Euro 2024 gets underway today with hosts Germany locking horns with Scotland in the opening match in Munich, and a flying start is on the agenda for Julian Nagelsmann’s team.
Scotland, making their fourth appearance at the European Championship, would probably have been hoping for an easier start than going up against the hosts in the tournament’s opening match.
Steve Clarke’s team qualified in second place behind Spain, piping Erling Haaland’s Norway to securing a Euro 2024 ticket.
Germany, meanwhile, have picked up form under Nagelsmann since he was appointed as Hansi Flick’s successor, and the former Bayern Munich coach has plenty of talent at his disposal, even if the Euro 2024 hosts are not considered to be among the biggest favourites.
Mats Hummels, Serge Gnabry and Leon Goretzka are three big-name absentees from Germany’s squad, while Bayern youngster Aleksandar Pavlovic had to withdraw on Wednesday due to injury.
But with Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz, Leroy Sané, Kai Havertz and Borussia Dortmund’s Niclas Füllkrug, Germany have an exciting attack, while Toni Kroos will anchor the midfield before he heads off into retirement.
Germany have gone unbeaten in their last four matches. That being said, they were not particularly impressive in their warm-up matches.
Following a 0-0 draw with Ukraine, Germany beat Greece 2-1 last time out, though they mustered a disappointing 0.88 expected goals (xG), in contrast to their opponents’ 2.14.
The scoreline is the statistic that matters at tournaments, with Havertz grabbing an equaliser midway through the second half before Pascal Groß secured a late victory.
This is the fourth time that Germany are sole hosts of a major international tournament, reaching the final four in each of the previous three editions: champions at the 1974 World Cup, semi-finalists at Euro 1988 and third place at the 2006 World Cup.
