It’s General Election week. Thursday 4th July will see the nation go to the polls for the first UK General Election since 2019, which is a long gap by modern standards after a string of nationwide votes in the latter half of the 2010s.

General Election odds are heavily favouring an emphatic Labour win. Polls and projections have predicted a Labour landslide since Rishi Sunak’s surprise decision to call an election in the rain outside Downing Street a few weeks ago.

Sunak is the fifth Conservative Prime Minister since Labour were last in power, having followed David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, and Liz Truss.

Keir Starmer is set to become the first Labour Prime Minister since 2010, and become the first Labour leader to win a General Election since Tony Blair. Here’s our final update from the latest odds before Thursday’s General election…

Most Seats Odds

Labour remain 1/100 to have the most seats. They opened at 1/25 in this market, and polls have overwhelmingly favoured Keir Starmer’s party. It has only trended in one direction since Sunak called the election.

The rise of Farage and Reform has posed a bigger threat to the Tories than Labour, too. Reform are going to take votes from the Tories, potentially allowing Labour to sneak in and claim seats that no one expected them to compete for.

Projections have Labour winning the most seats by a sizeable margin. Plenty of polls are indicating the Tories could have under 100 seats, with Reform, the Greens, and the Liberal Democrats all set to make gains.

BBC polling has Labour with 40% of the vote as it stands. The Tories are only four points ahead of Reform, while the Lib Dems are hovering at 11%. 

Remarkably, the Tories and Reform have the same price (25/1) to win the most seats later this week. Most projections suggest this is very far-fetched, however, and 25/1 on Reform has no value given how their votes are spread across the country.

General Election Result

Labour are 1/33 to win the General Election. They were 1/20 just a fortnight ago. Good luck finding a projection that produces anything other than a massive Labour majority.

Survation projects Labour to win a 290-seat majority, with the Conservatives winning only 85 seats.

Electoral Calculus is even more optimistic about Labour’s chances, projecting that their majority could be up towards 400 seats. They also believe the Lib Dems still have a change of forming the opposition.

While there is no such formal concept as a ‘supermajority’ in British politics, this has been a term thrown around by the Conservatives to deter people from backing Labour or Reform.

There might be some tactical votes to minimise Labour’s majority, and turnout could be low with so many viewing this election as a foregone conclusion.

A hung parliament is out to 14/1. Since 1929, only three general elections have ended in a hung parliament. Harold Wilson had a minority government for less than eight months in 1974.

David Cameron formed a coalition with the Liberal Democrats in 2010, and Theresa May entered into a pact with the DUP after her snap election backfired in 2017.

Reform are 40/1 to have a majority. The Tories are 50/1. It’s an extraordinary position to be in. While neither are worth backing even at such long odds, this illustrates how close the Tories are to a potential wipeout election after 14 years in government.

There has been no whimper of a fightback from the Tories throughout this campaign. Senior figures have hidden away. Sunak has won very few people over and alienated many more. Voters are emphatically rejecting Sunak and the Tory party. 

Next Conservative Leader Odds

Kemi Badenoch has held at 11/4 to be the next Conservative leader. Badenoch has not been that visible in this campaign, but she has been in a high-profile spat with national treasure David Tennant over trans rights.

After impressing in difficult circumstances during the debates, Penny Mordaunt sits at 9/2 to succeed Sunak.

Mordaunt is not the most popular Tory politician (ranking 17th at YouGov), but she has been in high-profile positions in government, and at least seems more well-received by the electorate than Sunak.

Priti Patel and Nigel Farage sit third and fourth at 5/1 and 6/1, respectively. Either would represent an even further jump to the right from the Tories. It’s quite a feasible response to suffering a battering at the polls on Thursday.

On the other hand, Tom Tugendhat and David Cameron (7/1, 10/1) are candidates if the Tories look to battle Labour for the centre ground. Robert Jenrick and Suella Braverman are bound to have some support if they stand (both 8/1). 

It was reported over the last few days that Badenoch and Braverman have set up websites for a leadership campaign. Mordaunt’s remains active from her last effort. Both Badenoch and Braverman say the domains are nothing to do with them.

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*Credit for the main photo belongs to Alamy*

The Swinton Handicap Hurdle is run over a distance of two miles at Haydock Park, traditionally at the start of May. This feature race takes place during a mixed National Hunt and flat racing card – the last of its kind in the UK.

The race was established in 1978 and at one time was the fourth most lucrative National Hunt race in the UK after the Grand National, Cheltenham Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle.

The Swinton Hurdle is now the first major prize of the season, as opposed to the last one and more recently successes for Intersky Falcon (2002) and Macs Joy (2004) have shown this prestigious race acting as a valuable stepping stone to greater things when jump racing resumes “proper” in the autumn.

Here are the trends and statistics of the race over the last ten years.

Age

Recent figures suggest that it pays to side with the six to seven year old age bracket in this race. Horses older than eight years old have made the frame just four times in over thirty runners.

