Ball street crash

With Brazil & Argentina bowing out of the World Cup, punters have lost a lot of money, writes Sonal Srivastava.

So, you’re sad that the month-long soccer extravaganza ends tonight? Well, so are the punters as it actually turned out to be a nightmare for them.

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Things were under control till the quarterfinals but then the stakes just shot through the roof — for the Portugal Vs England match, more than Rs 150 crores were at stake in the city only on whether the match would end in 90 minutes.

The problem for the punters got compounded with Brazil and Argentina crashing out of the World Cup and throwing the whole idea of hot favourites out of the window. And that the final has boiled down to two European teams has also knocked the wind out of the sails for Indian punters as they were banking on Latin American teams and England.

Says punter Nikhil Gupta (name changed), “With Brazil and Argentina crashing out, the bookies made a lot of money and the betters lost a lot.”

Tame affair

The World Cup final is shorn of all excitement for the Indians as not many punters know much about the Italian and French players.

Adds Gupta, “Not much is known about the French except for Zidane and Henry.” Gupta lost about Rs 50,000 because of the unexpected results in the quarterfinals of the World Cup.

Another businessman who doesn’t wish to be named says, “It was widely felt that the FIFA World Cup is controlled only by a few European countries and that seems to be true.”

As for the final, France is the favourite because of Zidane and carries a rate of 80 paise approximately. Italy is hovering around Rs 1.25.

Betting trends

Whatever may be the scenario but one can’t deny the fact that soccer made a dent, even though temporary, in a nation’s preferences where the willow rules the roost.

Particularly this year, people placed their money not only on the results but also on the number of goals scored and the goal scorers. Says another punter, “All those betting over soccer can be broadly classified into two categories — the first type is the sentimental better for whom the rate factor doesn’t matter.

All those under this category placed money on Brazil, but with the team crashing out in the quarter-final, the punters lost more money. The other types are the smart betters who bet keeping the rates in mind.”

All said and done, the results in the FIFA World Cup so far have left the betters high and dry. The case could have been different had Brazil, Argentina or England made it to the finals.

For the record

Notwithstanding the fact that Indians have lost interest in the World Cup because of Brazil bowing out, approximately Rs 300 crores to 400 crores will exchange hands in India for the final in Berlin tonight. And still they call us a third world nation!