Germany here we come: Key dates for Scotland ahead of Euro 2024

Scotland have secured their place at next summer’s European Championships with two games remaining after five wins from six in Group A.

Spain’s 1-0 win in Oslo on Sunday finalised the place among the teams that will take part in the tournament being held in Germany in 2024.

However, it was Steve Clarke’s side’s own form that is to thank for booking the Tartan Army’s ticket to their fourth Euros and second in a row.

Following on from Sweden in 1992 and England in 1996, the national team took part in the continent wide Euro 2020 tournament that was held a year late in 2021.

But it is now time to look forward to another major tournament adventure safe in the knowledge “we will be coming” to Germany next year.

We look through the key dates in the month’s ahead as the build up officially begins.

What pot will we be in?

Despite the place among the 24 teams at Euro 2024 already cemented, Andy Robertson and co can’t put their feet up just yet ahead of their last two games, with a potential place in Pot A still on the line.

To clinch a place among the top seeds, that would see them avoid the likes of the hosts and France in the groups, Scotland will need to win their remaining two games, Spain to drop points against Georgia or Cyprus and either Hungary or England to also draw or lose one of their remaining games.

This is because only the best five group winners will join Germany as the six pot A sides in the draw.

Hungary have still to be play Lithuania and Bulgaria away before ending their campaign at home to Montenegro, meanwhile England will take on Italy and Malta before ending with an away game to North Macedonia.

The other five group winners will be in pot two with the best group runner-up taking the sixth spot.

That means if Steve Clarke can lead his team to two more victories their place as at least a second seed will be secured as the best runner-up on 21 points.

When is the group stage draw?

In their previous three Euros Scotland have never made it past the group stage, in fact they have never played a knockout game at any major tournament.

But ever since the Euros were expanded to 24 teams in 2016 the best four third placed teams in each four-team group now qualify for the last-16.

Scotland finished fourth in 2021 after defeats to Czech Republic and Croatia at Hampden and a draw with England at Wembley.

However in their current form they might see 2024 as their best chance yet of getting out of the group if they get a favourable draw.

They will find out their three group stage opponents when the draw takes place in Hamburg on December 2 of this year.

When does the tournament kick-off?

Euro 2024 will officially get underway at the Allianz Arena in Munich when Germany, who automatically go into Group A, take on the team from Pot 2 in their section on June 14, 2024.

The second Group A match and both of Group B’s opening matches will take place the following day on June 15.

Group C matches will then be played on June 16 and so on until the groups are completed on June 26 when every team has played three times each.

The last-16 games will take place between June 29 and July 2, the quarter-finals on July 5 and July 6, the semis on July 9 and July 10 before the winner is crowned at the final in Berlin on July 14.