Germany vs Scotland. Prediction and Preview. Probable Lineups, Team News, Stats, and more

Germany will face Scotland in the UEFA EURO 2024 first-round match at the Allianz Arena in Munich. The fixture will take place on Saturday, June 15, beginning at 00:30 IST.

Parimatch News will tell you everything you need to know ahead of the upcoming match.

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Germany News & Current Form: 

The club season has concluded, and friendly matches have been played. Now, we await the 17th UEFA European Championship, set to take place in Germany from June 14 to July 14, with matches held across 10 different stadiums. For instance, the opening match will be held at the Allianz Arena, home of FC Bayern Munich. During the championship, the arena will be renamed München Fußball Arena and will accommodate 66,000 spectators. The venue will host four group stage matches, one Round of 16 match, and one semi-final. It’s also worth noting that the stadium will host the UEFA Champions League final next year.

Allianz Arena will host the first match of UEFA EURO 2024

Germany will be hosting the championship for the second time in history and the first time since the reunification of its Western and Eastern parts. The tournament format remains unchanged, featuring 24 teams competing in six groups during the preliminary stage. The top two teams from each group will advance directly to the Round of 16, along with four of the best third-placed teams based on their overall performance. The tournament’s knockout stage will follow an Olympic system, where losing teams are eliminated from the competition.

Germany News & Current Form: 

Four-time FIFA World Cup champions and three-time European champions, the German national team needs no introduction to the general public. However, in recent years, the hosts have been experiencing a crisis: following their triumph in 2014 and reaching the semi-finals of Euro 2016, the DFB-Team then exited at the group stage of the World Cups in Russia and Qatar. Additionally, at Euro 2020, the side of Joachim Löw was eliminated by England in the Round of 16.

In the lead-up to the home European Championship, the German Football Association decided to change the head coach. Amid disappointing results in friendly matches in 2023 (the team lost three consecutive games and went five matches without a win), Hansi Flick was dismissed and replaced by Julian Nagelsmann, who will lead the host nation in June.

After a poor November campaign, where Germany lost to Turkey (2:3) and Austria (0:2) in friendlies, they shone in March, securing convincing victories over France (2:0) and the Netherlands (2:1). However, in their June preparation for the Euros, the Germans failed to defeat Ukraine at home (0:0), and only a late goal from Pascal Groß secured a win against Greece (2:1). The upcoming match will be Germany’s first official game since September 2022, when they played against England in a UEFA Nations League match. Since then, the Tricoloured have only played friendly matches, as they are hosting the EURO and did not participate in the tournament’s qualification.

Regarding the squad, attention must be paid to the coach and his decisions. The new mentor hopes to restore the team to its former glory and has assembled a very balanced squad with seemingly limitless potential. Had he taken charge of the Bundesteam earlier, many problems would have been resolved long ago. The former Bayern and RB Leipzig trainer has well-prepared the team for the championship, but there is still room for improvement. This is the opinion of Toni Kroos and others. The Real Madrid CF midfielder shared his view that the team has great potential and, if realised, can beat any opponent.

Toni Kroos has returned to the German national team after a 3 year break

Nagelsmann, by nature a revolutionary, wishes to implement many of his ideas with the national team. This was the case, for example, when he coached Bayern, there have been some issues when he’s gone too far, though. The young and energetic coach wanted to change too much too quickly, leading to confusion among some players due to the abundance of new demands. However, the mentor now understands that the national team is not a club where one can experiment with plenty of time to communicate with players. In the national team, where training time is extremely limited, such an approach is unrealistic and can ruin everything. Therefore, he is unlikely to radically change tactical plans. However, he pays great attention to the clear distribution of roles in the team: the coach calls players individually and explains their tasks in great detail.

Additionally, Nagelsmann has boldly excluded certain previously untouchable veterans from the squad and significantly rejuvenated the team. However, he has requested the return of two players from the old guard, one of whom is Toni Kroos. The coach has also called up 38-year-old Manuel Neuer, which seems more dubious given that in a recent friendly against Ukraine, the goalkeeper made a serious error that almost led to a goal. Fans also still remember his unforgivable mistake in the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid, although he played excellently otherwise. 

As a result, today’s German press is filled with headlines hinting at the contradictory performances of the once-best goalkeeper in the world. Marc-André ter Stegen is available as a replacement, but his competition with Neuer for the starting spot has affected him negatively. While the goalkeeper performs well at club level, he tends to falter and make simple mistakes when playing for the national team. Therefore, Nagelsmann’s choice of Neuer seems logical.

