Scotland are in danger of making this major tournament malarky a regular occurrence after Steve Clarke’s men breezed to qualification for Euro 2024.
Having gone more than two decades without an appearance at either at European Championship or World Cup, the boys in blue recorded back-to-back Euros qualifications courtesy of an eye-catching campaign that included big wins against Spain and Norway.
This time out the target will be a little bit of history, with Scotland having never made the knockout stages of any tournament.
To do so, they’ll need to rediscover a little bit of the grit that saw them fly through 2023 – with Clarke’s men winless in their last seven outings.
Mail Sport takes you through Group A’s Scotland, including how they qualified for the tournament, their history in the competition and who to look out for.
Scotland will need to rediscover their form after breezing through their qualifying campaign
Who is the manager?
Steve Clarke was hardly the most glamorous of appointments when he took the Scotland job in 2019.
Two stellar seasons with Kilmarnock wasn’t exactly the resume to get the Tartan Army’s hopes up after years of disappointment, but his five years in charge have brought more enjoyment than any other manager this century.
Leading Scotland to their first major tournament appearance at Euro 2020 – via a memorable play-off penalty shootout win over Serbia – Clarke has already secured his place in the country’s history.
He has built on his reputation too, in their last two campaigns – reaching World Cup play-offs before overseeing the first automatic qualification campaign since 1996.
Stoic and straight-talking, the 60-year-old is often ribbed for his dour demeanour. It’ll be hard to keep a smile off his face however he becomes the first ever manager to lead Scotland to knockout stage of a major tournament in Germany.
Steve Clarke and his men will be looking to reach the knockout stages for the first time
Who is their star man?
Clarke has a host of Premier League talent to call upon for their campaign, with the likes of John McGinn and Andy Robertson among his key players.
It was one of their top flight rivals, however, who shone during the qualification campaign and has cemented himself as something of a talisman for the Scots.
Scott McTominay found his shooting boots during the qualifiers, netting seven times, including a sensational double in the 2-0 win against Spain, that proved key in securing a spot in Germany.
It would have been eight, if his free-kick in Spain hadn’t been controversially ruled out by VAR.
While not the first name on the team-sheet at Man United this season, his knack for important goals has popped up at Old Trafford, too, and Scotland will need his influence to shine through to navigate a tricky Group A.
His ability to find the net will prove even more key now that Clarke has lost one of his first-choice strikers, with Lyndon Dykes cruelly missing the tournament after being injured during their training camp.
Scott McTominay scored seven times during Scotland’s qualifaction campaign for Euro 2024
How did they qualify?
GROUP RUNNERS UP
Scotland finished second in qualifying group A to secure their place at Euro 2024.
They made an incredible start to their campaign, winning each of their first five matches, and looked to be headed for top spot at one stage.
Victories at home to Spain and a brilliant last-gasp comeback to beat Erling Haaland’s Norway 2-1 in Oslo proved the key fixtures, with a 2-2 draw in Georgia eventually giving the Tartan Army the green light to fish out their passports for the summer.
Kenny McLean celebrates after his last-gasp goal seals victory against Norway in Oslo
Fixtures (all UK time)
Scotland have been handed the daddy of all fixtures – opening the tournament against hosts Germany in Munich on Friday June 14.
It’s a privilege the Scots are no strangers to, having opened the 1998 World Cup in France against Brazil, where they fought valiantly against the holders before succumbing to a 2-1 defeat.
Clarke’s men then head on to Cologne, where they’ll face Switzerland on Wednesday June 19, and if they haven’t secured a spot in the last 16 by then, they’ll get one last shot at it in Stuttgart on Sunday June 23 when they take on Hungary.
Friday, June 14 – Scotland vs Germany (Munich, 8pm)
Wednesday, June 19 – Scotland vs Switzerland (Cologne, 8pm)
Sunday, June 23 – Scotland vs Hungary (Stuttgart, 8pm)
Scotland will open the tournament in Munich when they face hosts Germany on June 14
Tournament history
Euro 2020 result: Group Stages
Best result: Group Stages (1992, 1996, 2020)
Appearances: 3
Euro hosts: 2020 (Group Stages); 2028 (TBC)
Overall record: P9 W2 D2 L5 F5 A10
Group stage record: P9 W2 D2 L5 F5 A10
Knockout record: N/A
Odds to win the trophy
Scotland are given little chance of winning the trophy this summer, with Steve Clarke’s men ranked joint-18th favourites by Sky Bet.
At the time of writing, they are 150/1 to lift the trophy in July.
Provisional squad (27 players)
Steve Clarke named his provisional side ahead of Euro 2024 on May 22, with the inclusion of Liverpool teenager Ben Doak the headline pick.
He has already lost Lyndon Dykes to injury, which leaves just one individual to be dropped ahead of his tournament squad announcement.
Scotland have suffered a blow with Lyndon Dykes ruled out after a training ground injury
Goalkeepers: Zander Clark (Hearts), Craig Gordon (Hearts), Angus Gunn (Norwich), Liam Kelly (Motherwell)
Defenders: Liam Cooper (Leeds), Grant Hanley (Norwich), Jack Hendry (Al-Ettifaq), Scott McKenna (FC Copenhagen), Ross McCrorie (Bristol City), Ryan Porteous (Watford), Anthony Ralston (Celtic), Andrew Robertson (Liverpool), John Souttar (Rangers), Greg Taylor (Celtic) Kieran Tierney (Real Sociedad)
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: Che Adams (Southampton), Ben Doak (Liverpool), James Forrest (Celtic) Lawrence Shankland (Hearts)
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