Adopting a winning mindset is paramount if you want to excel at Football Predictions. You must master the rules governing this sport until it becomes second nature to you, and must learn to develop a solid strategy for placing wagers. To help you adopt this mindset and eliminate emotional bias, we’ve created this article on The Psychology of Betting: How to Make Rational Football Predictions. Bettors who can keep their emotions in check and understand the psychology of betting, are more likely to be successful than those bettors who just act impulsively or following gut feelings. On that note, you would want to be as informed as possible when betting on football.  The psyche of a successful bettor goes beyond just predictions and delves into strategic thinking, emotional control, and rational decision-making.  In the post, we will examine the psychology of betting and give you guidelines on how to make rational football predictions. Without further ado, let us begin.  Content: Understanding The Psychology Of Betting The Role Of Bias In Football Predictions 10 Ways To Make Rational Football Predictions Curb your excitement Make Informed Betting Decisions Don’t Chase Bets Avoid Impulse Betting Control Your Emotions Data Analysis Use Statistical Models And Algorithms Overcome Overconfidence Avoid The Gambler’s Fallacy Proper Bankroll Management Utilise Knowledge And Learn Consistently (AFI informs this) Practising Patience In Football Predictions Adopt A Solid Strategy  Do Research Strategies To Overcome Bias And Make Rational Football Predictions Understanding The Psychology Of Betting Psychology can play a significant role in informing the decisions you make for football betting, and football is one of the most psychological sports to exist. Factors like player psychology have been known to influence the outcome of matches.  A lot of bettors do research on how they wager, the sites they gamble with, including the psychology of betting. As these bettors turn to the secure best sports betting sites, their need for a place where they can bet securely and genuinely cash out earnings continues to grow.  This type of consideration should be given to understanding the psychology  surrounding football. Which entails analysing how other bettors behave and managing your emotions to ensure that you follow reasonable betting strategies. Psychology plays a crucial part in making rational football predictions and should not be overlooked.  The Role Of Bias In Football Predictions In football betting, some bettors often struggle with differentiating between what they think is happening and what they want to happen. This is called bias and it can ruin your football predictions.  There are 5 types of biases that football bettors can fall prey to. We explain each one and how you can avoid them.  1. Confirmation Bias Confirmation Bias is a common drawback in football betting. It is a tendency to look for and accept information that supports your pre-informed beliefs or bets while ignoring evidence that says otherwise.  For example, if you are convinced that Liverpool will defeat Tottenham in an upcoming match, you’ll probably reject any stats or analysis that contradict this belief. To fight confirmation bias, be open to different perspectives and assess available information objectively before placing wagers.  2. Availability Bias Availability bias fuels the knee-jerk reactions you get for recent events. For instance, a team has had some remarkable victories in a row, and every bettor suddenly starts supporting them blindly because they hope that team will win again in their next match.  Nobody remembers that there is no guarantee of them repeating their streak in subsequent matches.  3. Hindsight Bias Hindsight bias deceives you into believing that you can predict match outcomes correctly, when in reality, your predictions are just influenced by post-game knowledge. Take note of this bias to avoid overestimating your predictive abilities. 4. Recency Bias It is common for bettors to exaggerate when they see recent team results during a football season. It can often be one game that significantly impacts how the public perceives a player or team. Which means you should do further research when determining your picks while also not giving too much importance to a club’s latest match result.  5. Overconfidence Bias Overconfidence bias causes you to be too sure of your forecasts and predictions that you ignore potential risks.  10 Ways To Make Rational Football Predictions Making rational football predictions can help you place more profitable bets and reduce your chances of losses. Below, we have listed some ways you can be more rational when backing a bet.  1. Curb Your Excitement To Make Rational Football Predictions Excitement, passion, and overconfidence can cloud your judgement when your favourite club is playing, causing you to make poor betting choices. To make rational football predictions, you must manage your emotions and avoid placing impulsive bets based on just team loyalty.  