Euro 2024: Germany set for opener against Scotland

Germany will launch their Euro 2024 campaign as hosts with a clash against Scotland at the Allianz Arena on Friday night at 19:00 GMT.

Aiming for a fourth European Championship title, Germany last won the tournament in 1996. They hope to end the long drought this year, but Julian Nagelsmann’s men will face a strong test against the Tartan Army.

Germany came close to winning their fourth title in 2008 but lost to Spain through Fernando Torres’ decisive goal. Unbeaten in four friendlies in 2024, Germany struggled in 2023, with losses to Turkey, Austria, Japan, Colombia, and Poland. This will be their first competitive match in a long time, raising interest in how they will handle the expectations.

Scotland, meanwhile, faced injury scares with Andy Robertson and Lawrence Shankland pulling out of training this week. This marks just their second appearance at a major tournament since 1998, but Steve Clarke has worked wonders over the past couple of years. This includes an impressive qualifying campaign, which saw them finish comfortably ahead of Norway.

Euro 2024: 9 key players to watch
Germany haven’t beaten anyone by three clear goals since June 2022. Since the World Cup, only three of their wins have been by two goals, and only one of those occurred in 2024. Despite playing at home and boasting more talent than Scotland, recent results suggest they may not win emphatically.

Head-to-head (Last five meetings)
28 Apr 1999: Germany 0-1 Scotland (International Friendly)
07 Jun 2003: Scotland 1-1 Germany (UEFA European Championship)
10 Sep 2003: Germany 2-1 Scotland (UEFA European Championship)
07 Sep 2014: Germany 2-1 Scotland (UEFA European Championship)
07 Sep 2015: Scotland 2-3 Germany (UEFA European Championship)

Gunn; Hendry, McKenna, Tierney; Ralston, McTominay, McGregor, Gilmour, Robertson; McGinn; Adams.

As Germany and Scotland prepare to face off in the Euro 2024 opener, all eyes will be on the Allianz Arena. Germany will look to leverage home advantage and their superior squad to secure a strong start to their campaign. Meanwhile, Scotland, under the guidance of Steve Clarke, will aim to upset the hosts and make a statement in their first major tournament appearance in nearly two decades.