YOU HAVE at hand it to English soccer followers. Their unshakable bullishness about their staff’s prospects belies 58 years of heartbreak in main tournaments. England are heading into the Euros, which kick off on June 14th, because the bookmakers’ favourites. Their odds of seven to 2 suggest that they’ve a 22% probability of successful the event. France are second (20%), adopted by the hosts, Germany (15%).
Bookmakers, although, are influenced by punters. Such beneficial odds for England could mirror the sheer weight of cash wagered by their fan base, who account for an enormous share of the worldwide betting market. The Economist’s knowledge staff has used three measures to evaluate their true possibilities.
