England's 7-0 rout of Croatia leaves bookmakers counting the cost

England's 7-0 demolition of Croatia in the Nations League on Saturday proved costly for bookmakers, with punters cashing in on correct score bets and a late twist on a Harry Kane hat-trick wager.

Kane and Bukayo Saka each scored twice in Rijeka, with Jude Bellingham and Anthony Gordon also on the scoresheet. Kane's substitute, Morgan Rogers, grabbed the seventh goal after coming off the bench.

Why a substitute cost bookmakers money

bet365's Steve Freeth said the firm took 11 pre-match bets on a 7-0 scoreline, alongside 303 wagers on Kane to score a hat-trick. Kane's early withdrawal appeared to settle those hat-trick bets as losers, until Rogers found the net himself.

We had 11 pre-game wagers placed on 7-0, as well as 303 on Harry Kane scoring a hat-trick, which on the face of it was a loser. However, his replacement, Morgan Rogers, came off the bench and notched the seventh.Steve Freeth, bet365

The result leaves England second in their Nations League group behind Spain, who beat Czechia 3-1 to make it three wins from three. BOYLE Sports spokesperson Brian O'Keefe said England had shortened to 5/1 to win the tournament outright, with Spain still favourite at 9/4 and France at 3/1.

Home nations add to the pain

England were not the only side to cause bookmakers trouble. Wales came from behind to beat a ten-man Norway 2-1 on Thursday, while the Republic of Ireland, fresh from a 3-0 win over Israel, were held to a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture 48 hours later.

Betfred's Alan Firkins said the tournament had taken on an unexpected edge for customers. "The Nations League has provided some perhaps unexpectedly exciting action, and the home nations have all had reasons to be cheerful," he said, adding that interest levels do not match the Premier League but that the run of fixtures had given the past fortnight "very much a tournament feel".

The top two teams in each of the four groups will advance to the quarter-finals, ahead of a knockout stage culminating in the Nations League final in June 2027.

Darts and racing also go against the book

Elsewhere, Luke Humphries beat Gerwyn Price 6-4 to win the World Grand Prix, becoming the fourth player to lift the title more than once. Phil Taylor remains the most successful with 11 wins, ahead of Michael van Gerwen on six and James Wade on two. O'Keefe noted that despite an early exit from the event, Luke Littler remains favourite for the PDC World Championship.

At Longchamp, Daryz secured back-to-back victories in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, beating Bay City Roller and Diamond Necklace into second and third. Firkins said the four-year-old, ridden by Mickael Barzalona, was "the heavily backed jolly", returned at odds of 6/5, and was the first colt to win the race in consecutive years since Alleged in 1977 and 1978.

Why it matters

Weekends like this are a reminder that sportsbook margins can swing sharply on a handful of results and in-play twists, such as a substitute scoring a goal that settles a hat-trick bet. For operators, it underlines why risk management and liability limits on correct score and goalscorer markets remain under constant review, according to EGR Intel.