Don’t laugh but when the draw for the Euro 2024 finals was made, there was a faint sense of optimism among the Scotland contingent that Steve Clarke’s side were ready to spoil the party when facing hosts Germany in the tournament opener on Friday 14 June. Frankly, December 2023 feels a long time ago now. Back then, Germany were in a funk and could have been susceptible to a well-organised, cohesive unit. Now depleted and out-of-form, Scotland do not look like the same team that roared to automatic qualification last year. The odds of an upset are stacked against them.
Still, the Tartan Army will be out in force as Scotland head to just a second men’s major international tournament in 25 years, determined to put on a better show after falling a little flat at Hampden at Euro 2020. As it was three years ago, Scotland’s goal will simply be getting out of their group and reaching the last-16. Given the tournament format, securing even just one Group A victory against Germany, Switzerland or Hungary could be enough. There are harder groups, sure, but Scotland’s form suggests they could still be fourth-favourites to progress.
Germany, for instance, look like Germany again, even as expectations for the host nation are not as high as you might expect. Embarrassing group-stage exits from the 2018 and 2022 World Cups still hang over this team but Julian Nagelsmann appears to have rediscovered the feel-good factor. Comparisons are already being made to Ein Sommermärchen, the summer fairytale of 2006, when a young, fresh Germany side united a country as they progressed through their home World Cup. Recent wins over the Netherlands and France suggests Germany are coming into form at the right time.
Hungary and Switzerland, meanwhile, have certain reputations to uphold. Hungary were drawn in the group of death at the last Euros but claimed draws against France and Germany and almost snuck through; their performances in the following Uefa Nations League, beating England home and away and winning against Germany in Leipzig, underlined their capacity to thrive as the underdog. This has hardly been a golden generation for Switzerland but they have qualified from the group stages at their last five major tournaments – three World Cups and two Euros. The Swiss stunned favourites France on penalties on their way to reaching the quarer-finals at Euro 2020, where they almost did the same to Spain.
Scotland could only dream of such a track record at major tournaments, yet the journey the national team has been on under Clarke has been one of small but consistent steps. Scotland made an outstanding start to qualifying, with famous wins over Spain at Hampden and Norway in Oslo. It gave Scotland a sense of momentum that has rather fizzled out in the months since. Scotland head into Euro 2024 lacking wins, goals, and right backs since the turn of the year, with too many injuries and not enough squad depth. The opening night in Munich now looks daunting and Scotland need a reason to believe.
Player to watch out for
Germany: Florian Wirtz
The No. 10 for Bayer Leverkusen is an excellent playmaker who regularly weaves dangerous passes behind opposing defences. Florian Wirtz’s incredible assist in Die Werkself’s 2-1 victory against Heidenheim in February perfectly captured it. The player’s deft reverse pass tricked the opponent’s defence and set up teammate Amine Adli for a goal.
Scotland: Billy Gilmour
Being one of Scotland’s most gifted young players, Billy Gilmour will undoubtedly play a major role in the Tartan Army’s success in Germany. The 23-year-old midfielder has been selected to play for his country in the European Championship for the second time because of his self-assurance and passing skills.
Hungary: Dominik Szoboszlai
If Dominik Szoboszlai captains Hungary in their first group encounter against Switzerland on June 15, he will become the youngest captain in the history of the UEFA European Championship. That honour will stand in stark contrast to his preparation for the previous Euro, where an injury kept him out of contention.
The 23-year-old Liverpool midfielder, who has experienced multiple domestic cup victories with Red Bull Salzburg and RB Leipzig, is anxious to avoid any undue pressure on himself before the finals. Instead, when Marco Rossi’s team faces Switzerland, Germany and Scotland in Group A, he will want to set an example by displaying his talent on the pitch.
Switzerland: Granit Xhaka
The 31-year-old Granit Xhaka, who assisted Bayer Leverkusen in winning their first Bundesliga title the previous season, will be crucial to Switzerland‘s ambitions when they play Hungary on June 15, to begin their Euro 2024 campaign.