You have to go back to 1997 to find a winner older than seven in this race. Nine of the last ten winners were aged between 5 and 7.

Weight

Horses carrying over 11st 7lbs have a terrible record over the last ten years.

Top weights have also fared poorly with only Eradicate (2011) managing to carry the top weight to victory in recent times.

Official Ratings

Horses rated between 129-141 have been victorious nine times in the last ten years.

Eradicate (2011) and War Sound (2015) were the only two horses to the rated in the 140’s.

Form

• 5/10 winners finished in the first four on their last outing.

• 7/10 winners had at least 1 previous run at Haydock, 4/12 winners had at least 1 previous wins at Haydock.

• 9/10 winners had raced in the past fifty days.

• 10/10  winners had at least 4 previous runs over 15.5-16.5 furlongs, 9/10 had at least 2 previous wins over 15.5-16.5 furlongs.

• 10/10 winners had at least 4 runs over hurdles, 10/10 winners had at least 2 wins over hurdles.

Notable Races

• Horses placed in the first five in the Scottish County Hurdle tend to do well.

• Horses placed in the first six in the Imperial Cup have a good record.

• Horses that ran at one of the Festivals i.e Cheltenham, Aintree, Fairyhouse or Ayr.

Trainer Form

Evan Williams has taken home the spoils in 2013, 2014, 2017 and last year with Silver Streak. Williams is obviously very adept with his spring runners and should be ignored at your peril.

Nicky Henderson had the winner in 2010 and 2011 and has already hit the “new season” running in the last few days. Anything he runs in this worth a second look.

Philip Hobbs has a decent record with his runners in this too and he gives Sternrubin another pop at this valuable prize.

Price

A real mixture of starting prices over the last ten years with seven winners priced between 5/1 and 8/1, and three winners priced between 16/1 and 25/1.

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It would take quite some time to find a football fan who didn’t enjoy watching Roberto Carlos. Originally a forward, Carlos became a marauding left-back, collecting trophies with Brazil and Real Madrid.

The role of the full-back has evolved through the history the game, with tactical changes altering the demands at the position, but Carlos still stands out for his attack-first mentality. 

Stocky, explosively quick and with immense technical ability, Carlos challenged opponents with skill, pace and power.

He was a unique opponent for those featuring in La Liga odds, and was one half of the best full-back pairing of all-time at international level with Cafu. 

Not many defenders have impacted the attacking third quite like Carlos. His presence helped Real to titles both domestic and continental, and Brazil would not have been such a betting force in the late 1990s and early 2000s without him. 

How Much Is Roberto Carlos Worth?

Estimates of Roberto Carlos net worth can be found on various different platforms. Figures start in the tens of millions and some go up towards £120 million. 

Carlos played in a different era when wages were a long way south of what they are in the 2020s.

Still, spending over a decade with Real Madrid is a good way to bolster the coffers, and it’s no secret that he earned an historically large sum at Anzhi Makhachkala when playing alongside Samuel Eto’o.

Unlike Eto’o, Carlos never featured in Premier League predictions, but who can blame him with the money on offer elsewhere and all he achieved at the Bernabeu. 

He has a remarkable collection of cars, including multiple Ferraris, Mercedes and even a Bugatti Veyron.

Alongside considerable on-pitch earnings throughout his playing days, Carlos was (and remains) very marketable for a nominally defensive player. He currently has endorsement deals with AirAsia, and Entourage Global. 

Sunday League Appearance

Bull in the Barne United, a team named after a pub in Shrewsbury, won the chance to have Roberto Carlos appear for them in March 2022.

It was an unlikely comeback for the former World Cup winner, who featured in the first half and returned in the second period to score a penalty. 

Unfortunately for Bull in the Barne United, the presence of a multi-time Champions League winner wasn’t enough to secure victory, as they fell to 4-3 to Harlescott Rangers. 

The team had won the chance to play alongside Carlos as part of a raffle to raise money for Football Beyond Borders, a cause the Brazilian spoke about after the match.

He said, "It's a fantastic initiative. Any time there is a charity element involved in a project it's very important for me, and what FBB do is fantastic."

It was a unique experience for Carlos, who explored some of the local area before the match. 

"Football is amazing and even though I've had the opportunity to play with the biggest names in world football, playing here is very enjoyable. Always good to score a goal!

"A lot of people don't realise that even though I played with some of the biggest clubs and best players in the world I started 'here' in Brazil, at 13, 14 years old. It brings back great memories for me playing on pitches like this.

"I really enjoyed it - I also come from a small-town background, so I like the vibe in the area. I had a nice day here yesterday in the area, so I've had time to get to know it.

"It's just amazing that football gives you these opportunities to be able to meet new people, new cultures, different places. I certainly haven't been somewhere like this before."

Liam Turrall, a defender for Bull in the Barne United, described the occasion as ‘surreal’, referring to Carlos as a ‘mythical creature almost’. 

