Scotland face Germany at the Euro 2024 first game looking to impress after a good performance in qualifying.
Playing their first major tournament abroad since 1998, having finished bottom of Group D at Euro 2020 despite two matches at Hampden Park, the Tartan Army will be in force and hoping to escape a difficult groupwhich also includes Switzerland and Hungary.
For Germany, finishing top of the group will be a minimum expectation as they carry the weight of a nation on their shoulders, but they will be cautious in the opening game even Julian Nagelsmann admitted his side were “a bit nervous” about facing Scotland.
However, history does not favor Steve Clarke’s side. In the seven previous meetings between the teams since 1992, there has been just one draw, with Germany winning all other matches.
Follow all the preparation, the latest team news and live action in the blog below:
Euro 2024: Germany vs Scotland
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Kick-off at 8pm BST at the Munich Football Arena
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The hosts enter the tournament looking for their fourth European title – and their first since 1996
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Steve Clarke’s team aims to build an impressive qualification
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Germany vs Scotland preview line-ups and latest team news
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Euro 2024 predictions: winner, Golden Boot, emerging star and more
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Euro 2024 has the power to save football from itself – at least for a month
Fantasy Euro 2024 guide and tips: Top players, how to score and negotiate signings to consider
08:45 , Jack Rathborn
Euro 2024 is coming and that can only mean one thing… fans from all 24 countries furious with their national team coaches and insisting that they could do a better job, pick a more exciting team, go further in the tournament.
Fortunately, they have the chance to do this – more or less – with fantasy football back on the radar. We’re using the official Uefa version for the summer and have detailed below everything you need to know to get started (which will be familiar to Premier League Fantasy veterans) and chose some potential stars for his team.
There are even prizes on offer for a lucky few, including games consoles, footballs, kits and a trip abroad. You can sign up to create your team here.
Fantasy Football Euro 2024 guide, tips and best players to consider signing
Euro 2024 has the power to save football from itself – at least for a month
08:34 , Jack Rathborn
chicken or Germany team came together for the first time for the final Euro 2024 camp two weeks ago, some of his more experienced players were a little surprised. A large number turned out to see them. “It was great to see that so many people were there” Joshua Kimmich he said. “You can feel that the people at home are ready, that the atmosphere is growing.”
This atmosphere reached its peak on the eve of Euro 2024 in Munich, as the first of a estimated 200,000 traveling Scottish fans sang to get to the city for the opening game against the hosts. Scotland is currently seeing a shortage of kilts as a consequence.
There was no feeling that this tournament would suddenly start without much preparation for them. They are among the few countries that have appreciated this for months.
This is something that figures like Kimmich often forget, through no fault of their own. This is not the whole story for them, but just another part of football that is ruthlessly dominated by club football. It was instructive that on the eve of the tournament the Professional Footballers’ Association join the legal case against FIFA in the international games calendar. The Champions League final took place just 13 days ago, the shortest gap ever between the final and the start of the European Championship. This is all the more notable because they are both UEFA events. That’s a huge reduction from the three-week gap in 2012.
Euro 2024 has the power to save football from itself – at least for a month
Euro 2024 predictions: winner, Golden Boot, emerging star and more
08:06 , Jack Rathborn
Euro 2024 is among us, at a time when Germany hosts its first major men’s tournament since 2006 – with the national team trying to win its first trophy in a decade.
Some think Julian Nagelsmann’s side will defy expectations at home, although there is naturally significant faith in France, as 2018 world champions and 2022 runners-up.
Can England finally get over the line under Gareth Southgate, three years after losing the delayed Euro 2020 final to Italy at Wembley? And if so, will Harry Kane win his second international Golden Boot?
Or will a younger star steal the spotlight as clubs and managers across Europe keep an eye out for the “next big thing” in the summer transfer market?
Below, we predict the teams, players and moments that could define Euro 2024. Without further ado…
Germany vs Scotland: Team news and predicted line-ups
08:03 , Jack Rathborn
Team News
Germany’s preparations have gone reasonably well physically, although they did see Serge Gnabry ruled out before the tournament and they opted to leave out Champions League finalist Mats Hummels. The biggest change this year, however, is the return of Toni Kroos from international retirement – however, in the short term, as he will retire from all football at the end of the Euros. Kai Havertz appears to have done enough to start up front, while Nagelsmann appears to have opted for a triumvirate of Ilkay Gundogan, Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala behind him. Aleksandar Pavlovic was the only late withdrawal, due to tonsillitis.
As for Scotland, they were beset by misfortune. Lyndon Dykes was ruled out through injury shortly after being called up, Ben Doak was a no-show because of his own injury and Lewis Ferguson suffered an injury just before the end of the campaign. It certainly means there is at least one place up for grabs in attack, with Che Adams or Lawrence Shankland fighting for the starting role and players like John McGinn and Scott McTominay even more important in support.
Predicted lineups
GER – Ter Stegen, Kimmich, Rudiger, Tah, Mittelstadt, Kroos, Andrich, Musiala, Gundogan, Wirtz, Havertz
SCO – Gunn, Hendry, Hanley, Tierney, Ralston, McTominay, McGregor, Gilmour, Robertson, McGinn, Adams
Germany vs Scotland
Thursday, June 13, 2024 6:48 pm , Sonia Twigg
Good morning and welcome The Independent live blog on the first day of Euro 2024.
Stay tuned for all the build-up, team news and news from Munich as we prepare for the opening match between Germany and Scotland at the Allianz Arena.
Scotland have not played a major tournament abroad since 1998, while Germany will be under the pressure of expectations as tournament hosts.
