lane.

The high-energy pressing system adopted replicated what Pochettino has achieved with Spurs this season and bet365 are offering a market on how many Tottenham players are selected for the first Euro 2016 match.

Three is the even-money favourite, followed by four at 11-4. Two is 3-1, one is 14-1, none 25-1 and five or more can be backed at 16-1.

Fitness permitting, four must be a serious runner and Kane appears to be one of the first names on the team sheet. He is 15-8 with bet365 to be England’s top scorer in France, with Rooney pushed out to 4-1 and Vardy is available at 11-2.

Betway, Hills and Ladbrokes cut Kane to be the top tournament scorer in France but he is still generally available at 25-1, while Germany’s second scorer, Mario Gomez, was introduced into the market at 40-1 by Paddy Power.

That Gomez goal, which doubled Germany’s lead after Toni Kroos broke the deadlock, highlighted a potential weakness at the heart of England’s defence which may yet undo all the swagger in the attacking third.

A reality check comes from bet365 in their Euro 2016 stage of elimination market where the favourite is the quarter-finals at 9-4 and a last-16 exit is next on the list at at 5-2.

However, despite the defensive concerns, the 10-11 offered about England topping Group B from Russia, Wales and Slovakia should come under pressure before the tournament starts and BoyleSports are taking a chance with their 5-4 about the Three Lions beating the Russians.

The optimism which surrounded the national team in the early part of this century had disappeared for the last couple of tournaments, but is well and truly back with a bang.