Paint, flags and tartan: Schoolchildren gear up to watch Scotland's Euro opener

Credit: St. Bride’s PS & Nursery

Schoolchildren across Scotland are experiencing the excitement of watching their national team play in their Euro 2020 opener against Czech Republic today.

The game started at 2pm on June 14 at Hampden - which is during school hours.

The Scottish Football Association had asked the government to allow children to watch the nation's opening Euro 2020 match in classrooms so they can feel "use this as an opportunity to inspire the nation through the 'Power of Football'".

However, a spokesman for the Scottish Government said it was up to schools to decide.

St Augustine's Primary School is just one of the hundreds of schools that is showing the match and it has shared pictures of pupils gearing up for the much-anticipated match.

Dressing up in the colours of the national team as well as drawing and colouring in Scotland's flag, pupils are excited to see their team play.

The school tweeted: "Room 12 are getting in the football mood and are creating Saltire's to cheer on our National Team."

Teachers are also getting into the football spirit supporting Scotland by wearing kilts to class, as Cathkin High School shows.

The school tweeted: "Haldane and McConnachie getting behind the Team today as we kick off the Euro Campaign. Come on Scotland."

Our Lady and St. Francis Primary School also shared pictures of pupils showing off their flags and posters tweeting: "P4a getting ready to support their team - Come on Scotland!"

Schoolchildren are also preparing their own Saltire flags at Auchinloch Primary School with pots of blue paint and glue.

The school tweeted: "We can’t wait to wave our flags and cheer on #Teamscotland."

Meanwhile, a group of fans who are Tartan Army members set off from Caithness to support Scotland at the Euros.

The group of five who left in a motorhome customised with Scotland flags and Tartan Army slogans, headed for Glasgow and London for Scotland's Group D matches.

One of the fans told ITV News: "It's the day, it's here, we're there. We're confident, I think they'll be 2-1 today."

Another Scotland supporter added: "I think they will finish 2-0" against Czech Republic.


Fans play bagpipes and tells us their predictions as they get behind Scotland for their Euro opener

Scotland's First Minister has also shown support for the team, tweeting: "You’ve done us proud already. The whole country is behind you."

Scotland's remaining Group D games are against England this Friday and Croatia on June 22, and both kick off at 8pm BST.