Germany vs. Scotland Prediction: Euro 2024 Kicks Off!

• The Euro 2024 hosts Germany will be looking to get off to a winning start

• Scotland will aim to spoil the party as the tournament starts on Friday

• The opening night can often be a nervy experience for host nations

Germany vs. Scotland Odds

The odds for Germany vs. Scotland are taken from the Betway Sportsbook, where you can get up to $250 in bonus bets. For more details, check our Euro 2024 Betting Guide.

Germany vs. Scotland - My Pick

Go for under 2.5 goals in the first game of Euro 2024. Germany will be confident of victory, but they will not have everything their own way on Friday.

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Euro 2024 Hosts Germany Looking for Winning Start Here

“Soccer is a simple game,” the former England striker Gary Lineker once said. “Twenty-two men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win.”

It was a pithy line that neatly summed up the history of the Germany national team. The Nationalelf were known not only as serial winners but as a side that could triumph even when it was experiencing adversity. After the 2002 World Cup, Germany decided it had to accelerate a plan of root-and-branch reform. The side had reached the final that summer.

The four-time world champions and three-time European champions are among the most successful international teams of all time. Yet in recent years, German fans have had relatively little to cheer. Unthinkably, they were eliminated from both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in the group stage. In between, they slumped to a last-16 exit at Euro 2020 (held in 2021).

There is hope that things will be different this summer. Ahead of the big kick-off on Friday, Germany are the third favorites to lift the Euro 2024 trophy with the best online sportsbooks, behind only England and France. The tournament is taking place on their own soil and home advantage could be key.

Optimism was in short supply this time last year. Following their disastrous showing at World Cup 2022, Germany lost friendlies to Belgium, Poland, Colombia, Japan, and Turkey. But the mood in the camp has improved since Julian Nagelsmann replaced Hansi Flick as coach last September. German supporters are daring to dream of glory once again.

This is not the strongest Germany squad we have ever seen, but there is still talent within the ranks. They have looked considerably better since the return of Toni Kroos, who will retire from soccer after Euro 2024. In attack, Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala could compete for the Young Player of the Tournament award. This summer, Lineker’s quote might ring true once more.

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Scotland Aiming for a Place in the Knockout Phase This Summer

For only the second time in their history, Scotland are set to take part in a second European Championship on the bounce. They are one of several smaller nations to have benefited from the expansion of the event from 16 to 24 teams ahead of Euro 2016.

Three years ago, Scotland fell short of their objective of reaching the knockout stage. A creditable 0-0 draw with England was a real plus point, but Steve Clarke’s team lost to Croatia and Czech Republic to suffer an early exit. This time around, they feel they have a decent shot at reaching the knockout phase.

Scotland booked their spot in Germany in style. They came roaring out of the traps in qualifying, winning their first five matches (including a famous 2-0 defeat of Spain) to set the pace in Group A. Spain eventually overtook them, but Clarke’s men finished comfortably clear of third-placed Norway.

They are also in Group A at the Euro 2024 tournament proper, where Scotland will likely fight it out with Hungary and Switzerland for second place. Three teams could advance from this section, with the four best-performing third-place finishers set to go through to the round of 16.

However, Scotland have been dealt some cruel blows of late, with several players having been ruled out with injury. Lyndon Dykes, Ben Doak, Nathan Patterson, Elliot Anderson, Lewis Ferguson, and Aaron Hickey will all be absent this summer, while Scott McTominay is battling to be fit for Friday’s opener.

Germany Could Suffer Some Nerves on the Opening Night

Euro 2020 was a tournament staged right across by Europe rather than having an individual host. At Euro 2016, hosts France only just edged out Romania 2-1 thanks to an 89th-minute winner from Dimitri Payet. Four years before that, co-hosts Poland drew 1-1 with Greece on opening night. At Euro 2004, the Greeks stunned hosts Portugal in the curtain-raiser.

No one should be surprised, then, if Germany do not sweep to victory in this one. It would only be natural if there were some nerves among Nagelsmann’s players, and anxiety could creep in on the terraces if Germany do not make a breakthrough early on against Scotland.

Clarke is an astute tactician and we can guarantee that his team will be well-drilled on Friday. Scotland will sit deep and look to frustrate Germany, who must show they have the guile and wit to break the underdogs down.

All things considered, it is worth backing under 2.5 goals in the first of Euro 2024’s 51 games. Germany will be reasonably confident of coming out on top, but Scotland will make them work hard for it. Neutrals may be hoping for a high-scoring, end-to-end encounter, but it is much more probable that this will be a tight, tense tussle in Munich. 

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How to Watch Germany vs. Scotland

• Teams: Germany vs. Scotland

• Location: Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany

• Date and Time: Friday, 14 June, 3.00 PM ET 

• How to Watch: Fox Sports, fuboTV