Scotland Men's Football Team

Scott Mullen
BBC Sport Scotland in Munich

Image source, PA

It's funny the conversations you have while standing idle on a German train platform.

With Scotland's big game almost upon us, I grabbed BBC Sport Scotland's finest pundits to see who their key man will be in the Allianz Arena on Friday night.

Steven Thompson - John McGinn

"Down the left Kieran Tierney and Andy Robertson is an area of the pitch that has given us so much joy, we look to build down that side.

"But I think McGinn could be the key man. His goal record for Scotland is brilliant. His energy and enthusiasm rubs off on everyone else."

Leanne Crichton - John McGinn

"Super John McGinn. His performances, the way he galvanises the squad and fans, I think his energy levels is incredible.

"He's great on the ball and he's always capable of coming up with a moment of magic."

Neil McCann - Everyone

"It's a collective effort for this one. Scott McTominay has been talismanic, as has McGinn.

"Tierney has been superb for us on that left side because he allows Andy to get up, so we'll need everyone."

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."

Image source, Shutterstock

German football journalist Raphael Honigstein insists the hosts need to be "careful" against Scotland in their Euro 24 opener.

Julian Nagelsmann's side are big favourites to start with a win on home soil, but Honingstein says it won't be easy.

"It's not the most difficult group on paper and Scotland are probably not the most difficult team within the group but Germany will have to be careful," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"Balance has been a problem for this Germany team in recent tournaments that they've been a bit top heavy, tried to force the issue a bit too much and conceded silly goals.

"This is not a team that can sit back and counter-attack or play slow, methodical football.

"They have all the best players in number 10 positions and they need to have the ball in that area to be effective."

Image source, Reuters

Is a counter-attack approach Scotland's route to a stunning win in their Euro 2024 opener with Germany?

Scottish coach and analyst John Walker believes so.

Steve Clarke's side will walk out at the Allianz Arena as huge underdogs in Munich, and while the "right wing-back area is a concern" for Walker, he can potentially see the game unfolding in a frustrating manner for the Germans.

"I wouldn't want Scotland to be high pressing," he told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast. "So I'm looking for Germany to get impatient, crowd on their back, still goalless after an hour.

"Then they might try to force those passes and you've got Kieran Tierney, Andy Robertson, Scott McTominay and John McGinn on the counter.

"I could see [any potential goal] being like both goals in Gibraltar, both goals in Finland, coming from Robertson crossing positions or McGinn underlapping.

"If you can counter Germany, you can get in their box and you can get a numerical advantage. You can get goals against this German side."

That view coincides with the concerns Germans have about their side, according to Derek Rae, who says Julian Nagelsmann's men are struggling "to break down teams like Scotland".

"I think how you have success against Germany is, first of all, you've got to hope they have a bad night," the Germany-based Scottish broadcaster adds.

"Germany will obviously sit high. And where they get into trouble sometimes is with protecting themselves against the counter-attack.

"You're sometimes in a situation where there are only two German players back, we've seen it time and again, most recently against Greece in the warm-up game in Monchengladbach, where they look dishevelled at times."

Image source, PA Media

Celtic defender Greg Taylor is hoping to add to his 14 Scotland caps at Euro 2024.

The 26-year-old didn't play at the previous Euros and is understudy to Andy Robertson for the left-back berth.

But Taylor knows how meaningful just being selected for the squad is.

"To go to a major tournament once with your country is more than any young boy can dream," he said.

"I didn't feature in the last tournament so I'd love to play some minutes in this tournament.

"If that doesn't come I can still say I've been to two major tournaments with my country.

"I've got 14 caps now for my country and I've never taken one for granted. I hope I get more than that."

Jane Lewis in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, PA

A full complement of 26 Scotland players trained on Thursday morning - their final session before heading to Munich for Friday night's Euros opener against Germany.

And they were in good spirits, plenty of laughs amid the warm-up.

Injured striker Lyndon Dykes has also joined the gang, complete with his moon boot. He’s going to stay with the squad for the duration of the tournament.