2. Make Informed Betting Decisions Rather than just depend on gut feeling or blind loyalty to your team, set your path for success by gathering relevant information, evaluating statistics, and researching factors that can affect the result of a match.  By implementing rationality, you can shun personal biases from your assessment and enhance your chances of long-term success by making informed betting decisions.  3. Don’t Chase Bets Chasing bets after a huge loss is one of the most common mistakes bettors make. After you’ve lost one wager or two, it is not advisable for you to try and fix things by placing more bets with hopes that one of them will click. This will just lead to more losses and worsen your situation. 4. Avoid Impulse Betting Experience bettors set rules that help them maintain emotional control and stick to their predetermined betting strategies. These types of players are successful because they understand that losing is part of gambling and don’t chase losses by impulsively betting.  Through managing their emotions, they can make rational football predictions guided by data analysis and statistical probabilities, rather than mood swings.  5. Control Your Emotions Rational football predictions entail taking a neutral stance in the face of a winning streak and not chasing losses

In an unpredictable football predictions industry, staying ahead of the curve demands an in-depth understanding of the key factors such as form and momentum that influence the outcome of a game. Being updated on team form, absences caused by injuries or suspensions, and managerial impact is essential for making Accurate Football Predictions. In this article, we discuss the Role of Form and Momentum In Football Predictions. Table of content: What is form and momentum in football Predictions? Form definition. Momentum definition. The Role of Form and Momentum In Football Predictions Why you should analyze team form Understanding why form is significant in league tables Impact of form on team performance Understand the role of momentum in football Factors that affect form and momentum in football predictions Coaching and tactics in maintaining form Impact of Individual performances on team form Recent transfer activity What Is Form And Momentum In Football Predictions? Form and momentum are two key factors that significantly impact your football predictions, as their statuses determine how your preferred team will perform in a match. Let us define them. Form Form is a team’s recent performance, often measured by the results of their most recent games. This element offers a preview of a team’s present momentum, showing if they are experiencing an upward trajectory or a slump.  Understanding the importance of form in a league table is essential for both bettors and experts, as it explains a club’s potential success or failure in a football season. Momentum Momentum in a football match measures the swing of the match and which clubs deliver more precarious situations for opponents at certain points in time. It does this by measuring the possibility of a club in possession scoring within the next ten seconds. The Role of Form and Momentum In Football Predictions What is the role of form and momentum in football predictions? We answer that question in this section. Why You Should Analyze Team Form Analyzing team form is a crucial aspect of making successful football predictions as it is a vital decision making tool for bettors. Team form reflects a club’s current level of competitiveness and confidence of the team. By analyzing form, you get priceless insights into their strengths, weaknesses, and general potential in upcoming fixtures. By studying a team’s current form, you can identify trends, winning streaks or losing slumps, which will allow you to make well-researched predictions about upcoming match results. Knowing this, teams that are on a winning streak are more likely to maintain that momentum, while those struggling find it harder to turn things around. As you research form, also consider home and away performance, as some teams are more advantaged when they play in familiar fields. Also add head-to-head records, injuries, tactical approaches, and player contributions to your team form analysis. Understanding Why Form Is Significant In League Tables The league table is the major indicator of a team’s performance throughout a football season. It shows their overall standings, points scored, goal differences, and other statistics. Although the league table is important, it is also essential that you go deeper into the factors that contribute to a team’s position in it. One of such factors is form. Understanding why form is significant in a league table is important for both bettors and analysts. Doing this can give you valuable insights into a club’s present momentum, psychological state, and success potential. However, in addition to analyzing form, you should also note other variables like squad depth and fixture difficulty which gives you a more extensive understanding of their potential league position. To fully understand the significance of team form in a league table, let us discuss its various aspects and influences.  