Germany v Scotland Euro 2024 Group A preview

The stage is set for a thrilling opening match at the UEFA Euro 2024 as Germany takes on Scotland at the Allianz Arena in Munich. The pressure is on for the hosts, who are eager to make a strong start in their quest for a record fourth European Championship title. 

Germany are considered one of the favourites to lift the trophy, and their recent performances have only strengthened that belief. Julian Nagelsmann's side have been in impressive form, with victories over the Netherlands and France in their pre-tournament friendlies. The team seems to have found its rhythm, with Nagelsmann settling on his preferred system and personnel.

Toni Kroos, who will retire after the tournament, will be looking to add a European Championship to his already illustrious career. The Real Madrid midfielder, who is in the running to win Player of the Tournament, will start in central midfield, alongside Bayer Leverkusen's Robert Andrich. Kai Havertz is expected to lead the line, with Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz providing the creative spark in the final third. 

Scotland, on the other hand, have been a bit patchy in their recent performances. While they have shown glimpses of their potential under Steve Clarke, their pre-tournament friendlies have yielded mixed results. The Scots will be relying heavily on Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay, who is expected to start despite a knee injury.

The absence of striker Lyndon Dykes, who pulled up before the competition, will be a blow for Scotland. The team looks short at right-back, with Aaron Hickey and Nathan Patterson both unavailable. This could provide an opportunity for Germany's Maximilian Mittelstädt, who looks set to start at left-back. 

The match promises to be an exciting affair, with both teams eager to make a strong start in the competition. Germany will be looking to assert their dominance from the outset, while Scotland will be hoping to cause an upset. 

Unsurprisingly, it's Germany who are the heavy favourites to win the Euro 2024 opener, with the bookies of the belief that Scotland stand very little chance of walking out of Munich with three points.

In terms of team news, Germany will be without Serge Gnabry and Timo Werner, who both missed out on selection. Emre Can has been called up to the squad following Aleksandar Pavlović's withdrawal due to tonsillitis. Scotland, meanwhile, have no fresh injury concerns, with McTominay expected to start. 

The probable teams for the match are: 

•  Germany: Neuer - Kimmich, Tah, Rüdiger, Mittelstädt - Andrich, Kroos - Musiala, Gündoğan (c), Wirtz - Havertz 
• Scotland: Gunn - Hendry, Hanley, Tierney - Ralston, Gilmour, McGregor, Robertson (c) - McTominay, McGinn - Adams 
  

UEFA Euro 2024 is finally here, and the opening match between Germany and Scotland promises to be an exciting affair. The hosts will be looking to make a strong start in their quest for a record fourth title, while Scotland will be hoping to cause an upset. With both teams boasting talented players, it's anyone's guess who will come out on top. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy the beautiful game as it unfolds at the Allianz Arena. 

The game will be shown live on ITV1 and STV for viewers in the United Kingdom, with coverage underway at 18:30 BST on Friday evening.

The game kicks off 90 minutes later at 20:00 BST, with fans across the world tuning to see what could end up being a historic tournament.

Ladbrokes has published an article looking at the betting odds for each of the nations competing in Euro 2024, starting with the favourites England and ending with Georgia, who have been priced at 500/1.

View the latest football odds.

All odds and markets are correct as of the date of publication.