London - British bookmakers are experiencing a surge in backing for England to win the World Cup after a businessman in the United Arab Emirates bet 50 000 pounds on Sven-Goran Eriksson and his men.
The bet is the biggest World Cup wager accepted so far by bookmakers William Hill and was placed at odds of 6-1.
A spokesperson for William Hill said England had been receiving support from all over the world. A Chinese client has staked 20 000 pounds on an England triumph in Germany and there have also been big wagers from individuals in France, Turkey, Australia, Canada, Finland, Greece and Norway.
Even the Scots - famous for their preference for England defeats - are getting in on the act with a punter north of the border splashing out 1 000 pounds on the chance of the 'auld enemy' going all the way.
"To date the vast majority of bets on England to win have been from patriotic English punters but it now looks like there is a world-wide gamble on England winning the greatest prize in football," said Rupert Adams, a spokesperson for Hills.
"No longer is it England expects, the whole world is expectant."
The surge of money behind England has not however affected Brazil's status as short-odds favourites to lift the trophy for the sixth time.
Latest World Cup betting from William Hill:
9/4 Brazil, 6/1 England, 7/1 Germany, 8/1 Argentina, 9/1 Italy, 12/1 France, 14/1 Spain, 14/1 Holland, 22/1 Portugal, 33/1 Czech Republic, 40/1 Sweden, 50/1 Mexico, 50/1 Ivory Coast, 66/1 Ukraine, 66/1 Croatia, 80/1 USA, 80/1 Australia, 100/1 Serbia and Montenegro, 100/1 Poland, 150/1 Switzerland, 200/1 Korea Rep, 200/1 Paraguay, 200/1 Japan, 250/1 Ghana, 400/1 Tunisia, 400/1 Ecuador, 500/1 Togo, 500/1 Iran, 500/1 Costa Rica, 500/1 Saudi Arabia, 750/1 Angola, 1000/1 Trinidad And Tobago.