1. Momentum A team’s form determines their current momentum and strongly indicates their future performance. To know how well or poorly Tottenham will perform in their next match, study their form in recent matches.  If they have been on a winning streak lately, they will likely continue like that, but if they have had a losing skid then they may struggle to get back to winning. If Hotspur won their last five games, their confidence and belief in their prowess will be high, leading to an increase in motivation and determination for their next fixture. 2. Player Psychology Form largely impacts player psychology, managers, and even supporters. A club in great form will adopt a positive mindset towards matches, which can enhance morale and cohesion within the squad. Similarly, if their form is poor, they may have self-doubt and increased pressure, leading to a decline in performance. You should not underestimate the psychological aspect of form, as it can influence team dynamics and even individual player confidence. 3. Confidence Form shapes a club’s confidence and self-belief. When Real Madrid wins consistently, their confidence will rise, and they develop a winning mindset. This confidence often spreads throughout the club and leads to improved performances. Likewise, if their form is poor, they may struggle with their self-belief, leading to hesitancy and indecisiveness on the field. 4. Injuries And Squad Depth Injuries and squad depth are two factors that can influence a team’s form. If a team has its key players absent because of injury, it may struggle to maintain its form, as they do not have enough worthy replacements. The same way, a team with a deep squad and adequate substitute can overcome setbacks like injuries or suspensions and maintain their form. Always consider injury and squad depth when determining a team’s form. 5. Fixture Difficulty The difficulty level of an upcoming fixture can significantly impact a team’s form. A team facing numerous tough opponents may experience a dip in form, as they cannot score any good results.  Conversely, a team with an easy fixture list may see an upturn in form, gathering valuable points. Analyzing a fixture list can provide a look into how a club’s form can evolve in coming matches. Impact Of Form On Team Performance Form, often referred to as momentum,

Newcastle star  Kieran Trippier sparked concerns last week after his wife uploaded a cryptic post on social media. Trippier has been actively involved in the Three Lions’ Euro 2024 appearance so far.  The defender who is a right-back, has been substituting at left-back due to injuries. Trippier’s wife Charlotte posted on Instagram: “Sooner or later you get over the s*** you swore you’d never get over and it’s the best feeling in the world.”  She then followed that post with the words: “The sun is shining. Happy Monday angels.” There are speculations that Trippier may have lost his wife as a follower on social media.

The Round of 16 for Euro 2024 is underway, as dark horse teams Austria and Georgia pulled off stunning victories over the Netherlands and Portugal respectively to qualify for this stage of the tournament. As predicted, Spain, England and Germany finished first in their group. With the other qualifying nations preparing to begin Round 16, let’s look at the Euro 2024 Match Previews for certain key matches. Switzerland will play Italy in Berlin as they hope to maintain their excellent momentum, while Denmark will face undefeated Germany at Dortmund. France and Belgium will compete in a clash of titans, and Portugal will seek to obliterate Slovenia. Keep reading to see our breakdown of the key Euro 2024 matches to feature in the Round of 16 stage. We have also linked to the previews for all these matches on our website; containing betting tips and experts picks for each fixture. Which Teams Will Play In A Euro 2024 Match For Round Of 16? After the recently completed Euro 2024 group stage, 12 were confirmed from the top-two finishes in respective groups with four more entering as the best third-placed teams to make up the final 16. Top Two Teams qualifying in the Round of 16 are: Germany. Switzerland. Spain. Italy. England. Denmark. Austria. France. Romania. Belgium. Portugal. Turkey. Best third-placed teams qualifying for the Round of 16: Slovenia. Netherlands. Slovakia. Georgia. Euro 2024 Match Previews With Venue And Date Below are all the Euro 2024 match previews you can read about on MatchPlug. Switzerland VS Italy – June 29th at the Olympiastadion, Berlin. Germany VS Denmark – June 30th – at the BVB Stadion, Dortmund. England VS Slovakia – June 30th at the Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen. Spain VS Georgia – June 30th at the Cologne Stadium, Cologne. France VS Belgium – July 1st at the Dusseldorf Arena, Dusseldorf. Portugal VS Slovenia – July 1st at Frankfurt Arena, Frankfurt. Romania VS Netherlands – July 2nd at the Munich Football Arena, Munich. Austria VS Turkey – July 2nd at the Leipzig Stadium, Leipzig. Euro 2024 Match Previews For Round Of 16  After 36 games, the