World Cup 2010 - Gambler places record World Cup bet - and loses

**BingoT** · 9th July 2010, 12:19 PM

World Cup 2010 - Gambler places record World Cup bet - and loses
A British gambler placed the biggest World Cup bet of all time on Germany to beat Spain in the World Cup semi-final - and lost.

The £417,000 wager - that's half a million Euros - was placed with William Hill's telephone betting service at odds of 10/11, meaning the punter would have walked off with just under £800,000 if Joachim Loew's men had prevailed.

But Carles Puyol's winning second-half header put paid to the punter's dreams - and we doubt any fan in the world was screaming louder at their TV sets when the referee denied Germany a late penalty.

William Hill spokesman Graham Sharp admitted before the match that a Germany win would be a disaster, with the nation having received huge backing throughout the tournament including a £67,000 bet being placed on them before the championship at 14/1.

But Spain have also attracted the high-rollers, with one man putting £50,000 on Fernando Torres and co to lift the trophy.

Eurosport
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/080720...bet-loses.html