AHEAD of the first week of Euro 2024, let's explore the best matches to place HT-FT bets on, using key trends and recent results to beat the bookies.
Why the Euro 2024 HT-FT betting market is worth exploring?
It can be hard finding value in the group stage of major tournaments with most of the bigger nations usually heavy favourites against the lesser lights in their section.
But one way to boost the odds is to have a flutter in the Euro 2024 HT-FT betting market. While tipping a heavy favourites to be winning at half-time and full-time probably still won't get you above evens, you can get decent odds if the team you fancy is only a slight favourite.
Some games in the group stage often take time to warm-up as teams size each other up and smaller nations regularly park the bus in a bid to frustrate their opponents. Backing a team to win after a level first-half usually gets you a decent price and the odds are even bigger if you can pick a team likely to turn things around after going in behind at the break.
So there's lots of value to be found if you can dig deep and find some patterns that suggest teams are fast or slow starters at major tournaments.
Which Euro 2024 games could be of interest here?
Serbia v England
England are the bookies' favourites to go all the way at Euro 2024 but this opener with Serbia could be tricky for them.
Gareth Southgate's men failed to impress in their warm-up games with Bosnia and Iceland and that loss to the Vikings at Wembley had alarm bells ringing.
They failed to score in the first half in either of those games and also drew a blank in the first 45 minutes of two group games at the last World Cup.
That suggests betting on England to win after a level first-half against the Serbians could pay off in their Euro 2024 opener. That bet pays 10/3 with Bet365 while the odds increase to a whopping 22/1 if you back the Three Lions to overturn a first-half deficit.
Belgium v Slovakia
The Belgians were one of the most impressive teams in Euro 2024 qualifying and topped their group with an unbeaten record after winning six and drawing two.
In all six of those victories, they were also leading at half-time so that suggests Belgium could be worth a punt in the HT-FT market at the finals.
They are heavy favourites to top Group E at the finals and kick-off with a game against Slovakia. Domenico Tedesco's men should win this one if their main men are in good form and backing them to be winning at half-time and full-time pays 13/10.
Italy v Albania
Albania are gracing their first major finals and most people expect them to be whipping boys in a Group of Death that sees them go up against Italy, Spain and Croatia.
Kicking off the section with a clash against the European champions is a daunting prospect but the Albanians will be fired up and could make it hard for the Italians.
I'd expect this one to be cagey to begin with as Albania will probably set up to frustrate and look to hit the Azzurri on the break.
Patience will be important for Italy and backing them to win after a level first half pays 11/4.
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.