Euro 2024 has moved on to the knockout stages, starting with the round of 16 which begins on the 29th of June 2024. On that note, let us examine the Euro 2024 match previews for all eight round of 16 matches: 1. Switzerland VS Italy Switzerland has played surprisingly well so far in the tournament and came close to defeating Germany to top Group A. That was probably the best goal they’ve ever given up as they are in the easiest half of the draw. The match with the Germans proved that the Swiss have good defense. They were aggressive, well-organized, and managed to hold off the hosts for 92 minutes. Besides their opening match loss to Hungary, Switzerland’s attack has struggled. They managed just four shots against the Germans and required Xherdan Shaqiri to score a wonder strike to defeat Scotland. Italy on the other hand, waited until the last minute to clinch a spot in the last 16. They need Mattia Zaccagni to score in the 98th minute to play out a draw against Croatia. The Azzurri also struggled with their attack, starting their first two group games with a striker who scored only once in 19 international appearances.  Against Croatia, Mateo Retegui got a chance to lead the line, extending a drought that saw him score just once in his last 13 appearances for team and country. Head-to-head Stats For Switzerland VS Italy This match has ”Under” written all over it, and it won’t be shocking if both teams were to drag things out until penalties. Switzerland and Italy competed in the qualifying group at the 2021 World Cup and drew 0-0 and 1-1. The Swiss have drawn six of their last 10 internationals with eight ending Under 2.5 goals, while six of the last eight Italian fixtures have ended in two or fewer goals. Read the preview: Switzerland VS Italy: Preview and Expert Football Prediction. 2. Germany VS Denmark  Germany and Denmark will reenact the 1992 Euro final when they clash in Dortmund on Saturday 29th June, 2024. While the hosts have been undefeated in the contest with two wins and a draw, Denmark is yet to get a victory, ending all their group matches in a draw and scoring twice. Entering this match as the underdogs, Denmark will take inspiration from their wondrous Euro 1992 finals performance in Gothenburg. In that game, they pulled off one of the largest final upsets ever, defeating Germany who were world champions then, by a 2-0 score to win their first and only major football title. The Danes will look to midfielder Christian Eriksen and forwards Rasmus Hojlund and Jonas Wind to subdue Germany, who have a star packed lineup featuring Euro 2024’s joint-second top scorers Jamal Musiala and Niclas Fullkrug, including breakout star Florian Wirtz. Before the knockout game, Julian Nagelsmann will make the hard decision: keep faith in underwhelming Kai Havertz in the starting lineup or star Fullkrug after his stoppage-time equalizer off the bench in the last match against Switzerland. Head-to-Head Stats For Germany VS Denmark Historically, Germany is almost unbeatable once they advance to the knockout stage at the Euros. All the 10 times Germany has advanced, they’ve reached the semifinals nine times and the final six. Die Mannschaft are on the same level as Spain with three European Football Championship titles. Defeating Denmark in the round of 16 will put them one step closer to securing a fourth title; an honour as hosting nation. It will also be a perfect send off for Tooni Kroos, who will retire from football after the contest. However, Denmark who reached the semifinals at the last edition of Euro 2020, are no easy pushovers for Germany. Read the preview: Germany VS Denmark: Preview and Expert Football Prediction. 3. England VS Slovakia  England lost momentum after their first three performances, but they topped their group and

Euro 2024 is down to the last 16 teams, as eight of them go home after an exhilarating group stage. Fans watched Albania, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Serbia, Croatia, Ukraine, and Scotland exit the tournament, while other nations qualified for the Round of 16. Amongst these qualifying countries, some teams referred to as “Dark Horses”, unwanted outsiders have shockingly qualified as well. This post discusses those Euro 2024 Dark Horse Teams. So far, the Euros have been full of twists, but what stood out the most is that where preferred favourites such as England and France have struggled, the dark horse teams like Austria, Turkey, Georgia, and Switzerland scaled through easily to appear in the next round.  As the 16 lucky teams gear up to compete for the Round of 16 and eventually the finals on July 14th, MatchPlug believes that those dark horses deserve to be recognized for the outstanding performance they put on during the group stages.  Table of contents: What is a dark horse? 10 Euro 2024 dark horse teams Euro 2024 dark horse teams that qualified for the round of 16 What Is A Dark Horse? A dark horse is an unpopular candidate or competitor, who unexpectedly wins or succeeds in a competition. UEFA expanding the European Championship means unwanted teams have more chances to make their presence felt at the competition.  