Euro 2024: It’s Here…Germany and Scotland Launch the Party! 

Germany vs Scotland

After weeks of excitement and anticipation the day is finally here folks. Euro 2024 kicks off in two days time when hosts Germany take on Scotland at the Munich Football Arena.

So on Friday night the waiting is over and the action starts, and Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany are hot favourites to start with a win and they are many neutrals’ picks for the championship. Steve Clarke will lead Scotland into battle and, as always, the Scots will leave nothing on the pitch and the Tartan Army will be heard loud and clear in the stands.  

At 39^th in the FIFA World Rankings Scotland are one of the lower ranked teams in the competition while the Euro 2024 betting odds rate Germany as third favourites behind England and France.

It’s going to be a cracking night and, of course, this match looks like a home win and a perfect start for Nagelsmann’s men…but opening games at big tournaments can be edgy.      

 

Talking Points

Europe next for super Wirtz

Germany are enjoying a renaissance under Nagelsmann after a decade of mediocre results; he has a superb blend of youth and experience in a squad well capable of conquering Europe and they come into the tournament in good form. And the man with huge expectations on his shoulders is 21 year old Florian Wirtz, an exciting attacking midfielder who has taken the Bundesliga by storm.   

Wirtz was a vital cog in Bayer Leverkusen’s title winning team this year and, while the Werkself manager Xabi Alonso had a wealth of talent in his group, Wirtz was the standout performer, scoring 18 goals and making 20 assists. He has a goal getting mindset and is superb when his team is in transition, with outstanding technical skills and electric pace.        

Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala, also 21, is another prodigious talent in Germany’s attacking midfield unit but the Germans have plenty of experience too. Toni Kroos announced his retirement from football at the end of this competition and he will be keen to go out with a bang. Kroos’ delivery into the penalty area will give opposition defences plenty to worry about, and service for Borussia Dortmund’s 31 year old striker Niklas Fullkrug. With 11 goals from 16 appearances Fullkrug has made a good case for a start against the Scots.    

 

Robertson ready for action

Captain and talisman Andrew Robertson is so important to this Scotland team both on and off the pitch. He led the Scots to a famous 0-0 draw with the Auld Enemy England at Euro 2020 with the perfect skipper’s performance, and he is clearly loved by his team-mates and fans alike. As a wingback Robertson will be a vital player in the Scotland team to control the threat of Wirtz, Musiala and Kroos, but there have been fears in the camp surrounding his fitness after he left Scotland’s training early on Monday.

But a collective sigh of relief enveloped Scotland on Tuesday when he returned to training and Scotland coach John Carver explained that Robertson pulled out on Monday purely as a precaution. The Liverpool ace has suffered an injury ravaged campaign and Scotland are right to exercise caution with their main man.

The underdogs will also need big performances from Manchester’s United’s central midfielder Scott McTominay, who scored some crucial goals in qualification, and Aston Villa creative midfielder John McGinn; but Scotland are a little light up front and will do all they can to frustrate the hosts.              

 

History

Germany have a rich history in the game with four World Cup wins, the last in 2014, and three European Championships, most recently in 1996. Scotland have reached the Euros for the second time this century and the second time in succession; but they have never gone further than the group stages of a major tournament in 11 attempts.     

Germany have won four of the five previous meetings with Scotland, the other encounter resulted in a draw, but this the first coming together since the qualifiers for Euro 2016 when Germany won both clashes.

With three wins and a draw from the last four games Germany come into the match in much better shape than the Scots who have won one, drawn one and lost two.   

 

Betting Tip

At 1.27 to win, it will be huge Euro 2024 news if the hosts slip up on Friday and I just can’t see it. But for the brave Scots you can back your team at 9.06 to win or 5.22 to draw, with the Double Chance at SBOTOP odds of 3.38.

2-0 is the most likely score-line at odds of 5.41 and that would be a triumph for Germany, but not a disaster for Scotland.   

   

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