Page 9 - Soccer360 Issue 106

NICKNAME: THE TARTAN ARMY S360 PREDICTION | 18TH PLACE
GROUP A - UEFA EURO 2024
FACTFILE
POPULATION:
5.4 million
EURO FINALS APPEARANCES: 3
BEST FINISH:
Group stage 1992, 1996, 2020
MOST MEMORABLE EUROS MOMENT: Going toe to toe with England at Euro 96.
HOW THEY GOT TO EURO 2024: Finished second behind Spain in their qualifying group.
LAST EUROS APPEARANCE: 2020 - Eliminated in the group stage despite holding England to a goalless draw.
MOST CAPPED PLAYER: Kenny Dalglish (102)
LEADING INTERNATIONAL SCORER: Kenny Dalglish and Denis Law (30)
HOW TO FOLLOW:
KENNY DAGLISH
VS GERMANY VS SWITZERLAND VS HUNGARY JUNE 14TH JUNE 19TH JUNE 23RD 3:00PM | EST 3:00PM | EST 3:00PM | EST
FIFA RANKING 39TH
SCOTLAND
Scotland have the prestigious honour of kicking off Euro 2024 when they face Germany in Munich on June 14th and will be in a buoyant mood after a strong qualifying campaign, Ian Waterhouse assesses their chances.
EURO APPEARANCES: 3
EURO CHAMPIONSHIPS: 0
THEIR BEST THREE EUROS
1945
1945
1945
GROUP STAGE
GROUP STAGE
GROUP STAGE
UEFA EURO OVERALL RECORD PLD:9 W:2 D:2 L:2
THE COACH:
STEVE CLARKE
Former Chelsea player and coach Steve Clarke took over as Scotland boss in 2019 and finally ended their interminable wait
to qualify for a major tournament by guiding them to Euro 2020, restoring pride to the nation. He repeated the trick this time around with an impressive qualifying campaign, and his robust side will pose a challenge with their fighting spirit and an uncommon 5-3-2 formation.
KEY PLAYER:
SCOTT MCTOMINAY
Versatile midfielder Scott McTominay is often underappreciated at Manchester United despite often making important contributions, but he seems to find another level entirely when he represents his national team.
With seven goals, he was the top scorer in Scotland’s qualifying group, even ahead of Manchester City and Norway goal machine Erling Haaland - just to illustrate the point.
SPIRITED SCOTS
After over two decades of hurt where
they watched on enviously at neighbours England, the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Wales enjoy tournament football, Scotland have rejoined the party and are now set to take part in back-to- back European Championships. Steve Clarke’s men will look to cause problems
for Germany, Switzerland, and Hungary
in an intriguing Group A. There is plenty
of Premier League experience in the mix
too with Manchester United midfielder
Scott McTominay a standout performer in qualifying with seven goals which included a brace against Spain, and one of Europe’s most consistently exceptional full-backs
in Liverpool star Andrew Robertson. Meanwhile, Kieran Tierney in defence will bring a splash of European knowhow having spent the season on loan at La Liga outfit Real Sociedad from parent club Arsenal. Tournament experience will be a weakness for the Scots, but they will believe there is
a real chance of breaking out of Group A and will likely rely on their physical presence to bully the opposition into making mistakes. They won’t be easy opponents
for hosts Germany in the opening match, and although they lack the pedigree of Switzerland and Hungary, there is enough spirit and determination in this team to get positive results against both and potentially reach the knockout stages. Having failed
to advance from their group at Euro 2020, that will certainly be the aim here. With the Tartan Army in support Scotland will be a challenge not to be underestimated despite poor recent friendly results.
PROBABLE STARTING XI
DYKES
ADAMS
GILMOUR
TIERNEY
HENDRY
MCTOMINAY
PORTEOUS
GUNN
MCGINN
ROBERTSON
PATTERSON
SOCCER360 SUMMER 2024 7