Goalkeeper and manager Ed Speller was behind the club’s entry into the raffle, creating a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for everyone involved.

Speller said, "We can safely say it's the best moment of our footballing careers and it's been one of the best days of our lives probably.

"It's been amazing, the whole experience from start to finish. You have to be realistic and say he won't be able to banana free-kick from 35 yards out maybe any more, but the penalty… that was top-quality, bottom-corner.”

That Free Kick

Back in 1997, with Brazil facing France, Roberto Carlos scored the most jaw-dropping free-kick in football history.

Lining up an effort from around 40 yards out, Carlos unleashed a physics-bending left-footed strike at over 84 miles per hour, leaving Fabien Barthez dumbfounded and rooted to the spot.

Carlos had built expectations with a lengthy run-up from the centre circle. His left boot struck across the ball, imparting immense side spin to cause a swerving shot which went round the wall and past Barthez.

French physicists had difficulty explaining exactly how Carlos had pulled off such a unique goal, and Professor Luis Fernando Fontanari from the University of Sao Paulo called the strike a ‘miracle’. 

Speaking to FourFourTwo in 2015, the Brazilian shed further light on his free-kick technique.

"I always struck set pieces on the valve because that's the hardest part of the ball and you get more power.

"I always kicked the ball from its bottom-left to the top-right, which helped it swerve.

"I'll always remember the advertising behind the goal. I was aiming for the 'A' in La Poste, but when I hit the shot it was miles away from that - going towards a different advert!

"The ball boy was diving out of the way of the shot, too. He should have had more confidence in me!"

Roberto Carlos Honours

• Campeonato Brasileiro Série A – 1993, 1994

• Campeonato Paulista – 1993, 1994

• La Liga – 1996-97, 2000-01, 2002-03, 2006-07

• Champions League – 1997-98, 1999-2000, 2001-02

• Turkish Super Cup – 2007, 2009

• World Cup – 2002

• Copa America – 1997, 1999

• Confederations Cup – 1999

• Bola de Prata – 1993, 1994, 2010 

• ESM Team of the Year – 1996-97, 1997-98, 1999-2000, 2000-01, 2001-02, 2002-03, 2003-04

• ESPN World Team of the Decade – 2009

• FIFA 100

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*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*

• Roy Keane is one of the best midfielders in Premier League history

• Since hanging up his boots, Keane has tried his hand at management and become a regular in the Sky Sports studios

• Read below for Roy Keane net worth and estimates of his salary for his punditry work

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Roy Keane is a Premier League icon. Keane was the heartbeat of so many great Manchester United teams, a whole-hearted competitor with underrated technical ability.

He wasn’t a first goal scorer pick in football betting online or a natural creator, yet Keane always influenced a match.

Since calling it a day on the pitch, the Cork native tried his hand at management with Sunderland and Ipswich.

He’s since gone on to become a pundit, taking a typically straight-talking approach about everything from pre-game routines to shaky defending.

One of the best Premier League midfielders of all-time and with a trophy cabinet to back up that claim, Keane split opinion during his playing days, and that has continued in recent years.

Net Worth

Roy Keane net worth is thought to be around £44 million, with the midfielder reportedly earning around £350,000 per year at the start of his Old Trafford stint.

This number is dwarfed by the earnings of current Premier League players, of course, and Keane benefited from wage inflation during his time with the Red Devils.

Just before he departed for Celtic, it was believed that Keane was nearing £100,000 per week.

Keane won’t be receiving anywhere near that figure for his punditry work on Sky, but we can be pretty confident he’s handsomely compensated for his fiery takes and entertaining relationship with Micah Richards.

Keane probably isn’t the first sporting personality that comes to mind with endorsements, yet he had plenty of lucrative partnerships during his playing days.

From 7UP to KitKat and Eircom, Keane wasn’t afraid to use his name and image alongside brands, and it’s bound to have had a decent impact on his net worth. For instance, he reportedly earned €750,000 from a nine-month deal with 7UP in 2002.

Sunderland

Sunderland handed Roy Keane his first managerial gig in 2006. Keane was replacing Niall Quinn, who had a torrid time in a brief stint in the dugout.

The club were already in the relegation zone, and Keane was typically ruthless, adding several players before the summer transfer window closed.

Further reinforcements were added in January as the Black Cats surged up the Championship table.

Keane’s reputation as a manager was soaring just months into his career, and he was rewarded with the February and March Manager of the Month awards.

Sunderland ultimately achieved promotion and Keane won Championship Manager of the Season.

There was conflict between Keane and FIFA vice-president Jack Warner during his first season in the Premier League, however, and with the club in the relegation zone, Keane stepped down in November.

The players had reportedly grown tired of Keane’s brutal management style, and he later claimed there was tension with Quinn and Ellis Short.

Keane went on to manage Ipswich a few months later. The club never challenged for promotion during his tenure, and he was ultimately sacked in 2011. Assistant manager gigs have followed with Ireland, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest.

