Scotland face Germany in the Euro 2024 opener looking to impress after a fine showing in qualification.
Playing in their first major overseas tournament since 1998, having finished bottom of Group D at Euro 2020, despite two matches at Hampden Park, the Tartan Army will be out in force and hoping to escape a difficult group, which also includes Switzerland and Hungary.
For Germany, finishing top of their group will be a minimum expectation as they carry the weight of a nation on their shoulders, but they will be wary in the opening game, even Julian Nagelsmann admitted his side were “a bit nervous” to face Scotland.
History does not fall in favour of Steve Clarke’s side, however. In the seven previous meetings between the national sides since 1992, there has only been one draw, with Germany winning all the other matches.
Follow all the build-up, latest team news and live action in the blog below:
Kyle Walker chosen as England vice-captain at Euro 2024
Kyle Walker has been selected as England vice-captain for Euro 2024, the PA news agency understands.
The 34-year-old skippered Manchester City to this season’s Premier League title and is the second-most capped player in Gareth Southgate’s squad.
Only captain Harry Kane’s 91 appearances betters Walker’s 83 caps and it is understood the England right-back has been named vice-captain ahead of the Euros.
Mike Jones14 June 2024 15:15
Scotland fans pack Munich bar ahead of Euros opener against hosts Germany
The Tartan Army have flooded into the country in their tens of thousands for the first major finals abroad since the 1998 World Cup in France, with the nation looking to qualify for the knockout stages of a major tournament for the first time.
This is the fourth time Scotland has made it to the finals of a European Championship and playing in the opening fixture will put them firmly in the spotlight this summer.
Mike Jones14 June 2024 15:08
Players to watch out for
Scotland: Scott McTominay
Only Romelu Lukaku, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane scored more goals in qualifying for Euro 2024 than then Manchester United midfielder, which isn’t bad company.
An easy target for blame at club level, McTominay was transformed wearing the Scotland jersey and his seven goals helped Steve Clarke’s side to Germany.
Scotland desperately need some more if they are to get out of the group. His build-up has been disrupted by injury, but McTominay’s late-runs and presence in the box offer an important threat. Once used in Scotland’s defence, he is now a key part of Clarke’s attack.
Mike Jones14 June 2024 15:00
Players to watch out for
The 21-year-old Wunderkind of German football, and the jewel in Bayer Leverkusen’s unbeaten Bundesliga season.
Wirtz enjoyed a stunning comeback campaign after recovering from an ACL injury that ruled the attacking midfielder out of the 2022 World Cup and was named Bundesliga player of the season as Leverkusen won the league title for the first time. Wirtz, with his silky dribbling, creativity and eye for a goal, was instrumental.
A first major tournament offers a new stage to display his talents.

Mike Jones14 June 2024 14:53
Group A fixtures
20:00: Germany vs Scotland (Munich)
14:00: Hungary vs Switzerland (Cologne)
17:00: Germany vs Hungary (Stuttgart)
20:00: Scotland vs Switzerland (Cologne)
20:00: Switzerland vs Germany (Frankfurt)
20:00: Scotland vs Hungary (Stuttgart)
Mike Jones14 June 2024 14:47
Squads for Euro 2024
Goalkeepers: Zander Clark (Hearts), Angus Gunn (Norwich), Liam Kelly (Motherwell);
Defenders: Liam Cooper (Leeds), Grant Hanley (Norwich), Jack Hendry (Al-Ettifaq), Ross McCrorie (Bristol City), Scott McKenna (Copenhagen), Ryan Porteous (Watford), Anthony Ralston (Celtic), Andy Robertson (Liverpool), Greg Taylor (Celtic), Kieran Tierney (Real Sociedad)
Midfielders: Stuart Armstrong (Southampton), Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Billy Gilmour (Brighton & Hove Albion), Ryan Jack (Rangers), Kenny McLean (Norwich), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Callum McGregor (Celtic), Scott McTominay (Manchester United), Lewis Morgan (New York Red Bulls)
Forwards: Che Adams (Southampton), Tommy Conway (Bristol City), James Forrest (Celtic), Lawrence Shankland (Hearts).
Mike Jones14 June 2024 14:41
Squads for Euro 2024
Goalkeepers: Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona)
Defenders: Waldemar Anton (Stuttgart), Benjamin Henrichs (RB Leipzig), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Robin Koch (Eintracht Frankfurt), Maximilian Mittelstadt (Stuttgart), David Raum (RB Leipzig), Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen)
Midfielders: Robert Andrich (Bayer Leverkusen), Chris Fuhrich (Stuttgart), Pascal Gross (Brighton & Hove Albion), Ilkay Gundogan (Barcelona), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Aleksandar Pavlovic (Bayern Munich), Leroy Sane (Bayern Munich), Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen)
Forwards: Maximilian Beier (Hoffenheim), Niclas Fullkrug (Borussia Dortmund), Kai Havertz (Arsenal), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Deniz Undav (Stuttgart).
Mike Jones14 June 2024 14:36
Scotland fans cause serious crash after driving down wrong side of the road at Euro 2024
Six people were injured, two seriously, in a head-on car crash involving Scotland fans visiting Germany for the Euro 2024, police said on Friday, adding that they suspected the visitors had been driving on the wrong side of the road.
“The suspicion is that the Scottish driver used the wrong side of the road due to the left-hand traffic in his home country,” German police said in a statement.
The driver was also suspected of being under the influence of alcohol.
The crash occurred shortly after midnight on Friday on a ring road near Weeze Airport, which is served by Ryanair as a budget way to travel to Dusseldorf and other western German cities.
Mike Jones14 June 2024 14:30
Euro 2024: Germany vs Scotland talking points
Tartan Army on its travels
Scotland fans will travel abroad to a major competition for the first time since the 1998 World Cup in France. Tens of thousands of Tartan Army are flooding into Germany and most of them do not have tickets for the games. Clarke and his squad are aware of the feel-good factor which is surrounding both this fixture and the tournament and, while there is realism about the task against the Germans, there is pressure to put in a positive performance on Friday night.
Jack Rathborn14 June 2024 14:24
Germany v Scotland talking points
Steve Clarke is likely to play a back-three/back-five with left-sided central defender Kieran Tierney certain to start. Clarke will likely choose between Ryan Porteous, Jack Hendry and Grant Hanley for his two partners and it could well be the former two who get the nod. Captain Andrew Robertson will be left wing-back and with right wing-backs Nathan Patterson and Aaron Hickey left behind through injury, Anthony Ralston could edge out Ross McCrorie on the other side of the pitch, although attacking opportunities could be limited.
Midfield pints into a quart pot
Clarke’s biggest dilemma is probably in midfield, the strongest part of his squad. John McGinn, Scott McTominay and Callum McGregor are all but certain to start. If the Scotland boss plays a box midfield, who joins them? Billy Gilmour is more defensively-minded and could partner McGregor in front of the defence leaving McTominay and McGinn further forward. However, Clarke could tweak his formation to allow Ryan Christie to be chief support to the lone striker, likely to be Che Adams. Kenny McLean and Stuart Armstrong can also be hopeful of contributing at some stage of the game.

Jack Rathborn14 June 2024 14:12