Flower seller Adrian Fitzpatrick from Solihull would have won £945,000 if 8-1 shots Spain had won the highest prize in international football.

But after having two goals disallowed the Europeans were knocked out by co-hosts South Korea on penalties.

Mr Fitzpatrick, who won £400,000 at the 1994 World Cup, remained upbeat and vowed to continue his gambling career, despite his loss.

Betting advice

"I am disappointed with the result as I thought Spain had scored a perfectly good goal.

"But it was not to be.

Mr Fitzpatrick won £400,000 in 1994

"The main thing is to remember only bet what you can afford to lose.

"I was playing with money that I had already won.

"Perhaps I will bet again in another three or four years or maybe the 2004 European Championships."

Had Spain won the competition, Mr Fitzpatrick would have scooped the most profitable football bet.

Lost before

He had staked £40,000 on a double headed bet with William Hill in March backing Arsenal to win England's Premiership and Spain to win the World Cup.

When the Gunners came in at 13-8, he was banking on Spain also winning but they failed on Saturday at the quarter-final stage.

Spain losing is a huge sigh of relief

William Hill, spokesman

The florist won a similar bet at the 1994 World Cup receiving a £400,000 pay-out when Brazil won.

However, Mr Fitzpatrick also lost out in 1998 when he bet on Arsenal and Brazil.

Although the London club won the Premiership that year, Brazil finished runners-up in the World Cup to France.

He lost his crown as Britain's biggest winner on a single football bet for his 1994 win when a Lichfield man won £500,000 from a 30p wager last May.

Graham Sharpe, spokesman for William Hill, said: "Spain losing is a huge sigh of relief for us but it is only temporary.

"Adrian won £500,000 from us two World Cups ago and I know he wants to win a £1m and he will be back to win it."