If they beat Spain, they could beat anyone
On a December evening in Hamburg, Scotland's footballers learned they would open Euro 2024 against Germany in Munich — a fixture that compresses decades of longing and absence into a single, enormous moment. After 26 years away from major tournament football, Steve Clarke's side will step onto one of Europe's grandest stages not gently, but immediately, against the host nation and three-time continental champions. The draw is neither kind nor cruel; it is, in the way sport sometimes manages, exactly the kind of reckoning that reveals what a team is truly made of.
- Scotland's first match at a major finals in 26 years will be played in front of 67,000 people against the host nation — the stakes could scarcely be higher.
- Hungary, unbeaten in qualifying with a point more than Scotland, and Switzerland, perennial last-16 operators who pushed Spain to penalties at Euro 2020, ensure there is no soft landing in this group.
- Scotland must navigate three cities in ten days — Munich, Cologne, Stuttgart — a compressed gauntlet that leaves no room for slow starts or recovery time.
- Opponents are already taking Scotland seriously: Germany's Nagelsmann singled out McTominay, while Hungary's Rossi acknowledged that a team capable of beating Spain demands genuine respect.
- If Scotland progress as group winners and England finish runners-up in theirs, a rivalry match in the last 16 waits — a possibility that charges the entire summer with extra meaning.
Scotland's Euro 2024 fate arrived on a Friday evening in Hamburg, and it came as something between a gift and a gauntlet. Their opening match will be against Germany — three-time continental champions and tournament hosts — at Munich's 67,000-seat Allianz Arena on June 14th. For a nation returning to major tournament football after 26 years, the stage could not be larger or more unforgiving.
The contrast with their last appearance is stark. At Euro 2020, Scotland arrived as a playoff qualifier and played in front of just 9,000 people at Hampden. This time they qualified automatically, and their reward is an immediate collision with one of Europe's heavyweights. Former international Leanne Crichton captured the mood on BBC Radio Scotland: this is the kind of fixture players spend careers dreaming about.
The group, however, demands more than one night of courage. Hungary finished qualifying unbeaten with 18 points — one more than Scotland — and carry genuine quality in Dominik Szoboszlai, signed by Liverpool for around £60 million. Switzerland are seasoned operators, having reached the last 16 in four of the past five World Cups and the Euro 2020 quarter-finals. After Munich, Scotland faces Switzerland in Cologne on June 19th before concluding against Hungary in Stuttgart on June 23rd.
What's notable is the respect Scotland have already earned. Julian Nagelsmann praised their defensive discipline and highlighted Scott McTominay's seven qualifying goals. Hungary's Marco Rossi was measured but clear: a team that can beat Spain can beat anyone. James McFadden has gone further, expressing confidence that this squad can finally do what no Scotland side has managed — progress from a major tournament group stage. Should they win it, and England finish second in theirs, a rivalry fixture in the last 16 would add yet another layer to what is shaping up as a summer of genuine possibility.
Scotland's football team learned their Euro 2024 fate on Friday evening in Hamburg, and the draw handed them something between a gift and a gauntlet. They will open the tournament against Germany—three-time continental champions—in Munich's Allianz Arena on June 14th, a 67,000-seat cathedral that dwarfs anything they could have imagined playing in at home. It's the kind of fixture that makes a nation hold its breath: a debut appearance at a major tournament in 26 years, and the first match is against one of Europe's heavyweights.
For context, Scotland's last major tournament was Euro 2020, delayed to 2021, where they arrived as a playoff qualifier and played in front of a restricted crowd of 9,000 at Hampden. This time, they qualified automatically. This time, they're in a proper group. And this time, their opening opponent is the host nation itself. Manager Steve Clarke's side emerged from the plastic ball in Hamburg to a roar that suggested the Tartan Army understood what they'd been given: not just a chance, but a stage. Former Scotland international Leanne Crichton captured the mood on BBC Radio Scotland, calling it a moment of pure elation—the kind of game and experience players dream about.
But the draw's glamour fades once you look at the full picture. Alongside Germany, Scotland must contend with Hungary and Switzerland, neither of which is a pushover. Hungary finished their qualifying campaign unbeaten, accumulating 18 points—one more than Scotland managed. They bring Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai, signed last summer for around £60 million, along with goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi and defender Willi Orban, both former RB Leipzig teammates. Switzerland, meanwhile, are seasoned tournament operators. They've reached the last 16 in four of the past five World Cups and made the Euro 2020 quarter-finals, losing only on penalties to Spain.
The fixtures are spread across three German cities over ten days. After Munich on June 14th, Scotland travels to Cologne five days later to face Switzerland at FC Köln's 47,000-capacity stadium. The group stage concludes on June 23rd in Stuttgart, where they'll play Hungary at the 54,000-seat MHPArena. It's a grueling schedule compressed into a short window, but it's also the tournament format—no mercy, no second chances within the group.
What's striking is how Scotland's opponents view them. Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann praised their defensive discipline and highlighted Scott McTominay, who scored seven goals during qualifying. Hungary's Marco Rossi was more cautious, describing them as physical and aggressive, a team that defends with real strength. His assessment carried a note of respect: if Scotland can beat Spain, they can beat anyone. Former Scotland forward James McFadden has already looked beyond the group stage, suggesting the current squad will be confident enough to progress for the first time at a major finals. If they win their group and England finish second in theirs, the two rivals would meet in the last 16—a subplot that adds another layer of intrigue to what's already shaping up to be a summer of genuine possibility for Scottish football.
Notable Quotes
They're a team who defend brilliantly. They have brilliant players like Scott McTominay, who scored seven goals in qualifying. It's the perfect first game.— Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann
They are a physical team, very aggressive. When they have to defend, they are strong. It's not an easy opponent. If they beat Spain, they could beat anyone.— Hungary manager Marco Rossi
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
How much does playing Germany first actually matter? Is it better to get them out of the way, or would Scotland rather ease in?
It's both things at once. You want to play your best football when the whole world is watching, and Germany in Munich is exactly that stage. But psychologically, if you can take something from that match—even a draw—it changes everything about how you approach Hungary and Switzerland. You're not chasing the tournament; you're in it.
Hungary and Switzerland don't sound like gimmes, though.
They're not. Hungary were genuinely impressive in qualifying—unbeaten, physical, well-organized. And Switzerland have been to quarter-finals and last-16s in multiple tournaments. These aren't teams Scotland can overlook. The group is genuinely competitive.
What does it mean that this is Scotland's first automatic qualification in 26 years?
It means they've earned their place through merit, not luck. They're not hoping to sneak through as a playoff team. They're a proper group-stage nation now, and that changes how you carry yourself into a tournament.
If Scotland beats Germany, does the whole tournament shift?
Absolutely. A win there would be seismic—not just for the team, but for the country. It would mean they're not just participating; they're competing at the highest level. Everything after that becomes possible.
What's the realistic path forward?
Get a result against Germany—a draw would be excellent—then beat Switzerland, and you're likely through. Hungary is the wildcard. But if the current squad plays the way they're capable of, James McFadden's confidence about progressing isn't misplaced.