As a football fan and avid sports bettor, picking the right team to wager on is an essential part of the process. Did you also know that finding the best location to place your bet is equally important? There’s so much to consider when placing a bet, from the choice of teams available to the array of platforms out there and what they can offer players.
So, without further ado, let’s get down to business! This article will guide you through who you should bet on in the next major football tournament, and where you can find the best platforms¹ for placing your bets.
Who should you bet on?
When betting on football tournaments, several factors can increase your chances of making a successful bet. Key considerations include match history, team form, potential injuries and player skill set. Here’s a breakdown of some of the best strategies to help you decide which teams you’ll want to bet on:
- Current team form and performance.
One of the most reliable indicators of how well a team could perform at their next match is to look at their previous games to try and predict how they’ll play in their next match. Successful teams² in major football tournaments are always worth considering. Teams such as Brazil, Germany and Spain all have a great track record, so that’s why these teams are usually favoured by bettors.
When looking at various teams in any past matches, you should ask yourself what their win-loss ratio is and how they fare against strong opponents. It’s always best to choose a team that has been consistent with their performance and results in previous tournaments.
Once you establish this, you’re more likely to do well in picking a solid team with a stronger chance of winning. For example, teams such as Argentina and France, having performed well in previous global tournaments, are often stronger contenders.
- Key players
In the world of football, star players³ can make all the difference to the outcome of a match. So, be sure to look out for teams with standout players such as Lionel Messi or Kevin De Bruyne. Betting on the teams that have such influential players like these tends to be the safer choice. Players who stand out with their exceptional skills have the potential to turn a game around within minutes.
So, when choosing a team, it’s crucial to assess how these key players are performing as the tournament approaches. Are they in top form? Have they had any recent injuries that will affect their ability to succeed?
- Dark horses
There comes a time in most tournaments when an unlikely team, candidate or perceived underdog can surprise you. Identifying teams of rising stars is made easier by studying new players and their emerging talents in the build-up to a tournament to assess if they have the potential to be something special. Teams like Croatia, which reached the final of the 2018 World Cup, or Denmark, whose team performed admirably in Euro 2020³, have proved this.
Where is the best place to place your bets?
Choosing where to place your bets is just as important as selecting the team itself. The right platform will offer better odds and advice with some excellent bonus perks, as well as employing robust safety and security measures. Here are some examples of the best platforms for placing your bets on your next football tournament:
- Established online sportsbooks
Make sure that you choose well-established online sportsbooks that are trusted and reputable. Platforms like these offer a range of features, such as special promotions, bonuses and free bets that can help enhance your overall betting experience. Some even provide in-depth statistics, which is useful information to have when you’re looking to make a more informed choice when it comes to sports betting.
- Mobile betting apps
In this day and age, we are all attached to our mobile and tablet devices, so taking the opportunity to place a bet on the go has never been easier! It’s essential to have a reliable app that will offer seamless navigation, easy deposits and fast withdrawals.
Furthermore, mobile apps will often have exclusive promotions that aren’t usually available on desktop devices, which makes them a great option for players who prefer more flexibility and convenience when betting.
- Legal considerations and licensing
To ensure that your funds and personal information are safe and secure, it’s important to choose a sportsbook that is fully licensed and regulated. Betting on a licensed platform ensures that you’ll experience fair play and quicker payouts, and that your funds and personal information will be kept safe.
Look out for reputable licensing bodies such as the UK Gambling Commission, The Malta Gaming Authority⁴ or the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority. It’s also worth checking reviews from existing customers who have shared their experience with the site itself, or relate their interactions with customer service team members.
- In-person betting shops
Although online betting has surged in popularity in recent years, some bettors still prefer visiting physical betting shops as they offer a livelier and more sociable atmosphere to bet in. Some betting shops might not be able to offer the same level of exclusive bonuses or promotions that most online platforms can offer, which is a slight drawback, but some people view the face-to-face customer service and instant payouts in a shop as a much better trade-off in comparison. It just depends on what you’re specifically looking for in a betting environment.
Related: Neville Slams Tuchel’s Appointment As England Coach
Maximising your betting strategy
Once you’ve picked a team and your chosen platform, it’s time to maximise your betting strategy and this involves putting the available data to good use by doing the following:
- Consider multiple betting markets
Traditional match betting is the most common type of betting market, but tournaments also have options like player-specific bets, goal totals and outright winners. For example, you could place a bet on a specific player to be the tournament’s top scorer, or perhaps you could bet on the total number of goals a team will score.
- Use live betting for real-time opportunities
Live or in-play betting allows you to place bets during the match as the game unfolds, which can be exciting and thrilling. This is ideal if you want to see how the teams are performing before committing to a bet, and it’s particularly useful if the dynamics in a game change quickly, as bettors can capitalise on the shifting odds.
- Bankroll management
Betting responsibly is crucial to enjoying the experience. It’s great to have fun, but if you engage in certain behaviours that may cause problems, the fun can turn to misery. So, first and foremost, you should establish a set budget and stick to it to minimise spending beyond your means. Also, chasing losses and placing overly large bets in an attempt to recover is never a good idea, so make sure that you take plenty of breaks to prevent this from happening.
Conclusion
Betting on football tournaments can be an exciting and rewarding experience, as long as you approach it with caution and implement the right strategies. Considering the factors like team form, key players and historical performances⁵ will absolutely help in the final decision on who to bet on.
Remember that you need to make sure that whatever platform you use is a trusted and reputable organisation with the correct licensing credentials – and finally, choosing a site with fantastic perks and extra bonuses will also enhance your betting experience.
Citations
(1) Major Global & Local Sports Events 2024, written by Katlego Modise, published by Playcasino.co.za – https://www.playcasino.co.za/sports-events
(2) World Cup Previous Winners, written by Top End sports, published by Topendsports.com –
https://www.topendsports.com/events/worldcupsoccer/winners.htm#google_vignette
(3) Best football players in the world ranked 2024, written by Michael Potts, published by Radiotimes.com – https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sport/football/best-football-players-world/
(4) The Malta Gaming Authority – Who we are, written by the the Malta Gaming Authority, published by the Malta Gaming Authority – https://www.mga.org.mt/who-we-are/
(5) Phil McNulty’s top 10 individual performances, written by Phil McNulty, published by BBC Sports – https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52689386
