SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
A Europe-wide survey ahead of Euro 2016 has revealed that England have the most passionate football fans.
In a survey of more than 4500 adults for Unibet, 31% of those questioned in England believed themselves to be ‘very interested’ in football, more than any other nation surveyed.
All the home nations fared well with 29% in Northern Ireland considering themselves very interested in football, with Wales and Scotland both just behind at 28%.
There were some more surprising figures to come out of the survey, including that Scotland would like to see England win Euro 2016. In the absence of their own team in the tournament, 12% of Scots surveyed hope England will win, more than any other country.
The Scots, along with the English, are also the most likely country to have a bet on Euro 2016, despite the absence of Gordon Strachan’s team. 11% of respondents in both countries are very likely to have a bet on the tournament.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, world champions Germany are the team countries across Europe expect to win Euro 2016. One in four people believe the Germans will win the tournament, followed by Spain (10%) and hosts France (7%).
Even England fans are backing their great rivals, with 22% tipping the Germans to go all the way and lift the trophy in Paris. In fact, as many people in Wales think Wales will win Euro 2016 as England fans think England will win it (15%).
Ed Nicholson, Head of PR at Unibet, said: “Build ups to the big football tournaments see every man and his dog have their opinions and tips on what they think will happen – some that are hot air and some that are backed up with a quid or two.
“But Europe is changing and the opinions many thought still existed now look as old fashioned and clichéd as they are, with everyone from the Scots to the English far more embracing of their traditional rivals.”