Aside from this, there are no significant weaknesses observed in the Bundesteam. The team has many experienced players, and two major young talents are emerging – Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz. There were concerns that the star of Bayer 04 Leverkusen might not recover from injury in time for Euro 2024, but everything turned out fine.

Notably, Mats Hummels, Julian Brandt, and Leon Goretzka, among other players who had good seasons, were not invited to the national team. Meanwhile, the squad includes players for whom the upcoming Euro will be their first major tournament. For example, defenders Waldemar Anton and Maximilian Mittelstädt, debuted for the national team only in 2024. Fortunately, 34-year-old Kroos returned to the squad in March: the midfielder will retire after the tournament but is expected to be a crucial part of the team. The midfielder had an excellent season, winning La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup, the Champions League, and making a fantastic comeback to the national team, providing an assist in each of his first two friendlies after a three-year hiatus.

“I have very good feelings. If we win the first match, we might develop an euphoria that can take us far. We really want to start on a positive note. The last time we did that was in 2016. The European Championship in France was the last tournament where we performed well. We can compete against any opponent,” shared Kroos.

Scotland News & Current Form: 

The Scottish national team is slowly making its presence felt on the continental stage, having qualified for the Euros for the second consecutive time. In the upcoming tournament, they will face Hungary and Switzerland in their group. In the previous edition, the Blue and Whites’ journey ended at the group stage, and they missed out on the World Cup in Qatar. However, the team performed well in the UEFA Nations League, where they were promoted to the elite division.

Gaffer of the Tartan Army – Steven Clarke

Unlike their opponent in the opening match, the team participated in the qualifying campaign for the tournament and performed at a high level. Placed in Group A alongside Spain, Norway, Georgia, and Cyprus, the side of Steve Clarke finished second in the final standings, only behind La Roja. The well-organized system implemented by the coaching staff and the players’ character were the keys to their success. They outperformed the other competitors, including the Norwegians led by their star striker Erling Haaland, who were left out of the Euros.

Having secured their spot in the continental tournament, the Tartan Army played several friendly matches, which, to put it mildly, were not impressive. Defeats to the Netherlands (0:4) and Northern Ireland (0:1), a modest victory over Gibraltar (2:0), and a draw with Finland (2:2) have caused concerns among their fans about the team’s prospects at Euro 2024.

Scotland’s resources are far less than those of the main contenders for the title. While the squad includes several good players, they lack the quality, class, and technique of the German footballers. Two of the Green Army’s leaders, Andrew Robertson and Scott McTominay, are not even the main stars at their clubs.

Thanks to Clarke, Manchester United FC midfielder McTominay has become one of the standout performers in the Euro 2024 qualifiers. In eight qualifying matches, he scored seven goals and provided one assist. Despite an average season in the Premier League, fans hope that Scott can help the national team compete for a place in the knockout stages. A video of the Scottish hero scoring two goals against Spain has been viewed nearly six million times, significantly more than the entire population of Scotland.

“Scotland’s style of football is what I call rubbish,” said Spanish player Rodri after the match. Under Clarke, the Scotland national team is no longer about numerous passes and typical British style. The team has transformed, focusing on combination play and attacks, and utilizing pressing.

Germany form guide: L-L-W-W-D-W

Scotland form guide: D-D-L-L-W-D

Germany vs Scotland Head-To-Head Record:

• June 7, 2003: Scotland 1 – 1 Germany (UEFA EURO);
• September 10, 2003: Germany 2 – 1 Scotland (UEFA EURO);
• September 7, 2014: Germany 2 – 1 Scotland (UEFA EURO);
• September 7, 2015: Scotland 2 – 3 Germany (UEFA EURO).

Germany vs Scotland Predicted XI:

Germany’s possible starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Kimmich, Tah, Rudiger, Mittelstadt; Kroos, Andrich; Musiala, Gundogan, Wirtz; Havertz.

Scotland’s possible starting lineup (3-4-2-1): Gunn; Hendry, Hanley, Tierney; Ralston, McTominay, Gilmour, Robertson; McGinn, Christie; Shankland.

Statistical preview of the match Germany vs Scotland:

• The German national team holds 16th place in the FIFA ranking of national squads, while the Scottish collective is ranked 39th.
• Germany’s First XI average age is 29.1 years, while Scotland’s First XI average age is 28.6 years.
• Clement Turpin has been appointed as the centre referee. The match official has already served 23 games this season, showing an average of 3.6 yellow cards and also whistles 24.5 fouls per game. 
• Steve Clarke’s side have never before reached the playoffs of a continental championship, while the Germans will play their first official match in a year and a half. 
• It is the fourth time the Scots have made it through to the group stage of the Euros.
• Scotland have not lost in 7 of their last 12 matches.
• Germany have conceded exactly 2 goals in 3 of their last 3 matches at the European Championship finals.
• Scotland have scored only one goal in their last 3 matches at the Euros.
• Germany have won only one of their last 6 Euro finals matches in regulation time, with 2 draws and 3 defeats.
• Scotland have not scored a goal in 3 consecutive of their first 3 Euro group stage matches.

