Sports betting has been around for a very long time. People bet on games to have fun. Betting on the World Cup is particularly popular. Big upsets have often changed many bets.
But how did oddsmakers predict this? If you know the insider tricks and master this art, you can also redeem these skills by playing against the best in the big leagues!
What do oddsmakers do?
Oddsmakers determine which team has the best chance of winning. They look at many things. This includes the form of the players, injuries and statistics. Then they give a quota. This shows how likely they are to win. Low odds mean that the team is the favorite and vice versa that the opponent is the underdog.
The 1950 World Cup: Uruguay beats Brazil
One of the biggest World Cup upsets happened in 1950. Brazil was the big favorite. The team played at home. Everyone thought Brazil would win. But in the final, Uruguay beat Brazil 2-1. That was a big shock for everyone. The experts had Brazil clearly ahead, but sometimes things happen that nobody expects and even professionals can be wrong.
A fun fact about that memorable final is that the local press was so sure that Brazil would win that they had victory announcements and even a medal prepared before the game!
Newspapers were printed with headlines like “Brasil Campeão!” (Brazil is World Champion!) before the ball even started rolling. But in the end, they all had to watch Uruguay win the trophy – and the victory sheets that had been printed ahead of time were completely useless.
1966 World Cup: North Korea beats Italy
The 1966 World Cup saw another big surprise. North Korea was an unknown team. Italy was considered one of the strongest teams in the world. But North Korea beat Italy 1-0. Nobody expected that. The oddsmakers had put Italy as the clear favorite. North Korea’s victory was one of the biggest sensations in World Cup history.
1982 World Cup: Algeria surprises Germany
There was another big surprise in 1982 when Germany played Algeria. Many thought the victory would be easy for Germany. But in the end, Algeria won 2-1. The result shocked the world and showed that even small teams can achieve great things.
1990 World Cup: Cameroon beats Argentina
The 1990 World Cup started with a bang. Argentina, the defending champions, played against Cameroon. Argentina was the clear favorite and the bookmakers gave Cameroon little chance. But Cameroon shocked everyone. They won the game 1-0. This victory is still considered one of the biggest World Cup surprises. It shows that anything is possible in football.
World Cup 2002: South Korea and the sensation
The 2002 World Cup saw a double surprise. South Korea defeated both Italy and Spain. Both teams were considered very strong and the odds calculators saw South Korea as clear underdogs. But South Korea reached the semi-finals. Nobody expected that. For many, it was difficult to predict such successes.
Why do oddsmakers get it wrong?
Oddsmakers work very carefully and look at many details. But football is a game full of surprises. Things like red cards, injuries or bad weather can change everything. The crowd can also play a big role. Teams often have an advantage, especially at home games, because such things are difficult to predict.