Success in football betting comes with a combination of skill and luck, and only one is in your hands. In football, there are strategic bettors who take calculated risks, and then there are punters who make large bets on unlikely outcomes.
Simply put, punters are focused on luck, but strategic bettors use their skills, understanding of the game, and experience to put their money on the winning side. With the Euro Cup 2024 going on, it’s a great time to bet on your favourite players. But don’t start without reading this football betting strategy guide.
Your Mindset for Football Betting
Let’s put aside the ongoing matches and talk about the betting mindset first. To build a winning football betting strategy, you must first cover the basics of betting for this game and approach it with the right mindset.
- Knowledge is Power: Understand the game rules thoroughly along with the different types of bets. Get familiar with names like Moneyline, Spread, Over/Under, and other variations.
- Know the Leagues, Teams, and Players: Football has diverse forms as it has several leagues, clubs, teams, and a large repository of players. It’s not possible to know about them all in one go. So start following the game more holistically than before, and you will get the required familiarity.
- Stop Chasing Losses: Losing a bet doesn’t mean you have to make the next one to cover the loss. Instead, build a better strategy for the next time and stick to your budget.
- Always Compare Odds: Look around for the best odds for your bets. This means exploring different bookmakers and finding the ones that will bring you the best returns or the least loss through your football betting strategy.
- Manage Risk: Before placing a bet, ask yourself, ‘How can I make my money last longer?’ The best sports traders focus on managing risk first and not obsessing over picking winners. Long-term success comes with managing risk and controlling losses.
The Top Contenders in the Euro Cup Worth Wagering
As the Euro Cup is heading towards the quarter-finals, the nail-biting entertainment, frustrations, and excitement will also increase. Another thing that will go on a roller coaster ride is the bets.
Where amateur bettors will find all the available information overwhelming, the same is a goldmine for experienced ones. Here’s a list of the top-performing teams and players with their odds for your reference.
Germany:
Standing on top with 7 points in Group A, Germany will look to take the cup home after a 3-decade drought. Jamal Musiala has been one of the most effective players for Germany in this tournament. But they are facing Spain on the 5th of July, and this match will decide their fate because Spain is the next top contender.
Odds:
- Spain – 9/5
- Draw – 9/4
- Germany – 15/8
Spain:
Ranking on top in Group B with 9 points, Spain has found their way to this spot with the help of Nico Willams and Lamine Yamal (the 16-year-old wonder kid). But Spain faces a formidable opponent, Germany, in an away game, which means Germany has the advantage of home ground. Slated to be the game of the tournament, here are the odds you need to check out;
- Spain – 9/5
- Draw – 9/4
- Germany – 15/8
Netherlands:
Netherlands’ start in the Euro Cup isn’t worth remembering. But they have shown great discipline and an impressive fighting spirit in the game. So much so, that the top bookmakers are now shortening the odds in favour of the Netherlands, standing at 13/2 (at the time of writing), having secured their place in the quarter-finals, Netherlands will face Turkiye on Sunday 7th of July.
Odds:
- Netherlands: 13/20
- Draw: 16/5
- Turkiye: 5/1
France:
France began the tournament as the number 1 team to beat if anyone had to take the cup home. But, somewhere along the way, France has lost its balance. They are behind in their attack, which was evident in their game against Belgium. Still, France has a chance to win, subject to the condition the team finds its balance and Kylian Mbappe hits the top gear. France will face Portugal on 6th July (Saturday), and the odds are as follows;
- Portugal: 13/5
- Draw: 41/20
- France: 6/4
Top Contending Players in the Euro Cup 2024
- Kylian Mbappe: France’s biggest hope to win the cup, Mbappe enters every game with a big responsibility. A burden that is obviously overwhelming him if we see his past performances. Mbappe’s odds as a top goal scorer stand at 12.
- Rodri: Spanish player Rodri has proven to be a lethal weapon in this Euro Cup. His contribution has been directing his teammates and providing vital interceptions to protect the backline. The odds in Rodri’s favour are a long shot, standing at 66.
- Harry Kane: England’s shining player, Harry Kane, has once again proven that he can play any game while leading the line. Showing sheer will and commitment in all the Euro Cup games, Harry Kane has impeccable strength, which might take England to the finals. The odds for the player as the top goal scorer are 13/2.
- Bruno Fernandes: It seems Portugal has got a new fan favourite, and it’s Bruno Fernandes. Fernandes has taken the ownership of providing energy and vision to the team, which are essential for them to win games. If Portugal takes the cup home, Bruno Fernandes will have a key role to play. Bruno’s odds of being the top scorer are grim, standing at 40.
- Bernardo Silva: Bernardo Silva was instrumental in helping Portugal book a spot in the quarter-finals with France. Bernardo converted a penalty shot to clinch a dramatic victory over Slovenia.
Use these insights to build your football betting strategy and increase your chances of winning. Remember to check the odds from reputable sources like OddsChecker.
Key Strategies for Football Betting
Winning a bet in football requires both luck and skill. The strategies listed below are some of the most used and can help you build a winning strategy.
- Use the Odds in your Favour: An arbitrage strategy is based on finding odds and differences between different sportsbooks. For instance, if one sportsbook has higher odds of France winning, bet there.
At the same time, find another sportsbook that has higher odds of Germany. This way, you will win, irrespective of which team wins. In this, you have to calculate the stake you will put in Germany to balance out your bet money on France and even take some profit.
- Long-Term Value Betting: This strategy requires finding sportsbooks offering higher odds than other popular sportsbooks.
For instance, if one bookmaker is offering 1.40 odds of Team A winning, find bookmakers offering much higher odds for the same outcome. This way you can easily take home a larger profit by gaining information from popular sportsbooks where everyone bets.
These two are the most used football betting strategies, but there are others you can try as well;
- Use Tipster services to get authentic information. But beware of tipsters who sugarcoat their betting history.
- Use game statistics and history to learn about patterns and take calculated risks.
Football is a game of skill, and so is betting on football. However, always be careful about your betting practices.