What has been said before the match:

Jamal Musiala, player of the German team, emphasized the importance of versatility and self-improvement in their approach to upcoming matches:

“We are very variable, can change teams and always cause problems for the opponent. It is important that we focus on playing well ourselves, then Scotland will be more worried about us than we are about them.”

“Since the last World Cup, I have made physical progress and improved my game as a whole. It is my goal to continue to develop from year to year. I like it best when I have the security of being protected by the defence and being able to move freely. I felt really comfortable in the last few international matches.”

Steve Clarke, coach of the Scottish team, acknowledged the difficulties faced during the pre-camp due to numerous variables and early injuries but emphasized the strong camaraderie and unity within the squad, their readiness to perform on the pitch, and his expectation of a formidable German side that:

“I’ve got to be honest, it was a really difficult pre-camp. There were so many variables. You can deal with the early injuries because you have time to prepare and find replacements. Those players have got time to get over their disappointments. Once we were in camp, we could at least mingle a little bit, within the restrictions.”

“This is a group that’s grown together. They enjoy each other’s company. There are no little groups that isolate themselves. They’re happy to be here and so they should be. From now on, it’s about being ready for the games. All those dynamics have been put in place over the last four or five years.”

“It’s just about being on the grass, doing what we do best. We’ll make sure the players are as well prepared as they can be between now and kick-off on Friday. We can help a little bit, but the players have to do it on the pitch.”

“When it comes to a major tournament Germany’s team is always ready. It’s a home tournament and you know they’re going to be really up for this one. There was a bit in the media about a little bust-up on their training pitch. That just tells me that they’re ready and up for it. We expect a very, very good German side, but hopefully they’re facing a very, very good Scotland side.”

“Julian’s taken a little bit of time to put his stamp on the team but that’s what happens. In recent friendly matches, they’ve looked like their old selves. I’m looking for a good performance. Play as well as you can and we’ll see what happens.”

Germany vs Scotland Prediction:

The Germans are looking to push forward from the kick-off in the opening match of Euro 2024. They will be inspired by their host status and faith in a reset after disappointing results at the previous three major competitions. In terms of attacking potential, Germany is ranked in the top-3 of the upcoming Euros. Julian Nagelsmann’s arsenal is full of talent, and they are also in great form. Bayer 04’s attacking vanguard Florian Wirz, who has had a terrific season and boasts 18 goals and 19 assists, will help the team. His former teammate Kai Havertz (13 G and 7 A), who is not anchored to the centre forward position and offers a huge tactical instrumentality, adds to the mix. Let’s not forget Munich talent Jamal Musiala. The 21-year-old prodigy is Bayern’s second top scorer (12 G + 7 A) and is sure to bring a lot of energy and intensity to the attacking third. The depth of the squad is just as impressive: Sane, Müller, and Fullkrug will be eagerly awaiting their moment of opportunity. There is also the football artist Toni Kroos, who can cut off almost the entire opponent’s defence with a single pass. The spring season has proved that Germany’s attack is working well: the DFB Eleven have scored 2 goals in 3 out of 4 games. 

Steve Clarke’s men are ready to play in an organised and disciplined manner, playing defensively and taking a wait-and-see approach. However, even such football mastodons as the French and Dutch failed to hold out and conceded two goals each from the Germans, and these are teams of a completely different, higher calibre. Scotland were convincing for most of the Euro 2024 qualification, but they conceded a lot at the end of it and in subsequent friendlies. In 7 of the 10 previous matches, the Tartan Army had conceded at least two goals. However, there have been no thrashings, with the Scots only once in the history of the rivalry losing to the Germans by two goals.

With the support of a full house at the Allianz Arena, the Germans will dominate all areas of the pitch, having plenty of possession and chances created. It’s time for Julius Nagelsmann to reveal his cards. The opening match is going to be intriguing and quite fiery in attack, with the teams often playing on the flanks, using crosses to their powerful forwards. The most part of the game will be taking place around Scotland’s box so there will be a lot of standards from the corner flag. Looking at recent friendlies, the Germans have had more than 10 corners, while the visitors average 5. Regarding the result, we expect the invigorated Germans to start the home tournament with a victory.

Parimatch News staff prediction:

We say: Germans will not lose and the total of corners will be over 8.5 – Yes.

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