Germany vs Scotland

The grandest football spectacle in Europe gets underway at Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena as Germany and Scotland go head-to-head in a curtain-raising Euro 2024 fixture.

After three consecutive disappointing results at major tournaments, including a heartbreaking group-stage exit at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Germany will hope to make amends on home soil and win their fourth European Championship. ‘Die Mannschaft’ have undergone massive changes since returning from the Middle East, with new manager Julian Nagelsmann providing the team stability in the build-up to this summer’s tournament. A come-from-behind 2-1 win against Greece in their last warm-up fixture extended Germany’s unbeaten streak to four matches (W3, D1), setting them up nicely for their first meeting with Scotland since 2015. The Germans have recently dominated this match-up, winning their last three H2H meetings despite conceding on each occasion. Adding to that tally would see Germany stretch a tournament-record haul of 27 Euro wins.

On the other hand, Scotland’s third-ever European Championship appearance and second on the trot places them in a highly competitive Group A alongside Germany, Hungary, and Switzerland. Upsetting the odds on day one would significantly increase their chances of reaching the knockout stages for the first time in the nation’s history. However, Scotland’s dreadful run of just one win from their last nine outings in the lead-up to the tournament (D3, L5) can’t inspire much confidence. Neither can the fact Steve Clarke’s men only kept one clean sheet during that sequence. Perhaps encouragingly for the Tartan Army, seven of the last nine European Championship openers have seen both teams on the scoresheet.