While it’s over a decade since Keane took on a job in management, he was touted as a favourite for the Sunderland job in early 2022 after Lee Johnson was sacked.

It’s been a long time, but Keane isn’t ruling out a return to management just yet.

Speaking to The Overlap Live, he said, “The deal has to be right for everyone. It didn’t fall into place last week. It wasn’t meant to be. Everything has to be right – the right challenge, the right contract. You have to fancy it…

“I’ve not had the opportunity the last few years. There has not been a club where I think, ‘I’m the right fit for that club’. You need a bit of luck. The right club has to give you the call. That hasn’t happened. It’s no big deal.”

Family

Roy Keane’s wife is Theresa Doyle. The couple married in 1997, and they have five children together.

Shannon, Caragh, Aidan, Leah, and Alanna have generally been kept out of the spotlight, though they occasionally appear on Keane’s social media channels.

Sky Sports

Roy Keane first did media work with ITV, despite previously speaking out against the idea. It’s subjective whether he’s viewed as one of the best football pundits, but there’s no questioning how entertaining he is, even if his style isn't for everyone. 

As lead ITV football analyst from 2011, Keane covered several international tournaments and Champions League finals, including Chelsea’s 2012 triumph over Bayern Munich.

He joined Sky Sports to work on Super Sunday in 2019, and has become a regular on the network’s football coverage since.

Keane is often seen alongside former teammate Gary Neville and has more recently been accompanied by Micah Richards – the pair have provided viral moments aplenty with their stark contrast in personalities.

Keane is the perfect pundit for the social media age. His glares and rants translate superbly to Twitter. He isn’t going to be everyone’s favourite, but that’s clearly not something that bothers him.

Keane is as no-nonsense as a pundit as he was in his playing days – he’s unafraid to upset people and that makes him must-watch TV, particularly following a poor Manchester United performance. His punditry is exactly what we would have expected from Keane the player.

Barring a surprise return to management, followers of Premier League predictions are bound to see Keane on Sky Sports for years to come.

Honours

• Premier League – 1993-94, 1995-96, 1996-97, 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-01, 2002-03

• FA Cup – 1993-94, 1995-96, 1998-99, 2003-04

• Champions League – 1998-99

• Scottish Premier League – 2005-06

• Scottish League Cup - 2005-06 

• PFA Team of the Year – 1992-93, 1996-97, 1999-2000, 2000-01, 2001-02

• PFA Team of the Century – 1907-2007

• FAI Senior International Player of the Year – 1997, 2001

• Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year – 1999, 2000

• FWA Footballer of the Year – 2000

• ESM Team of the Year – 1999-2000

• English Football Hall of Fame

• FIFA 100

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*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*

• Teddy Sheringham played for the likes of Man United, Tottenham and West Ham during his career

• With 146 goals, Sheringham is a member of the Premier League 100 Club

• Read about Teddy Sheringham net worth & wealth estimates here…

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One of the most underrated players in Premier League history, Teddy Sheringham enjoyed plenty of success throughout his professional football career.

The Manchester United legend will be remembered for that equaliser in the 1998/99 European Cup final but Sheringham’s career was about so much more than one moment.

Online betting punters will recall his ability to link up play between the midfield and attack and his impact and influence was key to United’s success.

Having also played for the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United, Sheringham was one of the top players of his era and he conducted himself with the utmost professionalism.

In fact, Sheringham was able to play into his 40s and he set a new record as the oldest player in Premier League history in a 1-0 defeat to Manchester City in December 2006.

Nowadays, Sheringham finds himself out of the limelight but he still makes the odd punditry appearance from time to time.

Without further ado, it’s time to look at Teddy Sheringham’s career and net worth. How much is this member of the PL 100 Club worth today?

How Much Is Teddy Sheringham Worth?

Football wages are often kept private and exact figures relating to Teddy Sheringham’s total net worth are unknown.

However, online sources estimate his wealth at around £5 million. One can assume that the majority of his earnings are as a direct result of his football career.

Having played for some of the biggest clubs in English football, Sheringham earned more than a pretty penny throughout his career – and that’s referring to wages alone.

When you take endorsement deals into account, the figures obtained by footballers are on another level.

Sheringham is likely to have had a boot deal or two, particularly during his four-year spell at Manchester United.

Since hanging up his boots, Sheringham has tried his hand at poker – appearing in several professional tournaments across the globe.

In 2010, Sheringham made the final table in the €5,000 No Limit Hold'em Main Event in the EPT Vilamoura.

Being a feature in Premier League odds for so long, Sheringham is one of the highest profile ex-footballers to enter the poker scene.

While he missed out on the top prize, he finished a respectable fifth out of 384 total players and earned himself a lucrative pay day of €93,121.

Little else is known about Sheringham’s investment portfolio outside of football. Many opt to invest in property, others in cars – but Sheringham has kept his financial life very much behind closed doors.

