2024-06-11

Euro 2024: In-depth Scotland Team Guide

Euro 2024 is here and Scotland head to Germany full of hope and optimism. Here, we take a look at their expectations, fixtures and how to watch, run through the predicted starting line-up and check out some of the odds concerning the Scots for the tournament.

Scotland European Championship Odds and Expectations

Scotland are making their second consecutive appearance in the European Championships and will be looking to improve on their group stage exit in the 2020 competition.

The Scots have, in fact, yet to progress into the knockout stages of any major tournament. Germany could be their time to shine.

Many, though, will be predicting another group stage elimination, an unwanted feat they have routinely achieved at all of their previous major tournament appearances. They are 11/10 ‘favourites’ to finish bottom of Group A and Evens to be eliminated at the group stage.

For those showing a bit more belief in what has been an impressive Scotland side of late, round of 16 and quarter-finals exits are 7/4 and 9/2 respectively.

Where to watch the games, key dates, England & Scotland fixture lists… find out all you need to know about the 2024 European Championships here

It may be wishful thinking for a nation that has never been past a group stage but the Dark Blues are 16/1 to be semi-finalists and 28/1 for a runners-up spot.

If you are feeling even more optimistic, BetMGM is offering a massive 100/1 for Scotland to win the whole tournament.

Players to Watch

A number of players have been instrumental in helping Steve Clarke’s side qualify for the finals. Let’s take a look at four who could hold the key to the Tartan Army’s ecstasy or agony in Germany.

Scott McTominay

Scotland’s top scorer during qualifying and the top scorer in the group, McTominay’s brace against Spain back in March led his country to a famous 2-0 victory.

His seven goals were instrumental to the team making it to the final tournament – only Cristiano Ronaldo, Romelu Lukaku and Harry Kane scored more than the midfielder during qualifying – and he will be key once again to any success in the final tournament.

The 2023-24 campaign saw McTominay reach 10 goals for Manchester United for the first time and ended with an FA Cup triumph over rivals Manchester City at Wembley. McTominay remains one of the first names on the teamsheet for Clarke and a strong tournament from the midfielder is vital to progression for Scotland.

Lawrence Shankland

Shankland has had to be patient for his chance at a major tournament and may be one to benefit from the injuries Clarke has had to contend with in his squad.

The Hearts striker notched 24 league goals in 2023-24 – equalling his tally for the previous season and attracting the attention of clubs south of the border in the process.

After missing out on Euro 2020, the former Dundee United and Aberdeen man could be set to play a major role in Scotland’s latest attempt to make it past the group stage of a major tournament.

Che Adams may well get the starting nod but an injury to target man Lyndon Dykes has opened the door further for Shankland, who grabbed a crucial last-gasp equaliser against Georgia in qualifying.

Internationally-proven he is not but in form he certainly is. If Scotland need a goal then who better to grab it than the PFA and SFWA Scottish Footballer of the Year?

John McGinn

A vital cog in the Scotland midfield, McGinn played a pivotal role in ensuring his country would appear at back-to-back European Championships.

His three goals in qualifying helped secure a second-placed finish and automatic qualification while he has 18 goals overall for his country since his debut back in 2016.

McGinn has been just as instrumental for his club side as he has for Scotland. Helping Aston Villa from the Championship to the Champions League, McGinn is the captain of the side that has returned to Europe’s premier club competition for the first time in four decades.

A tenacious midfielder adept in both attack and defence, the former Hibernian midfielder has another chance to shine on the biggest stage.

Kieran Tierney

His well-documented injury troubles have hampered his appearances in club football over the past couple of seasons but Tierney is an automatic starter for Scotland when fit.

Having spent the last campaign on loan at Real Sociedad, he impressed with his performances either side of injuries and seems to be back up to full fitness ahead of the 2024 finals.

Tierney is, lest we forget, one of the main reasons Scotland deploy the 3-4-2-1 formation they do, with his performances from left centre-back often dictating play. Without him, the squad struggles in this formation, so the Tartan Army will be hoping he is back to his best in Germany.

Scotland Group A Opponents in Focus

Scotland will face host nation Germany in Group A, as well as Switzerland and Hungary. Here’s a closer look at the teams Scotland will have to overcome to progress:

Germany

Hosts Germany are targeting a win on home soil that would see them clinch their fourth European Championships. Following a disappointing tournament in the last Euros, Julian Nagelsmann will be trying to bring the glory days back to a nation that last won this competition in 1996.

Legendary midfielder Toni Kroos is playing in his final major tournament and will be aiming to add one final trophy to his already burgeoning trophy cabinet. Fresh from Champions League glory with club side Real Madrid, Kroos is 16/1 with BetMGM to end his career with the Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament award.

With victories over France and the Netherlands already this year, Germany go into the championships looking more like the great Die Mannschaft sides of old, rather than the team that has suffered group stage exits in two of their last three major tournaments.

