Scotland Men's Football Team

With the Euros opener against Germany just four days away, here's how some of the Tartan Army are making the trip:

Eric: Flying in from Portland, Oregon. Meeting five old pals from Dumbarton in a rented van that's just gone overnight in a ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam then a quick drive to Munich.

Anonymous: Traveling from Wellington, New Zealand Leave on Wednesday night and will fly via Singapore to Frankfurt. Close to 30 hours of travel. Hopefully have a bit of a sleep then train to Munich the morning of the game.

Selbs: Germany from Australia! A 12 hour bus journey to Adelaide airport, then Bali, Kuala Lumpur, Istanbul and eventually Dusseldorf.

Allyson: Flying from New York via Dublin to Munich, then using trains to move about Germany. When Kenny McLean scored in Norway I said "let's go" and splurged on package.

David: Travelling from Perth Australia on Tuesday to Munich for my first major tournament. I am 69 so it's never too late. 17 hour flight but once I arrive be all worth it.

Peter: Set off on 3 June in a motorhome. I have spent last few days in northern France and I'm just about to cross the border and stay tonight in Freiburg then onto Munich where apparently there's a game on Friday!

Gordon: Melbourne to Saigon to Frankfurt to Munich - and on the way back going via Helsinki. Going to be the first time aged 44 that I see Scotland in a major tournament. Been regretting not going to France for 26 years!

A look back on David Marshall's goalkeeping career after he announced his retirement from playing.

Image source, Getty Images

Friday's meeting with host nation Germany won't be the first time Scotland open a major tournament. Indeed, they did so on this day 26 years ago.

Cast your mind back to 1998 - thankfully not the last time we qualified now - when the eyes of the world were on France to see the mighty Brazil face Scotland in the World Cup.

Scotland went one down after five minutes, but fought back to equalise through John Collins' penalty, before an unfortunate deflection off Tom Boyd gave Brazil a late winner.

An iconic day in Scottish football history.

Image source, PA Media

Scotland assistant coach John Carver says their Euros training base is starting to "feel like home" as they prepare for the tournament opener against host nation Germany on Friday.

Steve Clarke's side arrived in Garmisch-Partenkirchen on Sunday, and will be backed by a huge travelling support during their time in Germany.

"We had a wonderful welcome from the mayor and now we want to make an impact," Carver said, following the team's first training session on Monday.

"We saw a little bit of the culture last night and we've had the open day today and it was fantastic.

"It is very important you embrace the community and we've done that. We try to make it feel as much like home as we can, that's why we brought the weather with us.

"If you look at the surroundings, all the branding and making the place feel like it's our home."

On the importance of the Tartan Army, Carver added: "I'm hearing there could be more than 200,000, that doesn't surprise me.

"They are so important to this team. The players understand that. I hope they enjoy themselves. I hope we give them something to cheer about."

Watch to see which Euro 2024 star Scotland players would like in their squad.

Image source, PA Media

Scotland assistant coach John Carver has been talking to the media following the team's first training session in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

The Scots take on the host nation on Friday - here are the key points from his press conference:

• After captain Andy Robertson and Lawrence Shankland walked off during training, Carver allayed any injury fears. "Robertson is fine, it was a precaution", while Shankland is being protected after picking up a "niggle" against Finland.

• In other fitness news, Stuart Armstrong will return to full training tomorrow.

• Carver says the camp is is starting to "feel like home" and added it's important that the players soak up the local culture.

• Carver stressed the importance of the travelling Scotland fans - "I hope they enjoy themselves. I hope we give them something to cheer about."

• On Germany, Carver said: "It's a big challenge, but it's not something we fear. We go into the game with confidence. We want to stamp our authority on the game with how we play and do things."

• Carver was also asked about Scotland legend Alan Hanson, who is "seriously ill", and paid tribute to the former Liverpool captain: "Everybody is really thinking about him and his family, it's a really difficult time. He was a fantastic defender but a ball-playing centre-half, one of the first I can remember. A proper legend of the game."

Eilidh Barbour
BBC Sport Scotland in Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Image source, PA Media

A brilliant atmosphere at Scotland's training base today for their first session since arriving in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

Around 1,000 local children cheering them on, music playing, a real party atmosphere. Which isn’t surprising really - no Scotland, no party after all!

Scotland might be here to spoil Germany’s opening day party, but the locals in Garmisch-Partenkirchen are waving saltires and the mayor of the town calls them "the team of our hearts".

We’ll see if they’re saying the same come Friday night.

