Scots ready to support team in Euro 2024 opener at home and in Germany

Scotland is preparing to support the nation’s football team in their blockbuster Euro 2024 opener against Germany.

Millions throughout the country will be backing Steve Clarke’s men who take on the European Championship hosts in Munich on Friday night.

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Even non-football fans will be watching on with interest as the nation returns to the big stage to take on the best the continent has to offer.

As well as the estimated 200,000 fans who have to Germany travelled to back the team in their first Euros outside of the UK since 1992, many more will be cheering them on back at home.

We take a look at where the support will be coming from ahead of the big game.

In Germany

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Tens of thousands of Tartan Army have already made their way on trains, planes and automobiles for a chance to be in Germany when the championships kick off.

The British consulate in Munich has predicted that around 200,000 supporters from Scotland will arrive in the country for the tournament.

Officially there has been 10,000 tickets allocated to Scotland fans for each of their games but there will likely be even more than that inside the Allianz Arena cheering on Steve Clarke’s men.

The sound of bagpipes ringing through the Munich streets

A Scottish teenager has wowed crowds in Germany with a bagpipe performance of songs including Super John McGinn and the German national anthem.

Fraser Smith, 17, is among thousands of Scotland fans to have travelled to Germany to support the team on their campaign to bring home the European Champions trophy.

The teenager has been joining in celebrations with his dad and treated crowds at a pub on Thursday to a performance on the pipes.

Its not the only anthem the Scots are used to belting out, with Baccara’s Yes Sir, I Can Boogie becoming an honorary Scottish tune in recent years following the national team.

And while thousands jetted off to Germany, the plans were positively bouncing en route, starting the party before it has even begun.

As the night celebrations drew in on Thursday, fans did the Hokey Cokey across the streets of Munich.

Speaking of flights, the First Minister John Swinney was snapped for a selfie by two fans heading out to Munich on Thursday.

The SNP leader will take in the opening game and sent a message of support to the team.

He said at FMQs on Thursday: “It is great to see Scotland back in Europe where we rightly belong.

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“As First Minister I want to wish Steve Clarke’s team the best of luck and wish the huge numbers of Scotland supporters making the journey a safe and memorable trip.”

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar and Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton also wished the team good luck ahead of kick-off.

At home

Fan zones have been setup throughout the country for those that couldn’t make it over to Germany with pubs and bars set to be jampacked on the night.

Millions of eager football fans from Inverness and Aberdeen to Dundee and Glasgow will be watching on with interest hoping the team will do the country proud.

And those that can’t make it out will be cheering them on from home and watching live coverage of the match on STV and STV Player.

‘I would walk 1,000 miles’

A Scotland fan has completed a 1,000 mile walk from Glasgow to the Euro 2024 tournament in Germany to raise money and awareness for men’s mental health.

Craig Ferguson, of Paisley, set off on foot from Scotland’s national football stadium Hampden, to Munich, on May 4.

After 37 days on the road, the 20-year-old arrived to a guard of honour and the world’s media in Munich on Thursday – and told STV News he couldn’t have “dreamt of a better finish”.

He said: “I can’t believe it. The sun is shining.

“All these people here just to see, you know, a daft 20-year-old from Scotland walking in, like, and it’s just amazing and honestly I couldn’t have dreamt of a better finish-line.

“Sharing stories along the way, that’s been my favourite part and one thing, what I will say is, you know, it’s become so apparent to me that, while spreading the message of men’s mental health all across these countries, is that everyone has their own story.”

Respect everyone but fear no one

Steve Clarke revealed his “respect everyone and fear no one” attitude ahead of Scotland’s European Championship opener against Germany.

The boss was speaking to a packed media conference at the Munich Arena ahead of the Group A game against the host country on Friday night.

Clarke is focused solely on getting his side prepared for the task of taking on a European superpower with games against Switzerland and Hungary to follow.

“It’s the opening game of a four-team section, three matches, we know what we have to do to qualify and that’s all we focus on,” said Clarke. “Everyone is fully fit, flying, desperate to be selected and ready to go.

“The enormity of the opener, however, is a bit of a sideshow and hopefully we don’t get too involved in that.

“It’s a difficult game. One of the mantras I’ve always had is respect everyone and fear no one.”

Captain targeting ‘legendary status’

Captain Andy Robertson wants Scotland to achieve “legendary” status by reaching the knockout stages of Euro 2024.

Scotland sides have played at eight World Cups and three European Championships without being able to get past the first stage.

Steve Clarke’s side reached the 2020 Euros – the first major tournament for the country since the 1998 World Cup in France – but again fell short by losing to Croatia and the Czech Republic either side of a goalless draw with England at Wembley.

Scotland start Euro 2024 by taking on host country Germany on Friday before facing Switzerland and Hungary.

Robertson, who revealed he is in a good place physically and mentally after a scare in training on Monday, was bold in his ambitions at the media conference at the Munich Arena.

Alles Gute zum Geburtstag, Callum?

Callum McGregor will be hoping he has two reasons to celebrate on Friday with Scotland in action on his birthday.

The Celtic captain turns 31 as he prepares to take on the tournament hosts Germany.

He will be engaged in a midfield battle with the likes of recent Champions League winner Toni Kroos – who previously announced he was to retire before U-turning and declaring himself for the tournament.

One German native, however, isn’t convinced the Scots have much of a chance.

A 35-year-old Sumatran orangutan living at Dortmund Zoo called ‘Walter’ was presented with two buckets seemingly containing food – one with a Germany scarf and one with a Scotland scarf.

As Walter emerged, he went straight for the German bucket – but did eventually throw it to one side.

Key team talking points

Defence – Clarke is likely to play a back-three/back-five with left-sided central defender Kieran Tierney certain to start. Clarke will choose between Ryan Porteous, Jack Hendry, Scott McKenna and Grant Hanley for his two partners.

Captain Andy Robertson will play at left-back with either Celtic’s Anthony Ralston or Bristol City’s Ross McCrorie at right back.

Midfield – John McGinn, Scott McTominay, if fully fit, and Callum McGregor are all but certain to start. But the manager has a decision to make over whether Billy Gilmour joins them in midfield or if Ryan Christie is given the nod to support the forward in a more attacking move.

Up top – Che Adams will likely be the man leading the line at kick-off with the Scottish Premiership’s player of the year and top scorer Lawrence Shankland being an option from the bench if chasing a goal.

James Forrest, Lewis Morgan and Tommy Conway are other attacking options that could be utilised but that would more likely be later in the tournament rather than against Germany.

Fan zone overcrowded

Scotland fans urged to stay away from Olympiapark fan zone in Munich due to overcrowding.

Good luck messages

The great and good of Scotland have all been queuing up to wish Steve Clarke’s team all the best ahead of the big game.

From WWE star Drew McIntyre to former Scotland forward Ally McCoist, who scored the goal last time the national team won a game at the European Championships, sent their good luck messages to the squad and said they would be cheering them on all the way.

Ready for UEFA Euro 2024? We are. Catch Scotland’s opener versus Germany plus other key matches on STV and STV Player.

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