Thomas Muller is Scotland nemesis for Euro 2024 after ‘showing ugly side’

Euro 2024’s opening match hands Scotland the chance to pull off a remarkable upset against hosts Germany.

The Allianz Arena will stage this summer’s curtain-raiser as the 24 competing nations set their sights on European glory.

Scotland finished behind Spain but ahead of Norway to qualify for back-to-back tournaments for the first time since 1998.

Steve Clarke’s side have proven their worth against tough opposition but Germany, who they haven’t beaten since a 1-0 friendly win in 1999, will be backed by a home crowd in Munich.

And should Thomas Muller make an appearance, then the Tartan Army could already be staring in the face of defeat at Euro 2024.

The 34-year-old Bayern Munich star is the fourth most capped player for the German men’s national team having played 128 matches for his country.

Muller has only faced Scotland on two previous occasions, with his first appearance against them coming in 2014 during qualification for Euro 2016.

The then world champions won 2-1 at Signal Iduna Park, with the forward scoring both of his sides’ goals – a lofted header and close-range finish either side of Ikechi Anya’s low strike.

Germany held on in the final moments of the match and Muller had to intervene in the fifth minute of stoppage-time to ensure victory.

Shaun Maloney was helping Scotland breakaway for a potential late equaliser but he was pulled down by his neck by the striker in a cynical foul to show he is not afraid of the ugly side of the game.

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Muller was booked for his challenge but it clearly proved crucial, and he was on hand to haunt Scotland again exactly a year later.

He scored two further goals and assisted Ilkay Gundogan’s winner in a 3-2 triumph at Hampden Park for the reverse fixture.

“The atmosphere was super,” he said after the match. “The Scots live football in a completely different way.”

And he may be enjoying hearing the Tartan Army in full voice in Munich when ‘Yes sir, I can boogie’ is belted out.

Muller got a further taste of Scottish opposition in the 2017/18 season when Bayern Munich faced Celtic in the Champions League group stage.

This time it was Brendan Rodgers’ side who were unable to keep him at bay as he scored his side’s opener in a 3-0 win at the Allianz Arena.

Bayern’s interim boss Jupp Heynckes at the time was delighted with his influential performance as he said: “He was everywhere tonight, working hard to track back and plug gaps.

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“To a large extent, I saw the Thomas Muller that I know. It’s imperative that the established players set the tone. He’s the captain and it’s very pleasing.”

Muller is very likely represent Germany at Euro 2024 having already been selected in their provisional squad for the tournament.

He’ll arrive off the back of a disappointing season with Bayern in which they failed to win a trophy for the first time since 2012.

The forward still scored seven goals and assisted a further 11 in all competitions though in a side featuring goal machine Harry Kane.

Muller has started just two of his last seven appearances for Germany and has come off the bench on five of those occasions.

But if he features as a late substitute in the Euro 2024 opener, then he could be set to deliver another huge blow to Scotland.