What Are Some Rules For Euro 2024 Dark Horse Teams There are some rules surrounding Euro 2024 dark horse teams that help you identify them at major tournaments like the Euros.  1. Dark horses are not ranked among the pre-tournament favourites. Countries like Georgia and Austria were not when the contest began. These teams were put down behind the usual favourites Germany, Spain, France, England, Italy, Belgium, and the Netherlands.  2. Dark horses cannot have much historical pedigree. Austria haven’t had this in modern ages since the 1954 World Cup, when they finished third, and have reached just one knockout stage at any international tournament. At Euro 2020, Italy defeated them in the last 16.  3. Dark horses may have an impressive recent record which is usually overlooked. Austria entered the euros undefeated in seven games and teased their ferocious attacking abilities by beating Turkey 6-1 in March.  4. Dark horses always have an air of mystery around them, either secretly talented players or a mythical coach. In the case of Austria (again) Marcel Sabitzer, Patrick Wimmer, Christoph Baumgartner, and Marko Arnautovic held the fort down. Their coach Ralf Ragnick was also excellent. 7 Euro 2024 Dark Horse Teams 1. Austria 2. Georgia 3. Slovenia 4. Turkey 5. Netherlands 6. Denmark 7. Italy Euro 2024 Dark Horse Teams That Qualified For The Round Of 16 In this section, we examine some of the Euro 2024 dark horses that certainly produced shocking results in the tournament, defied all odds to make it to the round of 16, and topped their group ahead of the preferred favourites.  Below are some of the Euro 2024 dark horse teams that are still going strong in the tournament: 1. Austria Austria officially became a dark horse in the tournament when the pressure began to increase and favourites like England and France cracked in the heat of battle. The Austrians brought to the contest thrilling football, a transformed tactical approach, and a sense of national pride. They first announced their presence by excellent friendly victories over Germany and Italy. After they lost 1-0 to France in their first Euro 2024 match, they went on to beat Poland 3-1. Austria finally sealed their place in the round of 16 by a 3-2 beating of Netherlands.  They finished the group stages of the contest by topping Group D with 6 points ahead of France and are set to face Turkey as their first opponents in the round of 16. 2. Georgia As a team playing in its first ever European championship, Georgia delivered what is considered perhaps the most remarkable performance in this year’s euros. This debutante defeated the almighty Portugal by a 2-0 scoreline to steal a spot in the round of 16.  The Georgian national team has had a quiet confidence rising within it since they eliminated Greece in a penalty shoot out to secure a place at Germany. Their Euro run has been filled with ups and downs since then. First they lost 1-0 to Turkey, drew with Czechia, and then beat Portugal at the dying minutes of the group stage to stay in the competition.  Georgia is set to face Spain on the 29th of June 2024 for the round 16 and we hope this team survives La Roja’s brutality. 3. Slovenia Just like Georgia, there was little information this summer about Slovenia which ranked 57th in the world; only two nations competing in Germany this year are lower in FIFA standings. Unlike Georgia, Slovenia did not put its hopes in the array of talent around the pitch but on just one star they have in their squad, Benjamin Šeško. It doesn’t come as a surprise that the Leipzig forward has been associated with bigger clubs like Chelsea, Arsenal, and Milan this summer and his price may only increase further with his recent performance at the Euro. Meanwhile, Slovenia sealed the deal with a timely 0-0 stalemate with favourites England to enter the round of 16.  4. Turkey Turkey began its start to the Euro 2024 with a spectacular 3-1 beating of Georgia thanks to two long range strikes and a destabilising counter attack. This performance wiped out the disappointment of their campaign last time out at the Euro 2020, which was ridden with injury and uncertain management.  In the match with Georgia, Mert Muldur and wonderkid Arda Guler helped the Turks take the lead before Muhammed Kerem Aktürkoğlu sealed the victory. Since then, Turkey has survived a 3-0 lashing from Portugal and defeated Czechia 3-1 to enter the next stage of the contest.  There is a lot of talent locked away in this team and they are