Teddy Sheringham Family

Teddy Sheringham is married to Kristina Andriotis, with the couple tying the knot in 2016 – some eight years after his decision to retire from professional football.

However, Sheringham’s son Charlie followed in his father’s footsteps. Charlie played for Dartford from 2022 to 2024. 

While Charlie’s career hasn’t quite matched the lofty heights of his father’s just yet, Teddy is regularly in attendance at his son’s fixtures.

In addition, Sheringham has two other children with his wife – though names have never been made public. Teddy and Kristina have tried their hardest to keep their private life private…

Earlier in his life, Sheringham was known for his party lifestyle and he dated several glamour models, including Danielle Lloyd and Katie Price.

Nowadays, Sheringham is a doting father and a loving husband – much removed from his younger years as a bachelor footballer.

Football Career

As mentioned earlier, Teddy Sheringham has a glittering trophy cabinet – with the majority of his success coming during his time at Old Trafford.

However, he was consistently among the goals throughout his Premier League career and he ranks as one of the top 25 all-time goal scorers in England’s top flight.

His tally of 146 Premier League goals is enough to put him on the PL 100 Club list and he will go down in history as a modern great of the sport.

Here, we’ve put together a chronological timeline of Teddy Sheringham’s professional career – from his early years at Millwall to retirement at Colchester United.

• Millwall – 1983 to 1991

• Aldershot – 1985 (loan)

• Djurgardens – 1985 (loan)

• Nottingham Forest – 1991 to 1992

• Tottenham Hotspur – 1992 to 1997

• Manchester United – 1997 to 2001

• Tottenham Hotspur – 2001 to 2003

• Portsmouth – 2003 to 2004

• West Ham United – 2004 to 2007

• Colchester United – 2007 to 2008

Career Honours

If you have been betting on football since the days of Sheringham leading the line for England, you’ll probably remember most of his success at club level.

Sadly, an international trophy eluded him prior to his retirement but Sheringham still enjoyed a very successful career – scoring 11 goals in 51 appearances for the Three Lions. Defeat to Brazil in the 2002 World Cup was Sheringham's final appearance for his country at the age of 36, making him one of the oldest outfield players for England. 

Here, you can find a list of trophies won by Teddy Sheringham. The highlight of course being the unprecedented treble won at Manchester United in the 1998/99 season.

Without further ado, it’s time to take a closer look at Sheringham’s trophy cabinet. This stalwart of Premier League predictions played a key role in every success noted below…

Millwall:

• Football League Group Cup: 1982–83

• Football League Second Division: 1987–88

Nottingham Forest:

• Full Members' Cup: 1991–92

Manchester United:

• Premier League: 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01

• FA Cup: 1998–99

• FA Charity Shield: 1997

• UEFA Champions League: 1998–99

• Intercontinental Cup: 1999

West Ham United:

• Football League Championship play-offs: 2005

Individual Awards

• Premier League Golden Boot: 1992–93

• Premier League Player of the Month: October 2000, August 2003

• PFA Team of the Year: 2000–01 Premier League

• PFA Players' Player of the Year: 2000–01

• FWA Footballer of the Year: 2000–01

• Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year: 2000–01

• West Ham United Hammer of the Year: 2004–05

• English Football Hall of Fame: 2009

• Millwall Player of the Year: 1990–91

• Tottenham Hotspur Player of the Year: 1994–95

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*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*

• Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs is worth an estimated £50 million

• Giggs is second on the Premier League all-time appearances list

• Read on for a look at Ryan Giggs and his life away from the football pitch

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One of the greatest players in Premier League history, Ryan Giggs enjoyed a long and illustrious career during his 24-year tenure as a professional footballer.

A popular pick in Premier League odds throughout his time at Manchester United, Giggs won everything there is to win before announcing his retirement in 2014.

With a trophy cabinet bigger than many clubs, Giggs ended his career with 13 Premier League titles, four FA Cup trophies, three League Cup triumphs and two Champions League winners’ medals.

While Giggs doesn’t feature on the oldest Premier League players list, the Welshman was in his 40s when he hung up his boots and his longevity has to be admired.

Giggs made the transition into management after retiring but it hasn’t been plain sailing, with off-field issues impacting his career and personal life.

We’ll touch on that a little later on but for now, let’s appreciate Ryan Giggs’ exploits on the football pitch and his legacy at Old Trafford and on the Premier League.

How Much Is Ryan Giggs Worth?

Playing for one of the biggest football clubs on the planet will certainly help when it comes to enhancing net worth and we can assume Ryan Giggs salary figures were significant.

While the majority of Giggs’ playing career was before footballer wages went absolutely sky high, he was still one of the biggest earners throughout his time at Old Trafford.

According to figures obtained by Celebrity Net Worth, estimates value Ryan Giggs net worth at £50 million – more than many of those he played alongside at United. Some other outlets are closer to £35 million.

Since retiring, Giggs has earned money from his role as Wales national team manager but the bulk of his wealth has been obtained from property and business ventures.

