Germany vs Scotland match preview and Euro 2024 tickets
Exactly 1069 days since the last ball was kicked in Euro 2020, Germany and Scotland will herald the opening of the 2024 edition when both sides face each other in the Allianz Arena.
This is the 17th edition of the tournament, and hosts Germany are looking to secure a fourth European crown that will place them as the outright record holder of the tournament.
Having enjoyed a stellar qualifier campaign, Scotland is looking to break their European Championship curse and, at least, qualify beyond the group stage for the first time in their history.
But who will come out on top in this first group match between Group A favourites and one of the tournament's dark horses?
Stats and form
Germany are unbeaten in their last four games (W3, D1), including wins over France and the Netherlands.
Germany are participating in their 14th European Championship, more than any other team. They are three-time European champions, a record they share with Spain.
The hosts have averaged 2.1 goals from 6.1 shots on goal and 15.2 attempts in their last ten games.
They have also averaged 61.9% possession and 5.6 corners per game, with the opposition getting 1.5 goals from 4.5 shots on goal, 9.8 attempts and 4.1 corners.
Germany lost its opening match in the last three major tournaments.
Real Madrid and Germany midfielder Toni Kroos is the third-most capped player in the squad (with 109) after Neuer (119) and Thomas Müller (129).
Scotland have just one win in their last nine games (D3, L5).
They have kept one clean sheet in their last nine games.
The Tartan Army have averaged 47.8% possession, 4.9 corners awarded and 3.1 corners against them while conceding 0.9 goals from 9.5 attempts and 3.5 shots on goal in their last ten games.
Head-to-head
Germany won each of their last three meetings with Scotland, and they haven't lost to them since a 1-0 friendly reverse back in April 1999.
Twenty-five years have passed since Scotland last tasted victory over Germany courtesy of a Don Hutchison goal in Bremen. A similar result in Munich would have the Tartan Army in dreamland.
Match preview
After failing to win any of the opening games of their last three major tournaments, Germany will be desperate to begin this year’s European Championship with a win when they play Scotland at Bayern Munich’s home stadium, the Allianz Arena.
Julian Nagelsmann’s side are hosting a major tournament for the fourth time in their history.
They reached the final four in each of the previous three editions—champions at the 1974 World Cup, semi-finalists at EURO 1988, and third place at the 2006 World Cup.
A repeat of their success in previous years is likely, with Die Mannschaft being one of the favourites in this year’s tournament.
However, reaching the final will require a solid start in Munich, as Germany has exited the group stage in two of the last three major tournaments.
The signs are good for Julian Nagelsmann's side, who have recorded wins over France and the Netherlands in their warm-up games.
However, some fans who have bought their side’s Euro 2024 tickets will be pessimistic about Germany’s chances after seeing their side struggle against Ukraine and Greece in their two last warm-up games.
Nagelsmann’s side were held to a goalless draw against Ukraine. Although they beat Greece 2-1 in their last outing, they mustered a disappointing 0.88 expected goals (xG), in contrast to their opponents' 2.14.
Meanwhile, Scotland will be desperate to begin their European Championship journey with a bang when they take on Germany on Friday.
Steve Clarke’s men enjoyed a remarkable qualifying campaign, winning their first five EURO 2024 qualifiers, including wins over Spain and Norway.
However, they failed to win any of their final three (D2 L1), conceding seven goals in those games after only shipping one goal in their first five games.
They beat Gibraltar 2-0 and then drew 2-2 with Finland in their warm-up friendlies. Such a form won’t be encouraging for Scottish fans, yet the Tartan Army has proven that they know how to turn up when it matters the most.
The last time they beat Germany was 25 years ago. Getting a similar result in Munich would have them in dreamland and show the rest of Group A that they mean business.
Key men
Germany have one of the most talented squads in the 2024 European Championship, with the likes of Jamal Musiala, Ilkay Gundogan, Kai Harvetz, Manuel Neuer, Toni Kroos, and Florian Wirtz among the best players in their positions.
Wirtz enjoyed a good season with Bayer Leverkusen. The 21-year-old scored eleven goals and added eleven assists during Leverkusen's unbeaten Bundesliga title-winning campaign to claim Player of the Season honours in Germany's top flight.
Meanwhile, Musiala scored ten goals from an xG of 7.9 in the Bundesliga, while Gundogan created the second-most chances (132) of any player in Europe's top five leagues in all competitions in 2023-24.
Real Madrid pass master Toni Kroos was among the best passers in Europe this season, and he played more line-breaking passes (214) and passes leading to final-third entries (69) than any other player in the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League season.
Unlike Germany, Scotland does not have so many star names, with Steve Clarke’s side more of a unit of hardworking players than a group of star players.
Still, they boast a clutch player in Scott McTominay. The Manchester United midfielder plundered seven goals in eight qualifying appearances for Clarke's team, with his goal tally the joint most by a Scottish player in a Euros/World Cup qualifying campaign, along with Steven Fletcher (EURO 2016) and McGinn (EURO 2020). What is even more impressive is that McTominay's goals came from just 1.77 xG, an overperformance of 5.23.
That said, McTominay is not the only threat in Scotland, which has the likes of McGinn and Andrew Robertson, who will offer leadership and cool heads for the Tartan Army.
Injury news
Given that Germany is well-stocked in every department, they have little or nothing to worry about on the injury front. That said, the only big name missing for Julian Nagelsmann is Bayern Munich winger Serge Gnabry, who misses the tournament because of a hamstring injury.
Steve Clarke is not as lucky as his opposite number injury-wise, with the Scotsman unable to call up a few key players. They head into Euro 2024 without full-backs Aaron Hickey and Nathan Patterson and striker Lyndon Dykes.
How the teams could line up
Barring some late fitness or injury problems, both coaches will line up with their strongest players in every department. Nagelsmann is expected to use his favoured 4-5-1 or 4-3-3 formation, which has Kai Hartvetz leading the line, with support from Wirtz and Jamal Musiala.
Scotland will likely play with their favoured 3-4-3 formation, which worked wonders during their qualifiers and gave McTominay the freedom to roam in attack.
Germany (predicted lineup): Manuel Neuer, Joshua Kimmich, Antonio Ruediger, Jonathan Tah, Maximilian Mittelstaedt, Robert Andrich, Toni Kroos, Jamal Musiala, Ilkay Gundogan, Florian Wirtz, Kai Havertz.
Scotland (predicted lineup): Angus Gunn, Ryan Porteous, Jack Hendry, Kieran Tierney, Anthony Ralston, Andrew Robertson, John McGinn, Scott McTominay, Callum McGregor, Ryan Christie, Che Adams.
Getting a ticket
Tickets for the game are on sale from vetted resellers on Seatsnet from €500. Don’t miss the superb opening match we expect here.
