Only 20% of England fans are expressing confidence in the Three Lions winning the Fifa World Cup, even though Thomas Tuchel’s team is among the tournament favorites.
This statistic puts England well behind several other European nations regarding local support for their national squad, based on new insights from top bookmakers.
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According to betting analysis from Entain, the parent company of Ladbrokes and Coral, the current sentiment around “patriotic betting” before the men’s football event, which starts on Wednesday, is revealing.
Leading the charge is Portugal, with a remarkable 57% of all domestic bets placed on their national team.
France ranks as the second most patriotic nation in betting terms, with 29% of home market wagers supporting their squad.
Following closely are Austria at 25% and Germany at 24%. In stark contrast, England’s 20% suggests a significant level of uncertainty among its supporters.
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In Scotland, the enthusiasm is even lower, with only 9% of all bets placed supporting their team, who currently hold odds of 300/1 to win.
England fans gather to watch the Three Lions’ World Cup warm-up game against New Zealand (Reuters)
The Entain data includes bets placed up to June 3, analyzing the percentage of bets and stakes made by users in favor of their home country.
In the global betting landscape, Spain currently leads as the most supported nation, trailed by France, with England and Portugal tied for third.
Though rival nations exhibit strong confidence, only 16% of bets from Spanish bettors are placed in support of their home team.
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The data also highlights limited cross-national support, with only 8% of Scots betting on England to win and just 1% of English bettors putting money on Scotland to lift the trophy.
Tom Ritzema, group trading director at Entain, remarked that the numbers illustrate how “football allegiance and betting decisions don’t always align.”
Harry Kane (second right) will play a critical role in England’s World Cup ambitions this summer (Bradley Collyer/PA)
“While England fans are fervent, past disappointments have led them to look beyond their own team,” he explained.
“Portugal clearly stands out as the most patriotic nation in betting behaviors, while countries such as France and Germany are also showing notable support.
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“Interestingly, from a global perspective, Spain emerges as the most favored team across our markets, indicating that both neutrals and patriots are looking beyond their own borders when considering their World Cup favorites.”