Image source, SNS

Scotland 0-2 Germany (June 1992)

In their only previous meeting at a Euros, the Germans ended Scotland's hopes of progression in 1992 with a 2-0 victory thanks to goals from Karl-Heinz Riedle and a deflected effort from Stefan Effenberg.

Germany's manager that day? A guy called Berti Vogts.

Scotland 0-1 Germany (March 1993)

A friendly at Ibrox decided by another goal from Borussia Dortmund Champions League winner Riedle.

The match was one of the rare occasions when Scotland wore their salmon pink top with purple pinstripes.

Germany 0-1 Scotland (April 1999)

Scotland's first and only win over Germany.

The winner in the Bremen friendly came from then Everton forward Don Hutchison, who started as a striker after advice from Tommy Burns to Craig Brown.

Scotland 1-1 Germany 1 (June 2003)

Vogts was appointed Scotland boss in February 2002 and found himself going up against his home nation in Euro 2004 qualifying.

After some poor form, Scotland earned an impressive point against the 2002 World Cup runners-up when Kenny Miller cancelled out Fredi Bobic's header.

Germany 2-1 Scotland 1 (September 2003)

Ah, Christian Dailly. The Scotland defender could be heard calling the Germans "cheats" - following a seven-letter expletive - during Vogts' post-match TV interview.

Goals from Bobic and Michael Ballack put the home side in front before Neil McCann hit back for the Scots, who had Maurice Ross sent off for two yellow cards shortly afterwards.

Germany 2-1 Scotland (September 2014)

It was a similar story 11 years later. This time, Gordon Strachan's Scotland side lost narrowly to the recently-crowned world champions as Thomas Muller scored a double either side of IIkechi Anya's leveller.

Charlie Mulgrew was sent off late on for the Scots.

Scotland 2-3 Germany (September 2015)

And 12 months on, it was another hard-luck story for Scotland as Muller again netted a double, with Strachan's side equalising twice through a Mats Hummels own goal and James McArthur's strike.

But Ilkay Gundogan's winner dented the Scots' hopes of reaching Euro 2016.

Image source, SNS

If you notice Bob MacIntyre getting a jog on between holes during his second round at golf's US Open, it's because he's got a game to watch over 4,000 miles away.

The Scot, in prime form after winning the Canadian Open two weeks ago, is feeling lucky about his 12:18 BST tee time on Friday at Pinehurst, North Carolina.

Why? Well, barring any pesky weather disruption, it will mean he's finished in time watch his nation's Euro 2024 against Germany at 20:00.

"I was hoping I would get the draw I got," he told BBC Sport. "I've not checked the weather, I don't care about that... I just want to see the football game.

"We will grab a coffee after the round then sit in the house and cheer them on. Hopefully the boys can do an upset. They've got the players and the skill, it's just about executing.

"It's exciting for the whole country and to go back-to-back in Euros - we are starting to build momentum. It shows things are possible. So who knows what might happen."

Read more from MacIntyre ahead of the US Open

Tom English in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer

Image source, Getty

Scotland's Euros base has been a Tartan Army-free oasis this past week, a beautiful old town largely untouched by Euros fever, a quaint and classy ski resort where no bagpipes skirl.

There’s an other-worldly quality about this place near the Austrian border. It is quite literally the calm before Friday night’s storm, an hour and a half away in Munich. When Scotland leave here for the big city on Thursday they’re going to be swapping tranquillity for total pandemonium.

The host nation await. It’s fair to say Germany are confident. They’re doing their best to sound respectful, but it’s obvious from their media utterances that they think they’re in a better place now than they were a few short months ago and also think they are in too good a place to be upset by the Scots.

Teams are supposed to evolve over time, but manager Julian Nagelsmann hasn’t had the luxury of breathing space so he’s had to crack on.

The turnaround in players and formations since Germany drew 2-2 with Mexico in October and lost 3-2 to Turkey in November has been quite something. Back then, Kevin Trapp of Eintracht Frankfurt, Robin Gosens of Union Berlin, Julien Brandt of Borussia Dortmund and Niklas Sule, also of Dortmund, were in the team. None of them are in Germany’s squad now.

