Disappointment for Tartan Army as Scotland lose Euro 2024 opener against Germany
Scotland's opening match in the Euros has been a sobering moment for the hundreds of thousands of travelling fans, and the millions more back home, Louise Scott reports from Glasgow as Sports Editor Steve Scott is in the midst of the Tartan Army in Munich
There was disappointment for the tens of thousands of Scots who had travelled to Munich to watch their side in the opening match of Euro 2024 against the hosts after Scotland lost 5-1 to Germany.
The match kicked off at 8pm UK time in Munich, and is the first of 51 to be played across the next month to determine the next European champions.
Tens of thousands of Scots travelled to Germany to cheer on their heroes, and thousands more filled venues that were screening the game back home.
The UEFA European Championship tournament final is set to take place at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin on July 14.
Scotland have to face Switzerland and Hungary in their next two Group A fixtures and, asked about a message to the thousands of fans who had travelled to Munich and those supporting from home, Steve Clarke said: “Keep the faith. See you at the next game."
The most recent Euros finale in 2021 saw England narrowly miss out on victory, after being beaten in the final by Italy during a tense penalty shootout.
Germany are third favourite to win the tournament behind France and England.
Scotland have never beaten Germany in a competitive fixture and have won only one of their last nine matches – a 2-0 friendly win over minnows Gibraltar at the start of the month.
Speaking to a packed media conference at the Munich Arena on Thursday evening ahead of the match, manager Steve Clarke said every one of his players was “desperate” to be picked to play in tonight’s clash.
“Everyone is fully fit, flying, desperate to be selected and ready to go,” he said.
“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."
First Minister John Swinney, who is at the match, told Holyrood during First Minister’s Questions on Thursday it was “great to see Scotland back in Europe where we rightly belong”.
“I know the Tartan Army will be an absolute credit to Scotland. I know the team will be a credit to Scotland because they have inspired so many of us by their success in getting to Euro 2024.
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