The UEFA Euro 2024 will kick off on Friday as Germany and Scotland lock horns at the Allianz Arena in a Group A clash.
The premier European international event is here after three years, as 24 teams get ready to represent their countries in UEFA Euro 2024. The first match comes from Munich, with Germany hosting Scotland at the Allianz Arena on Friday.
Germany did not have to go through the qualification process to reach UEFA Euro 2024. With Die Mannschaft playing friendlies for two years, experimentation was the name of the game. However, Julian Nagelsmann has not had much time with the group, considering he replaced Hansi Flick last year. Nevertheless, they have shown some positive signs, most recently losing a game in 2023.
As for Scotland, they were one of the most impressive teams in the UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifiers. The Tartan Army clinched an automatic qualification berth, losing just once and beating Spain while finishing only four points behind La Roja. And Steve Clarke’s men have warmed up for the European Championships with a two-match unbeaten run this month, scoring twice in both games.
The most recent clash between Germany and Scotland was a pulsating affair that ended in a 3-2 win for Die Mannschaft, with Ilkay Gundogan scoring the winner. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Germany
Julian Nagelsmann has a new roster issue hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s the UEFA Euro 2024 curtain raiser. Ahead of the clash with Scotland, Germany’s head coach has seen one player pull out of the squad.
Aleksandar Pavlovic will not feature in the quadrennial event, with Emre Can replacing the young midfielder. The Borussia Dortmund will be a backup midfielder throughout UEFA Euro 2024.
Manuel Neuer will take his usual spot between the sticks, with Germany lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against Scotland. The backline should feature Joshua Kimmich, Jonathan Tah, Antonio Rudiger, and Maximilian Mittelstadt.
As for the midfield unit, Robert Andrich should line up alongside the retiring Toni Kroos, who will aim to leave a lasting legacy with Germany as he has gone with Real Madrid. Captain Ilkay Gundogan will reprise the no. 10 role, with Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz, and Kai Havertz completing the numbers in the final third.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Kimmich, Tah, Rudiger, Mittelstadt; Andrich, Kroos; Musiala, Gundogan, Wirtz; Havertz
Scotland
Like his counterpart in the German dugout, Steve Clarke has a new issue to deal with ahead of the trip to the Allianz Arena. Scotland’s head coach might be without one player on Friday, with Stuart Armstrong struggling to shrug off a knock.
Angus Gunn is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Scotland lining up in a 3-4-2-1 formation in front of him against Germany. The central defensive unit should feature Jack Hendry, Grant Hanley, and Kieran Tierney.
Anthony Ralston and captain Andrew Robertson will be the two wing-backs, and the duo will aim to make an impact on both ends of the pitch. As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Billy Gilmour, who made an impression in UEFA Euro 2020, and Callum McGregor.
Scott McTominay and John McGinn will reprise advanced roles from the central areas, with the latter providing a goal threat with his burst into the final third. Finally, there is no looking past Che Adams as the central striker for Scotland against Germany.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Gunn; Hendry, Hanley, Tierney; Ralston, Gilmour, McGregor, Robertson; McTominay, McGinn; Adams
Key Stats
- Germany have won their last three meetings with Scotland, not losing to the Tartan Army since a 1-0 friendly reverse back in April 1999. Friday’s clash will be the third clash featuring the two teams at a major tournament. Germany won the two previous encounters in the group stage of the 1986 FIFA World Cup (2-1) and UEFA Euro 1992 (2-0).
- UEFA Euro 2024 is the fourth instance of Germany solely hosting a major international tournament, reaching the final four in the previous three editions: champions at the 1974 World Cup, semi-finalists at Euro 1988 and third place at the 2006 World Cup.
- Germany have conceded at least one goal in each their last 12 games at major international tournaments (World Cup, Euros). The last time they kept a clean sheet was against Slovakia in the round of 16 at Euro 2016.
- Scotland’s two wins (out of 9 matches) at the European Championships have come against CIS (in 1992) and Switzerland (in 1996). They have failed to score in six of their nine games.
- Thomas Muller has scored ten goals in 19 appearances at the FIFA World Cup (36 shots), while he has never found the back of the net in 15 outings at the European Championships (31 shots).
Player to Watch
Kai Havertz
Havertz has come a long way since fans and pundits wrote him off after joining Arsenal from Chelsea. The 25-year-old blew hot and cold in the first half of the 2023/24 season but grew in confidence after the turn of the year.
He was one of the best players in the Premier League when the curtains fell on the 2023/24 campaign last month. Havertz will hope to continue from where he left off with Arsenal when he turns out for Germany in the coming weeks. If he steps up, the hosts will fancy their prospects of winning UEFA Euro 2024.
Prediction
Germany 2-1 Scotland
Clashes between Germany and Scotland have gone one way, even if the proceedings have been closely contested a lot of times. However, the hosts do not have a record to write home about in recent outings in Munich. They have won only one of their last five matches in Munich (D3 L1), a 4-2 victory over Portugal at UEFA Euro 2020.
Meanwhile, Scotland will give the hosts a run for their money, having found the back of the net in most of their recent outings. However, they have shown a soft underbelly at the back, which Germany should take advantage of on Friday. But Die Mannschaft will battle hard for the three points before clinching a 2-1 win at the Allianz Arena.