Omens From 66 Point Towards England World Cup Triumph

England could start at the same odds to win the World Cup as the successful winning side of 1966, say bookmakers William Hill, who currently have England at 6/1, the same odds at which Sir Alf Ramsey's heroes where being quoted just before the start of the1966 tournament.

"When England won in 1966, they started as second favourites at 6/1 and only Brazil were better fancied as 9/4 favourites. Next in the betting were Argentina and Italy, while they also faced the prospect of going into the tournament without their talismanic player, the charismatic striker Jimmy Greaves" said William Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe.

"England are now 6/1 second favourites, and again Brazil are the only side better fancied than England - at 9/4. And next in the betting, both at 8/1,are Argentina and Italy. Plus ,England still face the prospect of being without talismanic, charismatic Rooney. It could be an omen. One of our customers certainly believes so - he has staked £1000 at 500/1 that England will beat Germany 4-2 in the final - the same scoreline as 1966, and stands to collect half a million pounds if he is right."

England were cut to 6/1 over the weekend after a flurry of patriotic support, on the back of positive news about Wayne Rooney's prospects of playing and Peter Crouch's hat trick in the 6-0 thrashing of Jamaica.

"The feelgood factor is now threatening to leave bookies with a ten million pound World Cup headache as every English punter seems to want to have a bet on England whether they truly believe they can win it, or just in case they finally come good afrter forty years" said William Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe.

"Punters will gamble over £1million per hour for the duration of the World Cup, producing a record breaking betting turnover of £1 billion on the tournament" added Sharpe.

Latest William Hill World Cup odds:

9/4 Brazil

6/1 England

8/1 Argentina/Germany/Italy

12/1 Holland/Spain

14/1 France

20/1 Portugal

William Hill make Wayne Rooney 8/13 to play in the World Cup, 6/5 to miss out.

Michael Owen is 7/1 to be a Liverpool player on the first day of the next Premiership season, thus allowing him to team up with his England striker partner Crouch.

William Hill have installed Paul Robinson, England's keeper, as 6/1 fourth favourite to win the FIFA Lev Yashin Award for the World Cup's top goalkeeper.

William Hill make Dida and Lehmann 5/1 joint favourites with Bouffon at 11/2 and also offer:

7/1 Abbonanzieri/Casillas

9/1 Van der Saar

10/1 Barthez

12/1 Cech

16/1 Ricardo