Germany may not even be Scotland’s biggest threat as they aim to make history

Euro 2024 is here, and Scotland have the pleasure of kicking it off against host nation Germany on Friday.

Steve Clarke’s side have made it second consecutive European Championships having endured a 24-year wait to qualify between 1996 and 2020. Now they will hope to go one better and escape their group and make history as the first side in the nation’s history to do so.

There’s plenty of hope they can do it in a group that’s hard to pick, however there’s one clear favourite, and that’s their first opponents, Germany, which is live on talkSPORT.

Julian Nagelsmann’s side have been all over the place. Disastrous at the 2022 World Cup, they sacked Hansi Flick after a five-game winless run following the tournament.

Naglesmann has since arrived from Bayern Munich, and back-to-back wins over France and the Netherlands in March have brought the feel good factor back to both the team and the country.

However, that could all change if Scotland can pile the pressure on in Munich, and here’s what talkSPORT’s pundits think of the key storylines heading into the match…

An opening upset?

Mario Krischel of Kicker: “Germany tend to struggle against deep-lying defensive teams, recently they struggled against Greece and Ukraine but showed up against France and the Netherlands. Overall they should beat Scotland, though.”

talkSPORT’s Chief Football Correspondent Alex Crook: “I’m not sure they have much confidence. [Leroy] Sane’s form has dropped off and [Kai] Havertz is going to lead the line, is he really going to score enough goals?”

5

The McGinn factor

Ex-Germany international Thomas Hitzlsperger: “He’s had an incredible season, but the opening game is crucial going into the tournament, McGinn might score a couple of goals, I wish him the best of luck but only if Germany scores one more.”

talkSPORT host Simon Jordan: “They’re not in a rich vein of form but they have every reason to be enthusiastic because they’ve got players that are doing well in the Premier League, John McGinn being one of them.”

5

5

Hungary the real threat?

European football journalist Andy Brassell: “They’ve had the same coach for ages in Marco Rossi and they were unbeaten in qualifying. The fact they didn’t have [Domink] Szoboszlai in the last tournament as well but they do now and he has three more years of experience. All of these things point to them really being able to do something. They go into this tournament thinking ‘we are qualifying from this group’.”

Alex Crook: “Hungary are a real dark horse, they went the whole of 2023 unbeaten, beat England home and away the year before in the Nations League and, caused Germany problems in that competition as well. My tip for the tournament is Hungary top that group ahead of the host nation.”

talkSPORT host and former Scotland forward Alan Brazil: “We’re going to need three points but maybe four – I keep being told Hungary are decent and we shouldn’t underestimate them.”

5

Scotland in the knockouts?

talkSPORT host Jeff Stelling: “I think that they will get through the group stage and I think that’s an achievement for them as well – don’t mean to be condescending. Tough opening game against Germany but I expect them to go through maybe at the expense of Hungary.”

Former England striker Darren Bent: “I love seeing Home Nations in major competitions but I think you look at their squad and the strength and depth certainly in other teams in their group. I think they’re really going to struggle. I think it’s been an achievement them making it to the major tournament but I can’t see them getting out their group.”

talkSPORT host Shebahn Aherne: “Scotland get out of the group at the Euros and we’ll take that. A lot of people we’ve been talking to see this as a group of death and we might struggle to get out of the group. You cannot look at that squad and tell me it’s a bad team.”

Alex Crook: “Scotland won’t ever get a better chance to finally make it out of the group at a major tournament, but in true Scottish style, I think it’ll be a glorious failure again. I think they’ll be one of the first teams on the plane home.”

Germany vs Scotland is live on talkSPORT at 8pm on Friday 14 June

Scotland vs Germany: previous encounters

Scotland 0 Germany 2 (June 15, 1992)
Scotland 0 Germany 1 (March 24, 1993)
Germany 0 Scotland 1 (April 28, 1999)
Scotland 1 Germany 1 (June 7, 2003)
Germany 2 Scotland 1 (September 10, 2003)
Germany 2 Scotland 1 (September 7, 2014)
Scotland 2 Germany 3 (September 7, 2015)

talkSPORT BET Euro 2024 Offers

Offer 1: Completely free £5 bet for Euro 2024 – No Deposit Needed

CLAIM HERE

18+ New customers only. Opt in, get £5 free bet on selected markets. Available for first 5000 customers only. Bonus expires in 24h after registration. T&Cs apply, GambleAware.org Please gamble responsibly

Offer 2: Bet £10 Get £30 In Free Bets

CLAIM HERE

18+ New customers only. Opt in via mobile & bet £10+ on any sports at 2.00+ odds within 7 days. No Cash out. Get 6x £5 Free Bets on selected markets. Free bets expire in 7 days. Card payments & Apple Pay only. T&Cs apply, see below. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly