Joe Hart
Former Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart speaking to BBC Sport

Image source, PA Media

I'll be watching Scotland closely too, of course, because of my old team-mates from Celtic who are in their team. How Scotland do doesn't bother me, but I want my pals to do well.

I've got personal connections with players from lots of other teams at these Euros too, and it's the same for all of them. Ultimately they are my friends and I want what is best for them, no matter what country they are from.

In the past I had to face my mates at tournaments and try to get the better of them, so what will be quite refreshing this time is that I won't have to put those friendships aside.

I'm not on the pitch this time, so it doesn't matter what I do. Instead I can just be happy for my pals to be out there on the biggest stage, and fingers crossed they will perform.

Click here to read Joe Hart's BBC Sport column in full.

Joe Hart's only been retired a week or two and already he's back on punditry duties.

He's done a BBC Sport column, which you can read here, and mentions how he will be looking out for his Celtic mates at Euro 2024...

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves and Nottingham Forest remain the favourites in the race for Che Adams - despite interest from Italy, the MLS and Saudi Arabia.

The 27-year-old is available on a free transfer and is yet to sign a new contract at Southampton, although the Saints have been in talks over a new deal.

The forward has options abroad, including in Serie A, but Molineux or the City Ground are currently the most likely destinations.

Adams is with the Scotland squad preparing for Friday’s Euro 2024 opener with hosts Germany in Munich - having scored in last week's 2-0 warm-up win in Gibraltar - and his future is unlikely to be resolved before the start of the tournament.

Last season he helped Southampton to an instant return to the Premier League after winning the Championship play-offs.

He scored 18 goals in all competitions as the Saints, under Russell Martin, finished fourth before beating Leeds 1-0 in the play-off final last month.

Since a £15m move from Birmingham in 2019 Adams has netted 49 goals in 191 appearances.

We have some Che Adams news...

Don't worry, don't panic, he isn't injured.

Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer

Jose Mourinho called McTominay a "special personality" and famously invented an end-of-season award when Manchester United manager just so he could give it to his midfielder. A fancy candleholder, if you’re interested.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer called him a "monster of a human being". Ralf Rangnick singled him out as a future United captain, a comment that went against the grain in that McTominay has had to endure multiple spells when a fair chunk of the Old Trafford support didn’t think him good enough to warm the bench.

It’s a recurring theme in his United story.

Erik ten Hag was iffy about him in the beginning, but recently said that McTominay would "give his life" for the club.

The truth is that had West Ham upped their bid last summer from £30m to £40m then it’s likely that United would have done the deal. Pure profit after all. McTominay has been their boy since he was five years old.

The fact that they didn’t sell him has been a blessing. McTominay scored 10 goals last season, his role now modified from a holding midfielder to one that gives him the freedom to crash into the opposition box more often.

Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer

Image source, PA Media

McTominay is the product of a dad from Helensburgh who never missed an opportunity to bring his son across the border to bond with family and folklore.

There’s a story told by Alex McLeish about the time the then Scotland manager went on an epic journey through the worst of the Beast from the East in order to win McTominay over. The way Big Eck tells it, his mission was so arduous that even Bear Grylls would have balked at it.

As much as McTominay appreciated the effort - Gareth Southgate sent a text - he was always going to make himself available to the land of his father’s birth. The two loves of his football life - Manchester United and Scotland. Always.

We see him now as a 6ft 4in powerhouse but only those close to him remember him as a thin 5ft 6in wannabe.

He never played under-age football for his country. He spent two years in a gym. Resilience defined him then and defines him still.

Scott McTominay appreciation content, anyone?

Tom English has written a piece hailing the Scotland midfielder's resilience - and you can read it here.

Here's a couple of bits that stand out to me...

Ross Knight
Swiss football expert on Scottish Football Podcast

Image source, Shutterstock

Switzerland, they're always there. They're probably one of the strongest underdogs from this tournament. They got very far in the last couple of tournaments as well.

I am quietly confident Scotland can do well, but at the same time I always do have that slight worry when it comes to Switzerland, especially that game against France a few years ago, where I just couldn't believe they went and won it.

I think we just need to just go in as strong as we can and hope they're not gonna turn up on the day. But who knows, it's the Euros.

We might have a chance, we might get pleasantly surprised, but Switzerland are super strong right just now as well.

