Winner Stays On: Crunch time for If Only

Winner Stays On / Editor / 18 February 2011 / Leave a Comment

If only - Paul Gascoigne looks dejected after England's Euro 96 defeat.

If Only is on the brink of major Winner Stays On success but history is riddled with tales of what might have been. Has our man got what it takes to go all the way?

The history of so close yet so far is a long one. What if Paul Gascoigne had stretched far enough to convert that chance in extra-time of the Euro '96 semi-final against Germany? What if Mark Robins hadn't scored the goal that saved Sir Alex Ferguson's job in an FA Cup tie against Nottingham Forest in 1990? What if my mum had accepted when George Best asked her out in a Manchester hair salon in the late 1960s?

The line is a thin one and we walk it daily. If Only (who could turn out to be aptly named) knows how high the stakes are for him this weekend for he stands on the brink of becoming only the second contestant in Winner Stays On history to scoop the big prize. So far he's won four out four tipping contests; one more and he's in the money.

Standing between If Only and glory is Baby Birch.

This week's matches:

Olympiakos v Panathinaikos
Sp Lisbon v Benfica
Zaragoza v At Madrid

If Only's selections:

Olympiakos v Panathinaikos - Under 2.5 goals
Sp Lisbon v Benfica - Both teams to score
Zaragoza v At madrid - Under 2.5 goals

Baby Birch's selections

Olympiakos v Panathanaikos - Under 2.5 Goals @ [1.61]
Sp Lisbon v Benfica - Benfica to win @ [2.3]
Zaragoza v At Madrid: The draw @ [3.45]