For the first time in a generation, Scotland have the chance to build some momentum heading into Euro 2024. The historic footballing nation has chronically underperformed at major international tournaments, failing to ever find a way past the group stage of a World Cup or European Championships.
But after a strong qualification campaign, the zenith of which was a commanding 2-0 victory over Spain at Hampden in March 2023, Scotland travel to Germany with genuine hope. The team’s manager, Steve Clarke, and captain Andy Robertson have explicitly stated that advancing to the knockout stage of the competition is the objective.
Optimism hasn’t hit the legendarily arrogant peak of Ally MacLeod – who boasted that his side would win the 1978 World Cup before leaving Argentina after eight days – but Scotland have reason for hope this summer. Here’s everything you need to know about the nation as they embark upon their second consecutive appearance in the European Championships.
As Scotland aim to achieve the best group-stage performance in their nation’s history, they will be up against a testing set of opponents. After finishing second in their qualification group behind Spain, Clarke’s side went into the tournament draw as a Pot 3 team. Avoiding a repeat of the standings at Euro 2020, Scotland swerved their fierce international rivals England and drew host nation Germany as the highest-seeded opponent.
Julian Nagelsmann’s side have the privilege and pressure of home support but come into the competition mired by poor form and an unsettled setup. There is no doubt what Hungary will deliver. The hugely impressive outfit have not lost a competitive game since September 2022 and only narrowly missed out on a place in Pot 1 after emerging unbeaten from their qualification group.
Perennial dark horses Switzerland endured an underwhelming preparation for the tournament but have a history of turning it on when it matters; Germany’s neighbours have made it beyond the group stage of the previous five major tournaments. As Robertson admitted: “It’s a tough group, but we believe we can give any team a game.”