Kai Havertz, who will almost certainly play centre forward against Scotland, was being trialled as a left-back. Joshua Kimmich, a right-back, was playing midfield.

Serge Gnabry and Leon Goretzka of Bayern started in the 2-0 defeat to Austria in late November. Neither of them made the final cut. The same for Mats Hummels of Dortmund. Out.

There was no sign of Toni Kroos returning until the March double-header when everything changed. Maximilian Mittelstadt of Stuttgart came in for his debut at left-back and has stayed there. Kimmich retreated to right-back.

Nagelsmann paired Kroos and the newcomer Robert Andrich as sitting midfielders and moved captain Ilkay Gundogan into a more advanced role. The brilliant 21-year-old Florian Wirtz of Bayer Leverkusen and the equally brilliant 21-year-old Jamal Musiala of Bayern flanked Havertz, now removed from the purgatory of full-back.

A new Germany was formed in the blink of an eye. They beat France away and the Netherlands at home. They think they’re beating Scotland, too. Not long to go before we find out.

Image source, Getty Images

Danny Lennon is thrilled the eyes of the football world are on two of his former St Mirren proteges as Scotland prepare to open Euro 2024 against hosts Germany.

Lennon, 55, gave talisman John McGinn his professional debut as an 18-year-old in 2012 when he was in charge of Saints and also handed a teenage Kenny McLean his Buddies bow in 2010.

Both of the Paisley academy graduates played a big part in helping Scotland qualify for Euro 2024 last year, and Lennon is hoping to see the Aston Villa and Norwich midfielders prosper in Germany.

Steve Clarke’s side kick off Euro 2024 against Germany at the Allianz Arena in Munich on Friday.

“It’s always nice when you’ve worked with players and you see them progress to the level John and Kenny have gone to,” said Lennon.

“You could tell at a young age they had ability but what’s got to come along with ability is the character, determination and attitude, and the two of them have that in abundance.

“I started John McGinn in a cup final at 18 years of age so that’s how much faith and belief I had in him,” he said.

“I’ve only had a wee helping hand in his career, like every other coach he’s had – it’s John who has put himself on this stage – but you could certainly see at an early age the talent that he had."

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, Getty Images

Just when you talk yourself into Scotland potentially earning themselves a memorable result on Friday, a quick glimpse of Germany's reported leaked team, external reinstalls the fear.

Veteran duo Manuel Neuer and Toni Kroos have become household names over the years, as have the likes of Ilkay Gundogan, Joshua Kimmich and Antonio Rudiger.

Chuck the countless medals of the five of them in a bag and you will even see Tom Stoltman struggle to pull it off the deck.

All five, who are expected to start, are already in - or are heading towards - the latter years of their careers.

In Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz, though, Germany have fresh blood that can carry the weight of a powerhouse nation for the next decade.

Both just 21, Bayern Munich's Musiala and Bayer Leverkusen double winner Wirtz are among the brightest young stars in Europe, having amassed 58 goal contributions between last term.

But with the pair regularly occupying the same position at club level, there have been suggestions Julian Nagelsmann is facing an Andy Robertson/Kieran Tierney-esque conundrum.

The Germany boss rejected that, however, and is reportedly set to include both in his side to face Scotland.

In fact, Musiala and Wirtz believe their connection on and off the pitch could carry the tournament hosts to a fourth Euros title.

"We both want to win the title and we know we need each other for that," Bundesliga player of the year Wirtz said.

"It would not be healthy if we were trying to outdo each other. Personally it doesn't matter to me who scores more goals."

Stuttgart-born Musiala, who grew up in England and represented the Three Lions at youth level, warned Scotland that Germany have the flexibility to cope with whatever Steve Clarke's side can throw at them.

"We are very variable, can change teams and always cause problems for the opponent," Musiala said.

"It is important that we focus on playing well ourselves, then Scotland will be more worried about us than we are about them."

Kroos, who will retire after the finals, says the two have "few limits" in their games. High praise from a serial winner and iconic figure in German football.

Clarke could be doing with discovering those limits by Friday. Quelling the 21-year-old duo will be vital to Scotland's chances of a shock opening result.