The World Cup is the biggest sporting competition on the planet, watched by billions of people as the greatest football nations battle it out for supremacy every four years. This summer, the tournament will take place in the USA, Mexico and Canada and the excitement is already building. As well as tuning into see every game, some fans will place wagers during the competition to add another thrill to the action.
For enthusiasts keen to predict the outcome of matches, it is important to devise and follow strategies in order to make educated guesses as opposed to taking blind punts. This article will provide guidance on how to boost your knowledge and understanding so that smart and informed decision can be made throughout the tournament.
Assess Different Markets
When plotting out your World Cup betting journey ahead of the tournament, it is imperative you compare and assess a range of sites at https://arabiccasinos.com/ in order to identify a platform that will best suit your betting needs and preferences. Checking out expert reviews, looking into the most popular and trusted sites and seeing the range of bonuses on offer can help you to make a decision on where to play which can enhance your overall gaming experience.
Once an operator has been picked out, you can then explore the different World Cup betting markets that are available. Some fans will enjoy picking out scorelines but there are so many other outcomes that you can place wagers on. Of course, you can make your bet on who is going to lift the World Cup or which four teams will reach the semi-finals. Then there are alternate picks you can go for, from which player will land the Golden Boot with the most goals to who will win the Golden Glove award for the most clean sheets. More specific wagers can be accessed to, like betting on the group winners or picking out how many corners will feature in a particular match.
Get to Know the Teams
The World Cup this summer will be slightly different to previous recent tournaments as the number of teams competing has rise from 32 to 48, meaning there are now 12 groups from the outset as opposed to eight. With a greater number of countries competing, it is vital you get to know each team and conduct thorough research to learn as much as possible about all of the squads. Be aware of every star player, all of the goalkeepers and even the back-ups. Having a strong understanding of who is likely to play will help you to make educated guesses and ensure you aren’t in the dark and stuck with merely guessing based on assumptions.
It should be that by the time the tournament comes around, you know all of the group match-ups and dates and time of kick-offs. This will allow you to look ahead and plot a route as to how and when you will decide to place your wagers. Looking ahead with months to spare means you can properly prepare and eye matches where you may sense value; even more so when the squad lists are announced and you know the strengths and weaknesses of each side.
Pick Out the Favorites and Dark Horses
After building a huge knowledge of every possible squad and group stage match, if you are planning to place a bet on the outright World Cup winners, it’s crucial you assess the favorites and dark horses in the competition. First up, it’s best to check out the odds and see who the experts have identified as the teams with the best opportunity to lift the trophy and those with an outside chance. Dark horses may be nations who don’t traditionally get to the latter stages of the tournament but have a golden generation of players or impressed in qualifying. Looking at these types of narratives will be key to your decision making when betting on potential World Cup winners.
Check Out Qualification Records
As the World Cup is a tournament played only once every four years, it can be hard to build an idea of a country’s form heading into the competition. In fact, in some ways, the World Cup is such a unique and special tournament that form almost goes out the window. However, looking at how nations qualified can give you an idea of their quality, cohesion and confidence heading into the tournament. For instance, a European side that wins all of its games will be tipped to go far while a team that perhaps qualified via a play-off may lack top players or struggled against particular set-ups during the group phase. By looking at specific results, you can gauge what type of team will turn up in the US, Canada and Mexico in a few months’ time.
Wrapping Up
Overall, there are countless strategies to devise and follow when wagering on this summer’s World Cup. Beyond assessing markets and learning about the different nations, it’s also wise to track team news to know which players are available game to game and bet during live games so that you are aware of what is happening and can wager accordingly. Gambling responsibly is also a must and so you should always set a limit and never chase losses. By following strategies you can ensure smart decisions will be made throughout the tournament.
