Inside Track: Belgium’s early trip home adds to a betting tale of woe

When your luck’s out, it’s out. Right now, I couldn’t back the winner of a walk-over.

That’s not exactly right; I do come up with the occasional winner at the horses, but don’t collect because it’s nearly always included in one of those multiples I do, Yankees, Lucky 15s, and, of late – because of my lack of returns – the lowest of the low, three 1s and a 2.

It wouldn’t be so bad if my run of misfortune was confined to the horses and the occasional visit to the dogs, but what’s also become infected is my dalliance with football, in particular the World Cup.

As those with nothing better to do than read my columns know, Belgium were labelled firm fancies to take soccer’s biggest tournament. The Walloons were followed over a cliff for a number of recent major tournaments, and except for finishing third in the last World Cup didn’t give me much of a run.

But I was still willing to go again. Pre-tournament, Kevin De Bruyne was going well with Manchester City, Eden Hazard seemed to still have plenty in his legs, and coming up with his best, Lukaku could still be lethal around goals.

Ochone, ochone. De Bruyne was only a shadow of his Ethihad Stadium best, Hazard no longer lived up to his name, and Lukaku? Well, what can be said about the Chelsea loanee to Inter after last Thursday’s game with Croatia?

Four chances – one of which a Bellurgan FC under-14 would put away, no bother – fell to him, and by failing to convert any of them, Belgium could only draw, and as a result took their leave of the competition, failing to qualify for the knock-outs.

Bad enough to be carrying a 25/1 bet to win the competition, but what about those brave – or maybe silly – enough to take the 1/7 about the Belgians taking one of their group’s two qualifying spots? They’d be feeling more than a little sorry for themselves.

To those lucky enough not to know what these figures mean, taking odds of 1/7 has you laying down seven – fivers, tenners, scores, whatever – and if your horse, dog, or in this case, football team wins, all you get back is your stake and just one of the units you bet in.

Inside Track’s only saving grace is the nomination of Croatia as lively outsiders; but, unfortunately, none of the pre-competition 50/1 was taken.

I'm writing this early last week,  ahead of the last 16, and I don’t know how many people I’ve heard saying: “Do you know what? I wouldn’t be surprised if England won it.”

The Three Lions certainly stepped up for their meeting with Wales, but like the drubbing they gave Iran in the first group match, does this represent World Cup-winning form?

Maybe better to look at what the two leading fancies, Brazil and Argentina, are doing. As I write, they are coming to the boil, Messi, it seems, more determined than ever to get the prized medal thrown over his shoulders.