Why the Euro 2024 cards betting market is worth exploring?
Nothing gets the juices flowing like a bit of aggro in a game and there will be plenty of added spice with so much at stake at Euro 2024 this summer. That makes the card betting market worth a look for punters and lots of games in Germany have the potential to boil over.
Some teams will be making their debut at the European championship and there will be so much adrenalin pulsing through the veins that it could lead to a few rash challenges.
Referees at the Euros are also under order to clamp down on dissent, and they've been told to flash cards at anyone who isn't the team captain, giving them an earful.
The teams involved will have been briefed on that before the finals, but old habits die hard, and we could see plenty of yellow cards dished out in the opening round of games.
Which Euro 2024 games could be of interest here?
Italy vs Albania
The Albanians have never qualified for a major finals before and kick off with a daunting game against the European champions.
I'd imagine Sylvinho's players will start at a high tempo as they bid to unsettle the Italians. The Azzurri could be one of the teams most affected by the crackdown on dissent as they love to have a good moan.
So it bodes well for a few cards and it will be interesting to see what kind of prices the bookies have on this market. Going for over 4.5 cards looks good if the odds are decent.
Prices are usually well above evens for individual players and Italian stopper Gianluca Mancini is a card machine. He even got booked in the friendly with Turkey last week and has amassed 14 yellows and one red this term.
Germany vs Scotland
Steve Clarke's boys will be out to cause an almighty upset when they face the hosts in the tournament opener and if they're to pull off a shock they'll need to knock Germany out of their stride.
Every bad tackle will be met by boos from the home crowd in Munich so that could put the referee under pressure to flash a few cards. When the Scots took on Spain in qualifying, each game had over six cards so it could be a good option to back total cards when that market is priced up.
Bet365 already have odds on individual players and a couple of Scots look overpriced. Celtic's Anthony Ralston loves a tackle and will probably be up against the quick feet of wonderkid Florian Wirtz.
The right-back is 7/2 to be carded and that looks good value. Midfielder John McGinn is another who likes a moan so he could be booked for dissent and is 21/10 in the same market.
Turkey vs Georgia
Georgia are another team making their debut at a major finals and they will be desperate to start with a bang against Turkey.
These nations share a border so that gives the game added spice and I'm expecting this to be a fiery one.
Central midfield will be the main battleground so backing players in that area for cards could pay off. Georgia's Otar Kiteishvili has picked up 11 yellows this term while Salih Ozcan of Turkey has also hit double figures.
I'm a sports journalist, football tipster and author from Dundee, who is now working in Glasgow. I've covered games at every level, from Junior football to internationals, and still love football even though it has clearly sold its soul. I've been in football tipping since 2018 with the MFT site.