Skippered by Barcelona’s Ilkay Gundogan and with a squad that is now underpinned by a clutch of Bayer Leverkusen stars fresh from their unbeaten Bundesliga-winning season, Germany are huge 3/10 favourites to win Group A and will present a massive task for Scotland on the opening night.

Hungary

Group G toppers in qualifying, Hungary throw up an interesting test for Scotland.

An impressive campaign saw the Hungarians go uneaten in their group and concede just seven goals – their 14-game unbeaten run ending with a friendly defeat to the Republic of Ireland in preparation for the championships.

After defeating the likes of Serbia and Montenegro en route to the tournament, Marco Rossi’s men will certainly be hoping to better their group stage exit from the last Euros.

Key players including Liverpool’s Dominik Szboszlai and Freiburg’s Roland Sollai will determine if they can do that, while they will be looking to Ferencvaros marksman Barnabas Varga for the goals.

Between the sticks the decision has reportedly been made – just not yet revealed.

Both RB Leipzig’s Peter Gulacsi and Ferencvaros' Denes Dibusz were given a half apiece in the friendly in Dublin with Rossi stating he has “already decided who will be the number one goalkeeper at the European Championships but everyone will see who I will put in goal in the first group match”.

Hungary are 8/1 to spring a surprise and win Group A.

Switzerland

The Swiss arrive at the Championships off the back of a runners-up finish in Group I of qualification. At Euro 2020, Switzerland shocked France in the round of 16 by beating them on penalties en route to a quarter-final defeat to Spain.

Talismanic midfielder and captain, Granit Xhaka, has enjoyed an unforgettable season in domestic football with Bayer Leverkusen. An unbeaten league campaign saw them clinch the Bundesliga for the first time, as well as the DFB-Pokal.

The former Arsenal player averaged almost seven recoveries per 90 minutes this season and his relentless style will be key to Swiss progression from what is an evenly matched group.

In addition to Xhaka, manager Murat Yakin will be looking to ex-Liverpool winger Xherdan Shaqiri and Manchester City’s Manuel Akanji. Forward Breel Embolo, branded “indispensable” by Yakin, will have to be fit and firing after recent injury troubles though.

Probable Scotland Starting Line-up

After several injuries leading up to the tournament, including striker Dykes having to withdraw from the squad, it’s fair to say Clarke hasn’t had it easy of late. Even highly-rated Liverpool youngster Ben Doak has been forced to pull out, adding to the growing list of setbacks for the Scots.

One to benefit from this could be Shankland — something which may be a blessing in disguise for Scotland. Shankland scored 24 goals in the Scottish Premiership last season, six clear of nearest challenger Matt O’Riley of Celtic.

Southampton forward Adams will be challenging for the starting berth — and may even be the favourite to win it — but an in-form Shankland provides a nice headache for Clarke amid the injury struggles.

Norwich City goalkeeper Angus Gunn will get the nod between the sticks with Zander Clark likely to be number two. In defence, Grant Hanley appears to have recovered from his own injury troubles along with captain and talisman Andy Robertson. Rangers centre-back John Souttar, though, continues to have concerns and missed the 2-0 friendly win over Gibraltar.

It is highly likely that the 3-4-2-1 formation that has brought Steve Clarke so much success will be deployed in Germany, especially with the instrumental Tierney fit again.

Clarke’s men kick off the tournament against the hosts on Friday 14th June — below is the team likely to get the European Championships underway for Scotland.

Scotland Probable XI (3-4-2-1): Angus Gunn; Ryan Porteous, Jack Hendry, Kieran Tierney; Anthony Ralston, Billy Gilmour, Callum McGregor, Andy Robertson; John McGinn, Scott McTominay; Che Adams

Scotland Euro 2024 Squad in Full

Clarke has named his 26-man squad for Euro 2024. The squad is in full here:

Goalkeepers: Zander Clark (Hearts), Angus Gunn (Norwich), Liam Kelly (Motherwell)

Defenders: Liam Cooper (Leeds United), Grant Hanley (Norwich), Jack Hendry (Al-Ettifaq), Scott McKenna (FC Copenhagen), Ross McCrorie (Bristol City), Ryan Porteous (Watford), Anthony Ralston (Celtic), Andy Robertson (Liverpool), Greg Taylor (Celtic), Kieran Tierney (Arsenal)

Midfielders: Stuart Armstrong (Southampton), Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Billy Gilmour (Brighton), Ryan Jack (Rangers), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Callum McGregor (Celtic), Kenny McLean (Norwich), Scott McTominay (Manchester United)

Forwards: Ché Adams (Southampton), Tommy Conway (Bristol City), James Forrest (Celtic), Lewis Morgan (NY Red Bulls), Lawrence Shankland (Hearts)