Match fixtures
14 June: Germany vs Scotland
14 June Hungary vs Switzerland
19 June: Germany vs Hungary
19 June: Scotland vs Switzerland
23 June: Switzerland vs Germany
23 June: Scotland vs Hungary
All nations squad list
Germany
Goalkeepers: Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim), Manuel Neuer (Bayern München), Marc-André ter Stegen (Barcelona)
Defenders: Waldemar Anton (Stuttgart), Benjamin Henrichs (Leipzig), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern München), Robin Koch (Frankfurt), Maximilian Mittelstädt (Stuttgart), David Raum (Leipzig), Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid), Nico Schlotterbeck (Dortmund), Jonathan Tah (Leverkusen)
Midfielders: Robert Andrich (Leverkusen), Chris Führich (Stuttgart), İlkay Gündoğan (Barcelona), Pascal Gross (Brighton), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Jamal Musiala (Bayern München), Aleksandar Pavlović (Bayern München), Leroy Sané (Bayern München), Florian Wirtz (Leverkusen)
Forwards: Maximilian Beier (Hoffenheim), Niclas Füllkrug (Dortmund), Kai Havertz (Arsenal), Thomas Müller (Bayern München), Deniz Undav (Stuttgart)
Scotland
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), Andrew Robertson (Liverpool), Greg Taylor (Celtic), Kieran Tierney (Real Sociedad)
Midfielders: Stuart Armstrong (Southampton), James Forrest (Celtic), Billy Gilmour (Brighton), Ryan Jack (Rangers), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Callum McGregor (Celtic), Kenny McLean (Norwich), Scott McTominay (Manchester United), Lewis Morgan (New York RB)
Forwards: Ché Adams (Southampton), Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Tommy Conway (Bristol City), Lawrence Shankland (Hearts)
Hungary
Goalkeepers: Dénes Dibusz (Ferencváros), Péter Gulácsi (Leipzig), Péter Szappanos (Paks)
Defenders: Botond Balogh (Parma), Bendegúz Bolla (Servette), Endre Botka (Ferencváros), Márton Dárdai (Hertha Berlin), Attila Fiola (Fehérvár), Miloš Kerkez (Bournemouth), Ádám Lang (Omonoia), Zsolt Nagy (Puskás Akadémia), Loïc Négo (Le Havre), Willi Orbán (Leipzig), Attila Szalai (Freiburg)
Midfielders: Dániel Gazdag (Philadelphia Union), Mihály Kata (MTK Budapest), László Kleinheisler (Hajduk Split), Ádám Nagy (Spezia), András Schäfer (Union Berlin), Callum Styles (Sunderland), Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool)
Forwards: Martin Ádám (Ulsan HD), Kevin Csoboth (Újpest), Kristofer Horváth (Kecskemét), Roland Sallai (Freiburg), Barnabás Varga (Ferencváros)
Switzerland
Goalkeepers: Gregor Kobel (Dortmund), Yvon Mvogo (Lorient), Yann Sommer (Inter)
Defenders: Manuel Akanji (Manchester City), Nico Elvedi (Mönchengladbach), Ricardo Rodríguez (Torino), Fabian Schär (Newcastle), Leonidas Stergiou (Stuttgart), Silvan Widmer (Mainz), Cédric Zesiger (Wolfsburg)
Midfielders: Michel Aebischer (Bologna), Remo Freuler (Bologna), Ardon Jashari (Luzern), Fabian Rieder (Rennes), Xherdan Shaqiri (Chicago Fire), Vincent Sierro (Toulouse), Renato Steffen (Lugano), Ruben Vargas (Augsburg), Granit Xhaka (Leverkusen), Denis Zakaria (Monaco), Steven Zuber (AEK Athens)
Forwards: Zeki Amdouni (Burnley), Kwadwo Duah (Ludogorets), Breel Embolo (Monaco), Dan Ndoye (Bologna), Noah Okafor (AC Milan)
