England kick off their 2026 World Cup campaign against Croatia on 17th June, and Smarkets gives you a smarter way to get involved.
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What is an exchange?
A betting exchange is a platform where users bet against each other rather than against a bookmaker. Think of it like a marketplace – one person wants to back an outcome, another wants to lay it.
When you back a selection, you bet on it to happen. When you lay a selection, you bet on it not to happen. The exchange simply matches the two sides together and takes a small commission on winning bets.
This model changes everything. Because you set your own odds and wait for another user to match them, prices tend to be sharper than anything a traditional bookmaker offers. There’s no margin baked in to protect the house – because there is no house.
Exchanges also give you far greater flexibility. You can place bets in-play, lock in a profit before full time, or cut your losses if things aren’t going your way. It’s a more dynamic, more transparent way to bet on football.
What are the differences between an exchange and a sportsbook?
The key difference comes down to who you’re betting against. At a traditional sportsbook, you bet against the bookmaker. At an exchange like Smarkets, you bet against other users.
Sportsbooks set their own odds and build in a margin – called the overround – to guarantee themselves a profit regardless of the result. That margin comes directly out of your potential winnings. Exchanges don’t work this way. They simply match opposing bets and charge a small commission, which typically works out far cheaper than a bookmaker’s built-in edge.
Sportsbooks are simpler to use. You pick a market, accept the price on offer, and place your bet. What you see is what you get.
Exchanges demand a bit more understanding but reward that effort with better value. You choose your own price, wait for a match, and can trade your position at any point before or during the game. That flexibility simply doesn’t exist at a traditional sportsbook.
Sportsbooks also limit or restrict winning customers far more readily. Exchanges don’t have that incentive – they profit from activity, not from customers losing.
- Enhanced Offers
- Exceptional Customer Service
- Modern Betting Platform
Use code COMMFREE to trade with 0% commission for 60 days. New UK, IE & Malta users only. Min. £10/€10 first deposit only using Debit Card or Instant Banking. 18+ only. Full T&Cs apply.
How to use the exchange for England vs Croatia?
The Match
England and Croatia share a recent history that makes this opener fascinating. Croatia knocked England out of the 2018 World Cup semi-finals. England gained revenge with a 1-0 victory at Euro 2020. Now, they meet again – and the stakes are high.
Thomas Tuchel’s side qualified without conceding a single goal. Harry Kane arrives with 58 goals this season for Bayern Munich. England carry real momentum into this game.
Croatia, however, never make things easy. Luka Modric still pulls the strings at 40. They counter brilliantly, defend deep, and punish mistakes. Zlatko Dalic’s side will not roll over.
How to Bet on the Smarkets Exchange
Head to the England vs Croatia match page on Smarkets. You’ll find three core markets to get you started.
Back England to Win
England are clear favourites. Tuchel has built a well-drilled, attack-minded side. Kane, Bellingham and Saka give England the firepower to break any defence down. Back England to win and you profit if they claim three points.
Lay Croatia
Think Croatia can’t cause an upset? Laying Croatia means you win if England win or if the game ends in a draw. The exchange lets you act as the bookmaker – and set your own price.
Back the Draw
Croatia frustrate the best teams in the world. England’s tournament openers have not always been straightforward. If you think Tuchel’s side might be slow to get going, the draw could offer real value.
Why Use Smarkets for This Game?
Unlike traditional bookmakers, Smarkets lets you trade your position before and during the match. If England score early, you can cash out your lay on Croatia at a better price. If the game stays level, you can back Croatia to trade out for a profit regardless of the result.
The exchange puts you in control. Use the code COMMFREE and trade commission-free for 60 days.
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