Image source, SNS

Lawrence Shankland's persistence is paying off with the Scotland striker finding his smile as part of the national team, says Steve Clarke.

The Hearts captain cut a frustrated figure at Hampden Park on Friday after spurning a couple of half-chances, following on for a quiet outing against Gibraltar earlier in the week.

But his second-half header seemed to lift the weight off Shankland's shoulders, with Clarke praising his desire to grab goals even when things aren't going his way.

“He give me a big smile when he came off,” the Scotland boss said. “I think he was happy.

“That’s important. Listen, strikers live on goals. Lawrence was a little bit frustrated, I think, after the Gibraltar game because any chances that fell didn’t fall to him.

“But he kept getting in there and eventually got his head on one and a good finish."

Image source, SNS

Steve Clarke believes Anthony Ralston's possession-based training at Celtic could help Scotland at the Euros.

The right-back started in Friday's 2-2 draw against Finland, with Ross McCrorie in from the off during Monday's meeting with Gibraltar.

With Brendan Rodgers doing keep-ball practice in Celtic training, Clarke believes those principles bled over into Ralston's international outing.

“He was good,” the Scotland boss said. “Start of the game, he was quite safe but kept the ball.

"He obviously plays with a team, a club side who who pass the ball a lot, so I’d imagine their training sessions are pretty much possession based.

"I know Brendan’s (Rodgers) training sessions will be possession-based, so he’s good on the ball, keeps the ball, doesn’t give it away too many times.

“He started to get in the right position, got a few balls into the box, few decent crosses and I was pleased with Tony.”

Image source, SNS

Andy Robertson's thoughtfulness towards his Scotland team-mates makes the defender a "proper captain", says head coach Steve Clarke.

The Liverpool left-back earned his 49th cap with the armband in Friday's draw with Finland - a record for a male Scotland international.

But Clarke says the 30-year-old is far from done while praising the lengths the skipper goes to in ensuring the group remain close.

“He didn’t get a special shirt because he’s definitely not finished,” he said. “I think 49 games as captain is now the record.

“He’s been great for me. He got the captaincy at a really young age but he’s grown into the role. He’s a proper leader.

“So what I’m saying about handing out strips, Tommy Conway got a signed strip with number one on the back and 50 for Grant Hanley, 75 for for Craig. These things come from the captain. It’s his idea.

“It’s his thoughts that are going into this and saying 'this is what we’re about, let’s keep the group tight, make sure that we’re always giving these little mementoes.'"

“Super performance from Andy. Always on the front foot. Proper captain.”

Image source, SNS

A lot has been made about the special spirit in the Scotland camp.

As Lyndon Dykes put it on BBC Radio Scotland, the players would rush to sign up permanently if the national team were a club side.

Although, he did joke a few of them would have to take a hefty pay cut.

But who are the best characters in the dressing room? The QPR striker told the Sportsound team who to keep an eye on....

McTominay on the mic, Kelly on the cards

On John McGinn: "Everyone knows about John McGinn, obviously. He's the life and soul of the boys. He's some character, he's got a great personality on him.

"He's always got puns coming out left, right and centre. I think he must sit in his room and think about things he's going to say the next day because I don't know where he pulls them from."

On Liam Kelly: "A dark horse I would chuck in there is Liam Kelly. He's very lively around the squad. We've got a little poker game going on there, music blaring from Kieran Tierney.

On Scott McTominay: "Big Scott McTominay is a good guy to be around. He keeps himself to himself but comes out when he needs to.

"He loves a sing-song. Me and him had to get up and start singing after a training session because Scotty brought one of the buses back from the training ground and we left all the boys there."

Image source, BBC Sport

Celtic are considering re-signing Scotland midfielder Stuart Armstrong, 32, following his release by Southampton. (Football Insider), external

Scotland coach Steve Clarke is confident Celtic's possession-based football will help Anthony Ralston integrate into the national team at Euro 2024 without any problem. (Herald - subscription), external

Germany great Philipp Lahm urges the current side to start Euro 2024 with an "emphatic" win over Scotland. (Herald - subscription), external

Meanwhile, Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann is sweating over forward Niclas Fullkrug's fitness. (Sun), external

Hibernian are interested in Ipswich Town's Scotland Under-21 goalkeeper Cieran Slicker, 21, but face competition from Kilmarnock. (Sun), external

Read Sunday's Scottish gossip

Planes, trains and automobiles - we want to know how you're travelling to Germany to be part of Scotland's Euro 2024 adventure.

Are you and your pals packing into a run-down car? Are you flying to some wild location and then travelling on from there?

Whatever your plans are, we want to hear them.

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