Germany vs. Scotland prediction, odds, betting tips and best bets for Euro 2024 opening match | Sporting News United Kingdom

Euro 2024 hosts Germany open the competition in Munich as they contest the summer tournament’s first game against Scotland on Friday.

Germany have slipped from their mantle as global football superpowers over the last decade, winning the 2014 World Cup and reaching the 2016 Euro semifinals but seeing themselves eliminated early in the last three major tournaments. 

Now, Julian Nagelsmann looks to bring Germany back to their former glory, having not won a European title since 1996 in England. The results over the past year, all friendlies in the absence of qualifying as Euro hosts, have been spotty, beating France twice, the Netherlands, and the United States but also suffering defeats to Austria, Turkey, and Poland in the past calendar year.

Scotland have never made it out of the group stage in a major tournament, and have reached the Euro finals just once since seeing action in both 1992 and 1996. Yet a win over powerhouse Spain last March paved the way for this summer’s qualification, and they have been pesky opponents for any European side over the last few years even in defeat.

MORE: Who will win Euro 2024? Predictions and best bets for summer tournament in Germany

Germany vs. Scotland prediction, odds

• Moneyline lean: Germany (-350)
• Score prediction: Germany 3-1 Scotland

There’s a chance this one goes down to the wire, as Scotland are a tough out regardless of the final score, but they’ve taken a downturn since securing qualification to Euro 2024. They suffered friendly defeats to England and France last fall, both by multiple goals, and they were beaten by both the Netherlands and Finland this past March.

Run-up friendlies this past week saw them beat Gibraltar 2-0 before drawing with Finland, which does little to inspire hope of an upset.

Germany have been famously prone to disappointing results against inferior opposition in recent years, but this doesn’t appear to be one they’ll struggle with.

Germany vs. Scotland match facts

• Date: Friday, June 14, 2024
• Kickoff time: 9 p.m. local (3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT)
• Location: Allianz Arena (Munich, Germany)
• Referee: Clement Turpin (FRA)
• Last meeting: Scotland 2-3 Germany (Sep. 7, 2015 | Euro 2016 qualifying)

Germany vs. Scotland best bet

• Pick: Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals 
• Odds: +225 (BetMGM)

Scotland are vulnerable at the back, but they do well to get goals of their own. Scotland were held off the scoresheet just once during their Euro qualifying run, a road match at Spain, and they’ve been shut out just five times in 24 matches since the start of 2022.

Germany, meanwhile, have largely attempted to outscore their opponents in recent years, to varying degrees of success. They conceded to both the Netherlands and Greece in recent friendlies this calendar year, and went 10 straight matches without a clean sheet across most of 2023.

The cherry on top is that Scotland found the net in both their last two games against Germany, coming a decade ago in Euro 2016 qualifying, both Germany wins that finished 2-1 in Munich and 3-2 in Glasgow.

Germany vs. Scotland prop bet

• Pick: Over 9.5 total corners
• Odds: +105 (BetMGM)

Both these teams love to rack up corners at a high rate, and could do so here if the game gets chaotic, which it has the potential to.

Germany collected a whopping 13 corners of their own in the recent 2-1 victory over Greece, and even managed to put up five on France and six on the Dutch in recent games against more prominent opponents. Against CONCACAF opponents Mexico and USA who could approach this game in a similar manner to Scotland, the corner total went into double-digits both times. Scotland, meanwhile, racked up seven corners on Finland in the recent draw, while collecting 12 against Gibraltar in their earlier Euro tuneup match.

• Pick: Ilkay Gundogan to score or assist a goal
• Odds: +120 (FanDuel)

One player who will be essential for Germany not just in this match but to their tournament hopes will be Florian Wirtz. The Bayer Leverkusen playmaker was sensational for his club this year, and he comes into Euro 2024 as a solid contender for the tournament’s Golden Ball award. Yet he’s got plenty of help in the buildup, and with -135 odds to score or assist and only three goal contributions in his last 10 caps, there are other players who present much better value.

In his first season with Barcelona, Ilkay Gundogan was one of the team’s lone bright spots, finishing atop La Liga in chances created while not receiving the kind of attention befitting of his playmaking production. While he plays a bit deeper for the national team, he will crop up in both the creative and finishing departments at times, and is due an international assist, without one since early 2022.

Expect the 33-year-old to play a strong role in Germany’s buildup, and in a chaotic match he could be the key to unlocking Scotland’s back line.

Germany vs. Scotland live stream, TV channel

The opening match of Euro 2024 will be televised in the United States on FOX network channel, which can be streamed on Fubo who are offering a free trial for new users.

Other Euro 2024 matches will be televised on FS1, which is also available to stream on Fubo.

In Canada, the match will be televised on TSN1, TSN4 and TVA with both networks offering live streaming options too.

In the UK, Euro 2024 matches will be split between the BBC and ITV, with the opening match between Germany and Scotland to air on ITV.