Although domestic football is the bread and butter for the majority of fans, international tournaments are always warmly welcomed by supporters as they offer a much-needed source of entertainment throughout the summer months (usually!).
Punters love placing bets on major international tournaments with the FIFA World Cup, European Championships and the Copa America all prompting a significant upturn in betting activity.
Bookmakers will begin to price up the ante-post markets once the group stage draw has been conducted and although this always has been the most popular betting option, the vast majority of online betting sites will price up a wealth of alternative betting markets ahead of the opening match.
Although each international event is completely different, there are a number of strategies and methods which will hopefully improve your chances of ending the tournament in profit.
Sign Up for New Accounts / Take Advantage of Bookmaker Generosity
Although most operators offer some sort of year-round incentive to sign up for an account, if you are planning to take advantage of one of the many new customer betting offers available, it is strongly advised to wait until a major tournament is on the horizon. Bookmakers often enhance their welcome offers or create a football-specific bonus which may prove to be extremely handy throughout the group stage.
These free bets and welcome offers tend to come in a variety of forms and in most cases, you will be asked to place a qualifying bet in order to trigger the bonus.
It’s also worth looking out for bookmakers who incentivise loyalty by offering weekly rewards or giving punters the chance to join a free bets club. With all games taking place within a concentrated period, you are far more likely to meet the qualifying criteria (typically £25/£30 + per seven days) and there is a high chance that your account will be credited with a completely free football bet.
Plot Each Team’s Potential Path
If you are planning to have a flutter on any outright market, it’s always best to plot each team’s potential path to the final. You’ve probably heard of the so-called ‘Group of Death’, however, teams who progress from this section sometimes find themselves with far more favourable fixtures in the round of 16.
There is a fair amount of assumption involved in this process, however, if you can find a team who potentially have a slightly easier path to the latter stages of the tournament, then there are numerous alternative betting markets which can be explored as a result.
Furthermore, if you can spot a potentially troublesome path for one of the favourites, there are numerous markets which allow you to oppose the shorter-priced teams.
Consider a Team’s Mentality and Experience
International managers have to strike a balance between youth and experience when selecting their squads. However, with the games coming thick and fast and the expectation of fans sitting heavily on the players’ shoulders, these tournaments often require experienced and vocal players to stand up and be counted. Experienced international managers are also a necessity with many of them able to use their previous experiences at major tournaments as a learning curve.
Although it isn’t make or break, it is always best to assess the squads ahead of big games, particularly those which may go all the way to extra time or penalties. Here, you can identify whether they possess leaders who are likely to help the more inexperienced performers rise to the occasion.
Most of the recent winners of the Euros have been led by experienced coaches with Roberto Mancini, Fernando Santos and Vicente del Bosque all having guided their sides to success whereas Didier Deschamps has stabilised French football and enjoyed plenty of success at the FIFA World Cup.
Preparation Time and Injuries Could be Pivotal
There has been plenty of talk surrounding the hectic nature of the football calendar recently and with additional games and expanded tournaments becoming commonplace, it is an unsurprising development to see players pick up muscle injuries on a fairly frequent basis.
With a wealth of statistics now available, punters are able to track how many minutes each player has clocked up so it’s easy enough to find information about who might be carrying a knock. Listen to press conferences and pre-match interviews if possible and if you hear any rumours of key injuries, you can try and place a bet before the market reacts.
Teams who have more time to prepare for a tournament and have a largely fully fit squad will generally fare better at major events. Always be wary of any side who is overly reliant on a half fit player as they may only be able to play through the pain barrier for a limited time, especially if their games go beyond the 90 minutes.
Don’t be Afraid to Use Bet Builders in One-Sided Contests
Not every punter enjoys using Bet Builders, however, they can become a handy tool if you’re planning to have a bet in a game which has been chalked up as a bit of a mis-match.
It is fairly common for punters to shoot for the stars when putting together a bespoke bet, however, the advice is to keep it fairly simple. Add an Under/Over 1.5 or Under/Over 2.5 to your chosen team and if the game looks to be a fairly one-sided affair, then you may also wish to pick an anytime goalscorer or add some corners for the team who are expected to dominate.
If you have any Doubts…Give it a Swerve!
Finally, if you are about to place your football bet and you are suddenly crippled with doubt, then simply don’t place your bet! You can either choose an alternative market or you can sit this one out.
Throughout the group stage of most major tournaments, there are at least three matches per day, so there are always ample opportunities to get involved in the next game instead.