Like a few of his former United teammates, Giggs has invested heavily in other endeavours – with the Welshman owning part of Salford City FC and Hotel Football.

Speaking to the Manchester Evening News in 2014, Giggs revealed how he wanted to ‘give back’ and support people from the region.

He said: “I am involved with a lot of things with Garry Neville and it is something that we are conscious about. We want to give back because we want to give people a chance.

“We had that chance when we were coming through the ranks at United, we had a manager who believed in giving young players a chance, and we want to do that in the city.

“Whether it be a local neighbourhood or in the city centre, we want to give people jobs in places that are interesting and different and put a new spin on things.”

Manchester United

The dominant force in English football prediction tips during the Premier League era, Giggs has a strong affinity with the Old Trafford club and its supporters.

Having worked his way up through the Red Devils youth system, Sir Alex Ferguson offered Giggs his first professional contract on his 17th birthday.

Four months later, the Welshman made his first team debut as a substitute before scoring the only goal of the game in the Manchester Derby on his first full start for the club.

One of Fergie’s Fledglings, Giggs became a key figure for the club the following year and he quickly became an ever-present in the United starting line-up.

Playing the majority of matches and scoring at least once in every Premier League season, Giggs turned out to be one of the most reliable players in the Red Devils squad.

While you could argue he wasn’t as talented as Paul Scholes, David Beckham or Cristiano Ronaldo, Giggs rarely struggled and he still had the ability to win a game.

Giggs broke a number of club records at Old Trafford, surpassing Sir Bobby Charlton’s tally of 758 appearances for the club – also starting more games than any other United player.

In addition, Giggs holds the Premier League record for most assists with 162. Kevin De Bruyne is currently in second place on 112. 

Wales

Wales are often underdogs in football bets today and that was also the case during Giggs’ tenure as he failed to make a major impact on the international stage.

Giggs earned 64 caps for Wales, scoring 12 goals but fans often look back at his international career with a rather negative view.

Having set a new record as the youngest player to appear for the Welsh national team back in 1981, Giggs looked destined to enjoy a long and successful career.

However, he came under scrutiny for regularly missing international friendly matches, with Wales fans feeling ‘second best’ after his club commitments.

Even when announcing his international retirement in 2007, Giggs cited the main reason as he wanted to focus primarily on his Manchester United career.

While he is a legend of Premier League football – and European football in general – he isn’t afforded that luxury when it comes to the national team. His achievements have been comprehensively surpassed by Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey, and others. 

Investments

Like many footballers, Giggs decided to invest in business ventures once his playing career ended – a smart move considering his relatively young age.

In 2013, Giggs and Neville launched a hospitality company named GG Hospitality with the plan to build football themed hotels across the United Kingdom.

The first restaurant, Café Football, opened in London in November 2013 before Hotel Football, located opposite Old Trafford, launched in 2014.

The acquisition of Salford City sent shockwaves across the sports world, with Giggs joining forces with Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and the Neville brothers to buy the club.

While the Class of 92 group sold a 50% stake to billionaire Peter Lim, they retain an avid interest in Salford City and dream of reaching the Premier League.

Three years later, Giggs proposed University Academy 92 in Greater Manchester, with the ambition of offering ‘broader courses’ than traditional establishments.

UA92 is now up and running and the former Manchester United winger takes on a pivotal role in promoting the university and the philosophy of the institution.

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*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*

While European eyes focus on the Euros this summer, across the pond the 48th edition of the Copa America kicks off on June 20th when the holders Argentina take on Canada in Atlanta, Georgia.

On this occasion hosted by the United States, it’s a tournament that routinely offers up plenty of drama and sensational football and though Argentina are the favourites in the betting to win the competition for a record-breaking 16th time in reality a handful of sides are in the mix, all with a genuine claim to be crowned the kings of their continent. 

If the tournament promises excitement galore it also has plenty of intrigue for Brits watching from afar because English sides have the highest proportion of players participating of any nation.

In total, 59 have been selected for their respective squads with 40 of them playing their club football in the Premier League.

Interestingly, Fulham have the most representatives, with five players, while Argentina are the most stacked with English top-flight residents.

Nine of their 26-man squad – a little over a third – ply their trade at Old Trafford, Anfield et al. Below is a full list of those players, but before that let’s highlight some of the more interesting examples. 

Bruno Guimaraes (Brazil)

Amidst increasing chatter that Manchester City and Arsenal are each set to table nine-figure bids for the Newcastle ace, Guimaraes will no doubt view the tournament as a welcome distraction from all of the speculation.

The 26-year-old plays a more holding role for the Selecao than for the Magpies, which allows for Lucas Paqueta and A.N.Other to bomb forward and this explains why his stats decrease on the international stage.

He has assisted five times and scored just once in 25 outings, the bulk of them coming in a particularly fruitful period in 2022. 

Brazil may be missing Neymar, but with the Real Madrid pairing of Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr up front, and the adopted Geordie pass-master behind, Group D should be a samba stroll.

