Fans will descend on Munich’s Allianz Arena for Friday’s eagerly-awaited UEFA Euro 2024 curtain-raiser as hosts Germany kick off their final continental campaign against Scotland in Group A.
Scotland finished 2nd in the UEFA Euro qualifying rankings and punched above their weight in the past year. The visitors drew 2-2 against Finland this week and will need to improve on that in this game.
Germany, on the other hand, secured automatic qualification for the tournament as hosts and have been impressive in recent weeks. Die Mannschaft defeated Greece 2-1 in their previous game and will look to achieve a similar result this week.
Team news
Like Leon Goretzka, Serge Gnabry or Timo Werner – all of whom missed out on selection for various reasons – Germany boss Nagelsmann lost 20-year-old Bayern Munich midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic as he was forced out by a bout of angina. withdraw from the cadre.
Borussia Dortmund’s Emre Can has been nominated to replace him, but Nagelsmann is expected to settle on a dual pivot of Bayer Leverkusen lynchpin Robert Andrich and the departing Toni Kroos in the center anyway.
Partnering Kroos and Andrich, Ilkay Gundogan should wear the captain’s armband from the number 10 position, but Nagelsmann still has a few problems in attack, with Leroy Sane and Florian Wirtz battling for position out wide while Niclas Fullkrug and Kai Havertz scrap. spear charges.
In contrast, Scotland were one of the nations to suffer a devastating injury blow earlier this month as Queens Park Rangers striker Lyndon Dykes was forced out of the squad with an ankle injury sustained in training, leaving the visitors without their primary focal point.
Liverpool winger Ben Doak also withdrew – despite a knee problem since December and was a surprise first call-up – while Rangers’ John Souttar and veteran goalkeeper Craig Gordon were the unfortunate souls left out of the squad. as Clarke reduced his ranks to 26.
However, Andy Robertson, Scott McTominay, and Stuart Armstrong should be fit and ready to go after struggling with the knocks, while Ryan Jack missed training on Tuesday but is not thought to be in danger of missing the competition.
Germany’s possible lineup:
Neuer; Kimmich, Tah, Rudiger, Mittelstadt; Kroos, Andrich; Musiala, Gundogan, Wirtz; Havertz
Scotland’s possible lineup:
Gunn; Hendry, Hanley, Tierney; Ralston, McTominay, Gilmour, Robertson; McGinn, Christie; Shankland
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