The Euro 2024 group stage came to an end on Wednesday the 26th of June 2024, giving way to the round of 16 stage that only 16 lucky national teams qualified for. If like most bettors you also wanted to wait to see how the entire competition plays out before wagering on the matches, you’ve actually made a smart decision. Keep reading our article on Euro 2024 Betting Strategies to find the best tips to secure your wagers with.  This year’s Euro tournament was filled with shocking twists and turns that even the most experienced football expert could not have predicted. From Portugal losing 2-0 to Georgia, to England and Slovenia locked in a 0-0 stalemate, and Austria topping Group D ahead of favorites France; the 2024 Euros had more plot twists than an Alfred Hitchcock movie.  As we now enter the long awaited round of 16, avid football bettors and analysts who made a lot of predictions at the beginning of the tournament, now wait with bated breaths to see which of their predictions will come true.  If you’re just joining the betting demographic, use our article to find insightful Euro 2024 betting strategies.  In this post: How does the Euro 2024 work? What is the Euro 2024 format? 5 best Euro 2024 betting strategies? Common mistakes to avoid when betting on the Euro 2024 7 tips to remember for your Euro 2024 betting strategies How Does The Euro 2024 Work? Before we delve into the Euro 2024 betting strategies we have in store for you, let us discuss an important aspect of wagering on this tournament, which is how the Euro 2024 Championship works.  Euro 2024 brought together 24 nations from various countries in Europe to compete for the title of European football champions.  Played every four years, the contest is one of the hardest in the world in terms of level and it is sometimes more challenging to win than a World Cup.  What Is The Euro 2024 Format? The Euro 2024 starts with a group phase, where the 24 nations competition are split into six groups of four. These groups will then compete between the 14th and 26th of June 2024, for the group stages which then determines which teams will qualify for the round of 16.  At the end of the three-game phase, the countries ranked first and second in their respective groups advance to the last 16, and the teams ranked third also have a chance of qualifying. Similarly, four of the six best third-placed teams with regards to points also secured a spot in the last 16 of the European Championship. For example, Slovenia finished third in Group C with three points, while Czech Republic (1 point) and Croatia (2 points) finished with lower points, the Slovenians are still competing in the tournament, while the other two were eliminated. At the end, the Euros always has an interesting surprise and mostly favors the bigger nations of the tournament.  After all the qualifiers are named, the rest of the contest advances to the knockout stage which will run from (29th of June to the 14th of July). The winners of the Round of 16 play in the quarter-finals, the winners of the quarter-finals qualify for the semi-finals, and the winners of the semi-finals qualify for the final. In case of a draw at the end of full time in this second part of the Euro 2024, the teams will move to extra time and maybe a penalty shoot-out. This event makes Euro 2024 betting one of the most interesting aspects of the football season. 5 Best Euro 2024 Betting Strategies Now that you know how the Euro 2024 tournament works and its format, it is time to get into the best Euro 2024 betting strategies. Below, we have shared five tips that you can apply when wagering on the upcoming matches starting on the 29th of June.  If used properly, these betting strategies can ensure you only make Accurate Football Predictions. 1. Study The Teams Current Results You should study the recent results of the two teams you are betting on to ensure you don’t make mistakes on your wager. One way to know a team’s form is to find out if they won their last match, and if their opponent was defeated? In scenarios like that one, it would be better to back the team that won their last match easily, as they will be confident and spurred to recreate the same scoreline in an upcoming match.  Checking the recent results of teams is one of the smartest Euro 2024 bettings strategies. 2. Analyze The Squad For Euro 2024 Analyze the lineup for each team competing in the knockout stage of the Euro 2024 tournament. Can they rely on star players in every position? Are the key players? Mbappe is injured, how will this affect his performance for France?  Those are the questions you must ask before predicting the Euro 2024 matches. This is especially true for the smaller nations making their debut at the Euros this year and rely on a handful of players to carry them through. 3. Check For Impactful Absences Another of the best Euro 2024 betting strategies is to check for any absences that will impact the outcome of your prediction.  If for example, Mike Maignan and Kylian Mbappé (who is already injured) are absent for a French team game, you must be cautious when backing France if they are against a strong team like Portugal which has Cristiano Ronaldo at its helm. For every wager you place on the upcoming Euro 2024 matches, ensure you find out which players will not be competing. A major absence is a significant determinant.  4. Factor In Long-Standing Rivalries In matches between long-term rivals such as France-Portugal, France-Italy or Germany-England  the matches are usually more cutthroat and both teams take turns dealing with the other. So, if you see a match between two age-old rivals, be cautious when backing any