Bookamer Paddy Power had to dig deep in their pockets after the conclusion of the 2018 World Cup group stage. The operator had to shell out around £700,000 to punters who had backed a bit of World Cup history being created.
All teams to score at least 2 goals
Paddy Power had offered odds of 100/1 prior to the start of the tournament that all 32 teams at the tournament would score at least two goals, something that had never before been done at a tournament. But thanks to a couple of strikes on the final day of the group stage matches, history was created and punters were celebrating.
On the final day of the group stage fixtures at Russia 2018 was a Group G fixture of Tunisia v Panama which had nothing riding on it other than avoiding the wooden spoon. Panama, in their first ever World Cup had gotten their first ever goal in the World Cup Finals against England in their heavy 6-1 loss against the Three Lions.
But they went in 1-0 up at half time against Tunisia thanks to a deflected shot, giving them their second goal of the game. Panama were denied the win though as the Africans fought back for a 2-1 victory. Poland was the only other team not to have made it past one goal in the group stage, but they got a winner from Jan Bednarek for a 1-0 success against Japan in their final match, the Poles having already been eliminated.
Poland and Panama punish Paddy Power
So with Panama and Poland making it to two goals on the final day of group stage matches, Paddy Power had a costly payout to punters who had taken up the challenge and the biggest of them was one punter who had taken a £150 chance on the wager.
A Paddy Power spokesperson said: “I feel a right Pan-ana after that goal. Panama haven’t given their fans too many reasons to celebrate this tournament, but that strike will be cheered loudly by hundreds of punters across the country.”
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