Angus Cochrane
BBC Scotland News

Here in Marienplatz in Munich’s Old Town, bars are restocking with beer and sweeping away any remnants of last night’s party as they prepare for an even bigger one today.

The square is yet to fill up - but it soon will do, this time with German fans joining in the revelry.

Among the early risers is a man who has a better excuse than most for a lie-in. Craig Ferguson arrived in a guard of honour here yesterday afternoon after a more than 1,000 mile trek on foot from Hampden Park.

The 20-year-old, who has raised £50,000 for charity says he’s surprised he still has a “clear head” after a night of well earned partying.

He’s lost weight, his feet are blistered, but he remains in good spirits - thanking the Tartan Army for their “incredible” support throughout.

Image source, PA Media

Pat Nevin
Former Scotland winger on the Football Daily podcast

There were two lovely people - they must have been well into their 80s, certainly north of 85 - walking along holding hands, kilted up, the whole thing.

I was thinking 'you have probably been waiting for this for 30 years haven't you, waiting all of this time to get here'. There's a load of excitement around here, it's brilliant.

Mark Chapman
BBC presenter on the Football Daily podcast

I think on my flight over here, I was the only person not in a kilt or a Scotland bucket hat.

The Scots are everywhere in Munich.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Scotland fan Fraser Morrison speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live about the atmosphere in Germany: "I arrived yesterday evening. I just couldn't get over the numbers of people, even the airport was completely rammed with people. When I got here, I've been to Scotland games before, but I've never really seen anything like this.

"Scotland have a great football tradition but probably haven't done so well for the last generation, I'm old enough to remember qualifying in '98 and what have you. The last Euros was dampened with Covid.

"There's a bit of excitement. The team hasn't been in great form, the last few games, and the last tournament, we got in the back door with the play-offs. This time, we were one of the first teams to qualify. There's a bit of, dare I say, optimism. You're here for a good time but you want the team to do well."

Image source, Getty Images

It's been 26 years since Scotland have played in a major men's tournament overseas.

And it's 32 years since they last met Germany in the European Championship finals - at Euro 92 in Sweden.

BBC Radio 5 Live

The Tartan Army have travelled to Germany in huge numbers to soak up the experience of Scotland's first international tournament outside the UK since the 1998 World Cup in France.

Scotland has been allocated around 10,000 tickets for tonight's game against hosts Germany at the Allianz Arena but it's been reported that 200,000 Scotland supporters will be in Munich today.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast presenter Rick Edwards, who is over in Munich, BBC pundit Alan Shearer said: "I think I had about 5,000 of them in Heathrow yesterday, just as I was taking off so that was good fun."

Image source, Getty Images

Sam: It might not feel like that in UK at the moment but today summer has officially started - it’s Euros day.

All three of Scotland's group matches will be live on BBC Radio Scotland.

And here's a reminder of how you can follow the rest of the tournament:

• How to follow Euro 2024 on the BBC
• Euro 2024 Groups & Schedule

Alan Shearer
Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

I think if you are going to play Germany then probably the best time to play them is in the opening game, when they are under pressure.

Other than the [Scotland] players, the staff and all their fans, everyone else will be expecting that Germany will win.

I think they will make it really tough for Germany this evening and, if they can nick a point, you can imagine what that would do for their confidence going into their next couple of games.

BBC Sounds

Scotland should not take Toni Kroos' "unpleasant" comment as "an insult". That's according to Germany-based Scottish broadcaster Derek Rae, who says the remark from the Real Madrid legend is a "mark of respect".

Kroos, who retires from playing at the end of Euro 2024, referred to the Scots as "unangenehm" - the German word for unpleasant - when previewing Friday's tournament opener.

The 34-year-old also referenced how he has been warned of the threats of Steve Clarke's side by his club team-mates at Real, who were involved in Spain's shock defeat at Hampden in qualifying.

"It was really instructive to listen to Kroos," Rae told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast. "Prior to that, not many of the German players had really referenced Scotland as such, but he got into it in some detail.

"He spoke about the fact a few of his Real Madrid team-mates came a cropper at Hamden on that famous night.

"And he used the word: 'unangenehm'. Don't take that as an insult. That's actually a mark of respect when a German player or coach describes a team as 'unangenehm'.

"What they're basically saying is they're very difficult to play against, they're a tough nut to crack, so I think that's what Germany have been working on."

Scott Mullen
BBC Scotland at the Allianz Arena

Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann was full of praise for his Scottish counterpart as he spoke to the media on the eve of their Euro 2024 opener.

"Many years ago he was assistant coach of big names and big coaches," said Nagelsmann. "He learned a lot from them and I think the transformation of Scottish football is because of his brilliant job in the last couple of years.

“When you watch the Scottish team in the early years they’d play a lot of long balls and the ball was in the air, only fighting. Now they can do every part of the game in a good way.

“It’s an incredible development. It’s not kick and rush. They can do that, but they can play football.

“We have more pressure tomorrow than Scotland, so I’m sure they want to capitalise on that."

Image source, PA Media

Scotland

Captain Andy Robertson says his side can "create history" by becoming the first Scotland side to reach the knockout stages of a tournament.

Alan Shearer
Former England and Newcastle striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

On the flight out [to Germany] yesterday I was speaking with [former Germany defender and current Arsenal academy coach] Per Mertesacker and he was saying that they just don't know what they are going to get from this German team.

So again, from a Scotland point of view, if they can use that to their advantage, their hope will be to hear one or two moans and groans from the home crowd in the first 20 minutes. If they can just frustrate them, they can hopefully go on and build from that.

Scotland

Head coach Steve Clarke said he has a full squad to choose from as his Scotland side prepare to face hosts Germany in their Euro 2024 opener.

Scotland

Scotland boss Steve Clarke is urging his players not to get distracted by the "enormity" of Friday night's Euro 2024 against Germany in Munich.

"It's the opening game of a four-team section, three matches, we know what we have to do to qualify and that's all we focus on," the head coach said.

"Everyone is fully fit, flying, desperate to be selected and ready to go.

"The enormity of the opener is a bit of a sideshow and hopefully we don't get too caught up in that.

"It's a difficult game. One of the mantras I've had is respect everyone and fear no one.

"We know they're a good team but hopefully we can show everyone we're a good team as well."

Image source, PA Media

Scotland

Scotland captain Andy Robertson has eased any lingering worries surrounding his fitness before Scotland's Euro 2024 opener against Germany.

The left-back was withdrawn early from Monday's training session after a knock to the ankle, but has reassured supporters he's fully fit for Friday night.

"I'm physically good, mentally good and looking forward to what's ahead," Robertson said.

"I had an ankle injury from March and I've been nursing it a little bit from then on.

"It's all good now, we were pretty relaxed about the whole situation but I'm all good to go. Mentally, physically we're all ready and come kick-off we'll be 100%."

Image source, PA Media