From there, they will likely face the hosts in the quarters. 

Tyler Adams (USA) 

Few players experienced a more exasperating campaign last term than the USMNT captain.

Signing for Bournemouth last summer for £20m while convalescing from surgery the midfielder’s road to recovery hit one roadblock after another, delaying his debut for one month, then three, then six. 

Indeed, it wasn’t until March when Adams first saw action in cherry red, successfully navigating 19 minutes against Luton.

On his full debut on the South Coast a fortnight later he was sensational, covering every blade of grass and deservedly winning the Man of the Match merit. Only then came a back spasm, that again turned into a long-running saga. Adams featured for another nine minutes all season. 

Having seen a mere glimpse of what he’s capable of, Bournemouth fans will be hoping this summer is a preview of what’s to come. Mainly though they’ll be praying he returns to the Vitality Stadium unscathed.

Jhon Duran (Colombia) 

Currently the subject of serious interest from Chelsea, the Colombian striker proved himself to be a clinical finisher last season, boasting the best shot conversion rate of any Premier League player who notched five goals or more.

Yet still he resided mostly on the bench, the 20-year-old forced to play second fiddle throughout due to Ollie Watkin’s career-best tally of goals and assists. It’s a similar tale at international level too, with Rafael Santos Borre and others typically getting the nod.

Remarkably, Duran has made only one start for Los Cafeteros, the rest of his appearances coming from the bench.

If he makes a success of it at Stamford Bridge surely then things will fall into place for a player who hints at enormous potential. 

Darwin Nunez (Uruguay) 

About once a week across the 2023/24 season an article would appear defending the Liverpool forward and claiming he was simply misunderstood.

He wasn’t a miss-merchant. Look at this stat. And that. The Latin Andy Carroll was actually a success if you squinted your eyes, and tilted your head, and forgot about the decimal point.

Well, no, that’s simply not the case. Nunez posted a significantly worse goals-per-min ratio than the hardly prolific Chris Wood. His 13% goal conversion rate was the worst by some distance of any player who reached double figures.

For his country however it’s an entirely different story, as eight goals in his last five outings illustrates. 

If Uruguay are to top Group C – and in all likelihood then go on to avoid Brazil in the last eight – they will need their goal-merchant.  

Julian Alvarez (Argentina) 

The fixtures for 2024/25 are barely out and already Manchester City are hot favourites in the Premier League odds to secure yet another crown. 

How can they not be, blessed as they are with Rodri holding, and Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden working their weekly magic. Up front meanwhile they possess a striker who can win a second Golden Boot despite having a poor season by his usual supernatural standards.

Yet from all of this stellar cast of elite fare it is only Alvarez who is a World Cup winner, the forward firing four in Qatar to help La Albiceleste conquer the planet.

The quietly-spoken hit-man notched six on his return that season for the Blues and followed that up with 11 in 2023/24. As for his country, even a prolonged drought in front of goal hasn’t stopped him being Lionel Messi’s preferred partner of choice.

Premier League Players At Copa America By Club:

Arsenal 

• Gabriel Magalhaes, Brazil 

• Gabriel Martinelli, Brazil 

Aston Villa 

• Emi Martinez, Argentina 

• Douglas Luiz, Brazil 

• Jhon Duran, Colombia 

Bournemouth 

• Tyler Adams, USA

• Luis Sinisterra, Colombia 

Brentford

• Ethan Pinnock, Jamaica 

Brighton

• Tom McGill, Canada

• Julio Enciso, Paraguay

Chelsea

• Enzo Fernandez, Argentina 

• Moises Caicedo, Ecuador

Crystal Palace

• Chris Richards, USA

• Jefferson Lerma, Colombia 

• Daniel Munoz, Colombia 

Everton

• N/A

Fulham

• Luc De Fougerolles, Canada

• Bobby Decordova-Reid, Jamaica

• Antonee Robinson, USA

• Tim Ream, USA 

• Andreas Pereira, Brazil 

Ipswich

• Jeremy Sarmiento, Ecuador

Leicester

• N/A

Liverpool 

• Alexis Mac Allister, Argentina 

• Darwin Nunez, Uruguay 

• Alisson Becker, Brazil 

• Luis Diaz, Colombia 

Manchester City

• Julian Alvarez, Argentina 

Manchester United

• Alejandro Garnacho, Argentina 

• Lisandro Martinez, Argentina 

Newcastle

• Bruno Guimaraes, Brazil 

• Miguel Almiron, Paraguay 

Nottingham Forest

• Gonzalo Montiel, Argentina

• Matt Turner, USA

• Giovanni Reyna, USA

Southampton

• N/A

Tottenham 

• Christian Romero, Argentina 

• Giovani Lo Celso, Argentina 

• Rodrigo Bentancur, Uruguay 

West Ham

• Edson Alvarez, Mexico 

• Michail Antonio, Jamaica 

• Lucas Paqueta, Brazil 

Wolves

• Joao Gomes, Brazil 

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*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*

This Euro 2024 Group C match between Denmark and England will take place on Thursday 20th June 2024 at 5pm (BST).

