Wahey! My foray into the gambling world paid off, and I'm a grand total of £20 better off after backing England to win and sticking a fiver on Sweden and Denmark to draw. If only I'd bet bigger, eh? Group B games tonight, with Germany playing Norway and Italy taking on France, and another chance to make some money/fritter away the company dime*.
*delete as appropriate after the games.
Once again the odds on Germany, hot favourites for everything, including the Tour de France and the 3.50 at Epsom, are unattractive to a punter like me [i.e. I won't bet big enough to make 8/15 worthwhile - come on, I haven't cleared this with accounts yet]. Besides, we don't yet know if Birgit Prinz will play [word is she's planning on making her return against Italy] and Norway, ranked third in the world, will provide Germany's toughest test in the group. They can rely on solid defending from captain Ane Stangeland behind a young but disciplined team, and the sides have the two best goalkeepers in the world, so a draw is a distinct possibility. I know what you're thinking, lightning doesn't strike twice, but at 11/4, what's the harm in a fiver?
Italy v France is a different prospect altogether. When Italy played England in February, they didn't turn up. England played very well, but they faced barely half the challenge they might have done, while France have boosted their squad with some exciting and fearless youngsters, and still have old hands like Corinne Diacre and super striker Marinette Pichon to call on. I'm saying France will take this at a canter, so there's a tenner on them at 5/6.
Oh, and while we're on the subject of gambling [OK, this doesn't quite segue, bear with me], I have a GU Euro 2005 fantasy league update: I'm winning! Only by one point from Karoliina Flander's Munakoiso FC, however, and it's very tight at the top, so I expect to be right royally dethroned after tonight's action. There are 39 of us battling it out now, and if you want to join us, just register your team, then click on "Join league" and enter the code 2315-329 to become a league member.