Last but not least, the Swiss...

Kevin McCluskie
Hungary-based sports writer on Scottish Football Podcast

Image source, Reuters

They do pose a real threat to Scotland, to anyone in the group. But it is interesting that you would think that Hungary was the most winnable game.

I actually spoke to journalists from the national sports newspaper here and that was my take on it as well, is that Hungary is Scotland's most winnable game.

As good a team as they are, Hungary feel as well that Scotland is their most winnable game.

So I think when that one comes around, it will be a really intriguing game.

What about Hungary, then?

A fair few are pinpointing the match against them as Scotland's most winnable game.

Is that fair? The Hungarians qualified for Euro 2024 unbeaten, with five wins and three draws from eight games.

It was another topic on the Scottish Football Podcast...

Image source, Reuters

Borussia Dortmund striker Niclas Fullkrug says Germany can't let Scotland "show their dynamism" on Friday.

Steve Clarke's side face the Euro 2024 hosts in the tournament opener in Munich.

Germany go into the game off the back of a 2-1 comeback win in a friendly against Greece.

"We learnt some lessons from the Greece game which will be useful against Scotland," Fullkrug said.

"I watched a Scotland match and they played differently to how I expected. They press very high. Against us, there'll be phases where they’ll sit deeper.

"They try to get into shooting situations as quickly as possible, so it’ll be important that we counter that and not let them show their dynamism."

We also heard from the Germany camp yesterday, Borussia Dortmund striker Niclas Fullkrug in particular.

He was asked about Scotland...

If anyone needs a top up of hopium, just read those Ally Begg quotes continuously until Friday night.

Ally Begg
Germany-based sports broadcaster on Scottish Football Podcast

Image source, Reuters

I watched their game against Greece at the tail end of last week and, particularly in the first half, they did not play well at all.

I know they won the game eventually, but in the first half they were quite dishevelled and I text my brother half way through the first half and I said: 'I tell you what, if we have a 10 out of 10 performance from every single one of our players, and they play as badly as this, we've got half a chance here'.

I remember watching them against Ukraine in a friendly back in March, and they also didn't look quite together as well. But I know that that's one thing that Julian Nagelsmann is particularly keen to sort out and eradicate, and I think bringing Toni Kroos back in has definitely helped do that.

The Germans were also a point of discussion on Tuesday's Scottish Football Podcast.

Let's have a swatch...

Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland commentator

Image source, EPA

I’ve seen plenty about how this is a good time to face Germany for Scotland and that they won’t have a better opportunity to get the better of the international footballing behemoths.

Where does that confidence stem from given Julian Nagelsmann has a squad so strong that the likes of Mats Hummels, Emre Can and Serge Gnabry will be watching from the sofa? Could it be the pressure and expectation they will feel when they open their own tournament with a nation not simply hoping, but expecting its team to win this championship?

Could it be because they may be undercooked given they haven’t played a competitive fixture since they exited the World Cup in the groups in Qatar 18 months ago? It could be because this is a team that doesn’t keep many clean sheets these days and hasn’t had one in the last three major tournaments.

The Germans also lost six times in 2023, a record for them in a calendar year, and while the left side of defence is a Scottish strength, it’s an area the three-time European champions have had trouble with recently to the point that Arsenal attacker Kai Havertz has even had a go in the position.

However, they no longer rely on Bayern Munich to produce the core of their squad. Both the invincible Bayer Leverkusen and Stuttgart finished above the Bavarians in the season just concluded and Nagelsmann has drawn from both sides.

In Florian Wirtz he has someone who has had an incredible 38 goal involvements in 49 appearances for the newly-crowned German champions.

The swansong return of midfielder Toni Kroos has also coincided with three wins in their last four games, which included an away victory in France and against neighbours the Netherlands.

We will only truly know if it’s a good time to face Germany come Friday.

Looking ahead to Friday, our man Liam McLeod has been questioning the notion that now is a good time for Scotland to face Germany.

Hmm, straws and clutching come to mind.

But, hey, no Negative Normans etc.

Hands up if you want more training snaps...

Image source, PA Media

If you insist, Kenny...

Image source, PA Media

And here's another picture of Andy Robertson in action, just in case you need more reassurance...

Image source, PA Media

This is the mentality that wins you nine Scottish Premierships, six Scottish Cups and seven League Cups.

An elite mindset.