The game will take place at the Frankfurt Arena in Frankfurt, the home of Eintracht Frankfurt which has a capacity of 47,000. This stadium notably hosted the 2002 UEFA Women’s Cup Final and the 2006 World Cup quarter-final.

Match Preview & Prediction

Denmark head into this Euro 2024 competition after reaching the semi-final stage at Euro 2020, they actually faced England in that semi-final game at Wembley Stadium, the match finished 1-1 after 90 minutes but the Three Lions advanced into the final after a Harry Kane winner in extra time.

The Danes won this competition in 1992 and they’ll be hoping to make another statement in this tournament, they’ll be looking for revenge against England and a win here would really put a spanner in the works given England are favourites to win the group, I think realistically Denmark will be looking to secure that second place in Group C ahead of Serbia in my opinion.

England head to the Euro 2024 Championships in Germany after an unbeaten campaign in the group stage, the Three Lions shared a group with Italy, Ukraine, North Macedonia and Malta, despite being favourites to qualify, doing so without losing a game is always a good confidence boost when heading into a major tournament. 

Gareth Southgate’s side were losing finalists at Wembley three years ago (delayed Euro 2020 tournament), beaten on home soil to Italy on penalties, it was a frustrating end given many England fans thought this should have been their time, so close to a trophy for the first time since their 1966 World Cup win, will this England team finally give their supporters some glory?

The Three Lions head to Germany as one of the favourites to win the lot, I’m expecting them to get out of this group without any problems, leaving the remaining three, including Denmark, to battle it out for the second automatic place into the round of 16.

Therefore, I think we’ll see England get the win here but it’ll be a closer game than people expect, Denmark will make it difficult for Southgate’s side.

Denmark vs England History

These two sides have met twenty-two times over the years, with the first game taking place in 1948. Since then, England have won thirteen of those games, five have ended in a draw, whilst Denmark have taken victory in four.

In more recent times, Denmark have been a bit of a bogey side for England, they’ve played each other three times since 2020, twice in the UEFA Nations League where they managed to get a draw and a victory over Gareth Southgate’s side. 

As previously mentioned, the two sides also met in the delayed Euro 2020 competition, the game ended in a draw after 90 minutes before England got the job done in extra time. 

Denmark v England Betting Odds

The sports betting odds have England as the favourites to get the victory here.

Denmark will be looking for revenge against the Three Lions and will take confidence from their recent results against Gareth Southgate’s team. 

Denmark Squad Euro 2024

Goalkeepers

Kasper Schmeichel (Anderlecht), Frederik Ronnow (Union Berlin) and Mads Hermansen (Leicester City)

Defenders

Simon Kjaer (AC Milan), Joakim Maehle (VfL Wolfsburg), Jannik Vestergaard (Leicester City), Joachim Andersen (Crystal Palace), Victor Nelsson (Galatasaray) Victor Kristiansen (Bologna), Rasmus Kristensen (AS Roma), Andres Christensen (FC Barcelona) and Alexander Bah (Benfica).

Midfielders

Christian Eriksen (Manchester United), Thomas Delaney (Anderlecht), Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Tottenham Hotspur) Mathias Jensen (Brentford), Morten Hjulmand (Sporting CP), and Christian Norgaard (Brentford).

Forwards

Yussuf Poulsen (RB Leipzig), Kasper Dolberg (Anderlecht), Jonas Wind (VfL Wolfsburg), Rasmus Hojlund (Manchester United), Andreas Skov Olsen (Club Brugge), Mikkel Damsgaard (Brentford), Jacob Bruun Larsen (Hoffenheim) and Anders Dreyer (Anderlecht).

England Squad Euro 2024

Goalkeepers

Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal) and Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace).

Defenders

John Stones (Manchester City), Kyle Walker (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle United), Lewis Dunk (Brighton), Joe Gomez (Liverpool), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), and Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace).

Midfielders

Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Connor Gallagher (Chelsea), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) and Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid).

Forwards

Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Ivan Toney (Brentford) and Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa).

England and Denmark Euro 2024 Predictions

Here are my Euro 2024 predictions for these two nations.

Denmark – I think Denmark might come up a little short in this group, I think it’ll be close with Serbia for second place but they might have to settle for third place and qualify that way.

If that is the case, that would likely present a number of scenarios but they would be guaranteed to face a group winner in the round of 16.

England – They should top this group, they’ll then play the third-placed team from either Group D, E or F, in which they should be victorious.

We could see a repeat of the Euro 2020 final in the quarter-finals and it’s likely England could meet France in the semi-finals, the winner of that will win the competition in my opinion.

In terms of the Euro 2024 odds, the Three Lions are currently 11/8 to reach the final.

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*Credit for the main photo belongs to Alamy*