Scotland can defy the odds against Germany in Euros opener, says Gilmour

Billy Gilmour believes Scotland are well equipped to defy the odds and spoil Germany’s European Cham­pionship party when the tournament gets under way in Munich on Friday.

Gilmour has insisted the ­talent level within the Scottish camp should not be underestimated as they prepare to meet the heavily backed hosts in Group A. Asked if Scotland should carry confidence when ­taking to the field against the Germans, the Brighton midfielder said: “I think we can. When you look around our squad, we have great players. Everyone doubts us sometimes – ‘Typical Scotland’ – and we need to get out of that kind of routine.

“Everyone outside Scotland thinks it’s a Germany win. We know ourselves that we are a good team and hard to beat when it comes to competitive games and we want to show that. We go into every game trying to win the game. We have already tried and done stuff in training where we think we can break them down and go and win the game.”

Gilmour’s tone will strike a chord with tens of thousands of Scots who have already descended on Bavaria. Steve Clarke and his squad are ­trying to become the first Scotland team to ever emerge from a group in tournament football. Gilmour suggested they may even have loftier goals. “Take it game by game, but we know we want to come here and get out of the group, that is first and foremost,” the 23-year-old said.

“Of course, Germany is going to be a difficult game but we back ourselves. We have good players and we have been working hard all week on the training pitch to go and get a win.”

Gilmour is entitled to relish this event. At its last staging, in 2021, he tested positive for Covid the morning after a standout performance in his first Scotland start. That came against England at Wembley. By the time Clarke’s men lost against Croatia and exited the tournament, Gilmour could only look on from afar.

“It was 10 days of isolation,” he recalled. “You cannot do anything with Covid. I asked to get a bike but you have to just sit there and wait for 10 days. I drove back down to my house in London [from Scotland’s training base in Darlington] and stayed there.

“I had my neighbour making me food. I stayed in a top-level apartment in London and my neighbour below – she also knew my mum – would text my mum asking if I was OK. She would bring up lunch, breakfast and dinner and just leave it at my front door. I felt fine, it was just the test meant I couldn’t do anything.

“After the England game I knew I had a chance of playing another game, or playing a part in the game, and especially to go up against Luca Modric. Mateo Kovacic was playing in that game as well. That did hurt a bit. I couldn’t do anything about it.”

Gilmour has travelled to Germany after an excellent Premier League season for his club. After a frustrating spell at Chelsea, many believe he has finally come of age. “People always look at me, maybe height, stature, ‘Small boy, only a kid,’” he said with a smile. “I get that. I get it a lot. It’s not something that annoys me. It’s just I am not a young kid now. I have been in the game a good while, I know my place, I know I have gained experience.

“I really enjoyed it from the start of the Premier League season. I had the trust of my manager. And we have a good team, I love the way we play football. That style has suited me on the ball. Going into every game we knew we had a really good chance of beating the other team.”

Gilmour is one of five Scotland midfielders competing for four spots against Germany. John McGinn, Callum McGregor, Scott McTominay and Ryan Christie are the others. Gilmour reserved special praise for McGregor, the Celtic captain, who recovered from an achilles problem to finish the domestic campaign strongly.

“The way he goes about his day, his training, his life, he is the ultimate professional,” Gilmour said. “For me he is a great role model.”