Germany vs Scotland Preview & Prediction | UEFA EURO 2024 | Group Stage

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The 2024 UEFA European Championships kick off in Munich on Friday as hosts, and strong contenders for the trophy, Germany take on Scotland, looking to qualify from a group stage of a major tournament for the first time ever.

KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Friday 14^th June, 2024 - UK – 8:00pm / US EST – 3:00pm / US PST – 1:00pm

HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – ITV / US – FOX

HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – ITVX app / US – VIX

GERMANY PREVIEW: RE-ESTABLISHING DOMINANCE

Six or seven months ago, the German public were dreading potential humiliation at home this summer as they prepared to host UEFA EURO 2024 with a national team in crisis. Back-to-back group stage eliminations in the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups sandwiched a disappointing Round of 16 exit to England at UEFA EURO 2020 and things only got worse after embarrassment in Qatar.

Hansi Flick was sacked in September and Julian Nagelsmann’s reign began slowly until this calendar year when things began to align. Excellent performances in March against France and the Netherlands, German teams going deep into UEFA competition and Toni Kroos coming out of retirement has marked Die Mannschaft out back amongst the major leading contenders.

SCOTLAND PREVIEW: BADLY TIMED TOURNAMENT

Scotland, who spent 23 years without major tournament football before playing at UEFA EURO 2020, are back again on the big stage with Steve Clarke’s men qualifying automatically with one of the better records on European qualifying. The Scots, who are also now a League A side in the UEFA Nations League, will fancy their chances in Group A.

However, they will be careful not to underestimate the Hungarians and Swiss, as well as hosts Germany, especially as their form in the last eight to ten months has fallen off quite a lot. Their recent 2-2 draw with Finland at Hampden Park means they have now won just nine matches with that win being by two goals to nil against Gibraltar.

GERMANY TEAM NEWS: FLUIDITY OR FUNCTIONALITY

Julian Nagelsmann has a decision to make up-front. The form of Kai Havertz would suggest he will start and should start but that leaves Niclas Fullkrug as a substitute and there are question marks over how impactful he can be with his skillset against tired defences. That said, the possession-based style that Nagelsmann wants and the form Germany are in means Fullkrug may not be required anyway.

PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Kimmich, Rudiger, Tah, Mittelstadt; Kroos, Andrich; Musiala, Gundogan, Wirtz; Havertz

UNAVAILABLE: Pavlovic (Injured)

QUESTIONABLE:

SCOTLAND TEAM NEWS: ROBERTSON IS ‘FINE’

Scotland’s assistant coach, former Newcastle United interim boss John Carver, has said that Andrew Robertson ‘is fine’ after the national team captain left training early on Monday with what appeared to be an injury. The biggest selection dilemma for Steve Clarke would therefore appear tactical as he tries to hide the weakness of Anthony Ralston at right wing-back but also having to choose between Scott McTominay and Ryan Christie.

PREDICTED XI (3-4-2-1): Gunn; Hendry, McKenna, Tierney; Ralston, McGregor, Gilmour, Robertson; McTominay, McGinn; Adams

UNAVAILABLE:

QUESTIONABLE: Robertson (Injured), Shankland (Injured)

KEY STATS

• This is Germany’s record 14th successive EURO appearance.
• Germany hold the records for most EURO matches played (53), matches won (27) and goals scored (78).
• Germany have lost only one of their last ten EURO group stage matches (W7 D2).
• Germany have won only one of their last six EURO matches (D2 L3).
• Germany have not kept a clean sheet in their last six EURO matches. Since a 3-0 victory against Slovakia in the round of 16 at EURO 2016.
• Germany have conceded the first goal in each of their last five EURO matches.
• Germany have only failed to score in two of their last 13 EURO group stage matches.
• Germany have never conceded more than one goal in their opening match in a EURO group stage.
• Germany have lost their opening fixture only once in their previous 13 EURO appearances. This was the 1-0 defeat against France in their first match at EURO 2020.
• Germany have lost only two of their last 16 competitive matches (W9 D5).
• Germany have won their last three matches against Scotland.
• Germany won the previous two major final tournament matches between these two teams. West Germany 2-1 Scotland (1986 World Cup, group stage) and Germany 2-0 Scotland (EURO 1992, group stage).
• Germany have won six and drawn two of their previous eight competitive matches against Scotland.

• This is Scotland fourth EURO appearance and second in succession having also qualified for EURO 2020 where they exited at the group stage.
• Scotland have won only two of their previous nine EURO matches (D2 L5). Their last victory was a 1-0 win against Switzerland in their final group fixture at EURO 1996.
• Scotland’s record in their opening fixture in three previous EURO appearances is D1 L2.
• Scotland have not scored a goal in their opening match in their previous three EURO appearances.
• Scotland have won only one of their last 13 matches against Germany (D4 L8). They are aiming for their first win against Germany since a 1-0 victory in a friendly in Bremen in April 1999.
• Scotland have lost only one of their last 12 competitive matches (W8 D3).

GERMANY VS SCOTLAND PREDICTION

About a year ago, with Germany in crisis and Scotland one of the in-form teams anywhere on the continent, the Tartan Army would have fancied their chances against the four-time world champions. Now, though, is a very different story. Supporters of Germany are beginning to get back on side and an emphatic performance and result in their opener against a team that have struggled against a higher calibre of opposition in the last eight or so months is a good opportunity to really bring that support to life.

GERMANY VS SCOTLAND TIP: GERMANY TO WIN -1 HANDICAP