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England cut after last-gasp Wales win

ENGLAND are on the verge of qualification for the knockout stages of Euro 2016 following yesterday’s dramatic 2-1 win over Wales in Lens which left bookmakers counting the cost of the Group B showdown.

Billed as the Battle of Britain it was more a war of attrition as both sides struggled to produce much quality in a scrappy affair.

There was, though, plenty of drama with the show-stopping scene of the first half a blunder by England cat Joe Hart who allowed the ball to squirm into his net following a Gareth Bale free kick.

That was the start of the misery for the layers with bet365 and Hills claiming losses of £5m on the game.

Bet365 had gone 16-1 about Bale scoring a direct free kick following his set-piece against Slovakia on Saturday, while their £50 in-play free bet offer was also costly as England turned the game in their favour after the breakthrough Jamie Vardy’s equaliser and Daniel Sturridge’s last-minute winner.

The pair came off the bench at half-time and look to have played their way into the starting line-up for their final group game against Slovakia on Monday.

Hills go 1-3 that Vardy gets the nod and 1-2 that Sturridge starts the game for Roy Hodgson’s men in St-Etienne, while Harry Kane – who made way for Vardy yesterday – is a 6-4 shot.

Manchester United starlet Marcus Rashford made his tournament bow when he replaced Adam Lallana in the second half and he is 7-2 to be on the pitch for the opening whistle in England’s group decider.

Betfred have cut Vardy from 6-1 to 5-2 to finish as England’s leading tournament scorer with Kane pushed out to 5-1 and Sturridge a 3-1 shot.

The firm go 2-1 about Vardy winning Sports Personality of the Year.

England – 8-1 from 9-1 to win the tournament – are 1-50 with Coral to qualify from Group B with Wales 1-4 with Sky Bet to follow their conquerors into the last 16.

Slovakia are 1-2 with Coral to progress with Russia, who they beat 2-0 on Wednesday, 6-4 for a remarkable recovery.

Northern Ireland remain a big price to make the knockouts despite beating Ukraine 2-0 in Lyon yesterday.

Goals from Gareth McAuley and Nial McGinn got the goals for Michael O’Neill’s side who defied odds of 7-1 to produce the shock of the tournament so far.

Ukraine had been well-backed and went off as short-priced favourites but struggled to cope with Northern Ireland’s enthusiasm and the atrocious weather conditions.

Northern Ireland, though, face Germany in their final game and are 11-1 shots to secure victory.

 

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