Right Said Fred: Talking Betting With Betfred Boss Fred Done

What a fantastic start to our World Cup campaign, with Gareth Southgate proving his critics wrong and leading us to a 6-2 triumph in our opening Group B game.

Some people say ‘it was only Iran’, but they are a top-20 ranked team according to FIFA and as has been said many times: you can only beat what’s in front of you.

Southgate, who took much stick for including Harry Maguire at the centre of defence even though he’s not been starting much at all for United and opting not to begin the game with City’s Phil Foden, got his tactics spot on.

Maguire hardly put a foot wrong, while Foden’s replacement Bukayo Saka was virtually unplayable.

One of my favourite players, Marcus Rashford, proved that his return to club form at United  is no fluke when he came on as substitute against Iran and helped pile the pressure on Southgate, who must already be pondering who to start against the USA on Friday.

Jack Grealish also added to Southgate’s selection headache when he scored from the bench too.

It will be fascinating to see who starts against the USA, who were really not that impressive against Wales in their opener, relying on energy and hard work rather than guile.

Betfred make England 4/7 to beat the USA to absolutely guarantee our passage into the knockout stages of the competition.

Gareth Southgate described the final stages of England’s thumping 6-2 win over Iran  as “sloppy”.

But that didn’t bother new Betfred customer Rohan Singh, who was hoping that the Group B outsiders would stage something of a comeback.

Car room salesman Rohan, from Nottingham, was one of the few England fans nationwide who bet that the Three Lions would triumph by such an unlikely scoreline.

And when the Iranians scored from the spot in the 13th minute of additional time, Rohan and his pals in the car dealership were ecstatic, for the 20-year-old had a fiver on England to win 6-2 at 200/1, which landed him £1,000.

For Rohan, it was a double celebration as this big United supporter’s favourite player is  Rashford, who came off the bench to score England’s fifth.

He said: “I was checking the odds on my phone, and I could tell that most people were thinking it would be a narrow victory by say one or two goals.

“But I just fancied we would get amongst the goals – and with our defence seen as a weak point I thought Iran would score too.

“It really was an insane bet.

“I haven’t really had a chance to celebrate yet, but maybe I will when England win the World Cup, which I think we now have a great chance of doing.

“It’s England against USA on Friday, and for what it’s worth I’m going for us to win 4-1.

“What am I going to do with my winnings? Well, I’m probably going to get myself some new gym clothing.”

I wouldn’t bet against England going on to beat USA 4-1 in this kind of form, as this shrewd customer predicts – and that’s a 25/1 shot with us.

It’s remarkable that we’ve had a dozen customers who went with a 6-2 scoreline on Monday – but Rohan was the biggest winner, slapping on a fiver, so well done to him.

With one World Cup just starting another has just finished! Here’s Paul Sculthorpe’s take on the RL World Cup final at Old Trafford on Saturday. The Oldham-born RL legend who is a Betfred TV pundit writes:

“Well that’s a wrap!…and what a fantastic occasion it was at Old Trafford that signed off the Rugby League World Cup. However, it does still niggle how much better it could have been if England had made it there!

“Samoa put up a great fight in front of 67,500 fans, but it was the pre-tournament favourites Australia that finally conquered.

“The Kangaroos inevitably made it a record 12th World Cup win.  Even with the vast majority of the stadium behind the South Sea islanders, and Aussie forward Angus Crichton spending ten minutes in the sin-bin for a forearm smash on the head of Samoan star Chanel Harris-Tavita, the Aussies always looked destined to lift the trophy.

“Despite neither England team, men or women making the final, there was a great atmosphere inside the Theatre of Dreams. The platform for this was laid prior to kick off with the Samoan Siva Tau (haka!) where they certainly got into the faces of their opponents …and you can’t question their efforts throughout the game.

“However, the superior talents of Tedesco, Michell and Co were there for all to see, as the Aussies went into a 20-0 first half lead and never looked back.

“Speaking of half time, it was great to see one of my favourite childhood artists, Heather Small of M-People performing ‘Search for a hero’ …just as my good friend Kevin Sinfield entered through the tunnel to a rapturous applause, following his 7in7 Ultra Marathon challenge for Rob Burrow and the MND community. Kev and his team have raised over £2m in this latest effort to support our good mate, and Leeds Rhinos legend Rob. Well done to all involved.

“Despite England’s men and women falling just short, I think the tournament as a whole was a big success. Congratulations to the Jillaroos of Australia who demolished the Kiwi Ferns in the final to claim the Womens World Cup.

“However, I think the stars of the whole RLWC2021 were the England Wheelchair team who were sensational from start to finish. They finally beat current champions France in a thrilling final, to give England at least one trophy to celebrate.

“The wheelchair competition really did capture the public imagination, and with all games screened live over the BBC channels has no doubt gained the sport thousands of new fans. With sell-out crowds and electric atmosphere, the wheelchair competition really has hit another level. The players lack of self-preservation and amazing skill and speed was a real spectacle.

“Looking  ahead to our domestic Betfred Super League competition of 2023 it will be interesting to see how my two former clubs go on, Saints under new boss, my good mate Paul Wellens who takes over from Kristian Woolf. Also, an under-pressure Darryl Powell, who will be looking to turn around a dreadful first season at the Wolves and finally challenge for silverware.

“Unsurprisingly, title sponsors Betfred have the Saints as 9/4  favourites to win their fifth title in a row…and knowing Wello as I do that wouldn’t be a surprise. Wigan are 10/3 , Warrington 8/1 and Salford 25/1 to lift the trophy at Old Trafford next year, with the other local club and returning Betfred Super League new boys, the Leigh Leopards the 33/1 outsiders.”

And finally a new car is on the cards for a shopkeeper from Yorkshire who has won £17,000 from a 34p bet on the 49s numbers game at Betfred.

The 72-year-old, who lives in Rotherham, went for the numbers 11, 17. 19, 27 and 33 – and his five-fold accumulator came in, landing him the jackpot.

He said: “I’m probably going to get myself another Ford Fiesta, even though there is not much wrong with the one I’ve got which is 16 years old and has just passed its MOT. I just need an upgrade, with a few more luxuries.

“This is the biggest win of my life. I will be getting my wife a treat when we go out shopping, and as well as the car I’ll get myself a new laptop.

What a lovely return for this hard-working fella who has deservedly retired.

It just goes to show how you can win big from a tiny stake