Football betting can be a tricky exercise at the best of times, and never more so than during an international tournament like Euro 2024, with so many big games and potential banana skins for each team to negotiate as they plot their way to the final.
So if the usual full-game markets of 1X2, Asian Handicap and Over/Under Goals, etc are feeling a bit same-old-same-old, we’re going to run through a few of the more niche strategies that are based on how games develop before and after half-time.
All these markets can open a door to more interesting and potentially more lucrative rewards, and most dedicated platforms have all the tools necessary to explore and exploit them to the full.
Half-time/Full-time (HT/FT)
The HT/FT bet requires a level of expertise in determining how a game might take shape. This can produce far higher odds than a straight match-winner bet as it has to satisfy both the half-time and full-time criteria to be a winning bet.
If you expect a team to dominate early on then you might bet on them to lead at half-time and go onto win.
Alternatively, if you expect a close game, you might bet on the game being a draw at half-time and then your team to score a winner in the second half, or even to end up all square, and again this can lead to richer rewards than a straight 1X2 full-time bet
Those of a more adventurous disposition might like to bet on one team to overturn a half-time deficit in the second period to win, and as you’d expect, you’d get high odds for such a high-tariff scenario that is quite a rare occurrence.
Win both halves
This is an extension of the basic HT/FT bet, in that the game is split into two and you need your preferred team to win both halves. This bet is probably best utilised when a team is playing an underdog and is renowned for dominating weaker opponents from the first whistle to the last.
Again, such a bet will yield higher profits than just backing an odds-on favourite to win, but it’s worth noting that your team only cares about the final score, and won’t be busting a gut to take a lead into the half-time break just to satisfy your bet.
Score both halves
The pressure is off as far as the result is concerned for this kind of bet, because all you need is for your selected team to score in each half, regardless of either the half-time or full-time outcome.
Obviously that means your team has to score at least two goals, which means you would normally use it for a team expected to win comfortably, but once your goal in each half is scored, then your win is safely banked, even if your team’s opponents battle out a 3-3 draw.
Win either half
A variation on the Win Both Halves bet, but with a safety net of only needing your team to win one of the two halves. That means your bet could be safely banked by half-time, and even if it isn’t, you get a second bite of the cherry after the break. So your team could be 3-0 down at half-time, but if they end up battling back to only lose 3-1, then you’d have a winning betslip in your pocket.
Correct score half-time
Just like the full-time Correct Score bet, this is the trickiest of all to get right, although the half-time version is a little easier to navigate because over 45 minutes there are naturally going to be fewer goals scored and therefore fewer half-time score variations to consider.
Many games start with both teams taking their time to commit themselves, which can result in a predominance of 0-0 and 1-0 half-time scorelines before the game opens up a little after the break.
Obviously the market prices will reflect this pattern, but this risk-reward approach can yield some lucrative returns with a sensible strategy, and obviously a little bit of luck.