Euro 2024 is on the horizon, and excitement is starting to build in Scotland as Steve Clarke’s men have qualified for successive renewals of the European Championships for the first time this century.
The bar is set relatively low for the Scots, as they are 100/1 outsiders to lift the trophy in Germany if you’re looking for football bets. But getting out of the groups for the first time in their history should still be a realistic target.
That said, let’s take an in-depth look at Scotland ahead of the tournament, analysing key things, such as their squad, key members of the team, the coach, recent form, and their group in Germany.
Scotland squad
There were no real surprises in Steve Clarke’s provisional 28-man squad, with all the names you’d expect to see representing the Tartan Army at Euro 2024 called up by the manager.
However, the Scots have had something of an injury crisis in the build-up to the tournament, leaving Clarke with a selection headache.
Lewis Ferguson, who has had a breakthrough year in Serie A with Bologna, is unavailable due to a knee injury while striker Lyndon Dykes left training on a stretcher recently and will miss out.
The injury sustained by the Queens Park Rangers striker leaves Scotland with just Che Adams and Hearts talisman Lawrence Shankland, who scored 24 goals in the Scottish Premiership last season.
The good news is that the core of the Scotland squad that qualified for Euro 2020 is still intact and that previous experience could be a massive help this year.
Key players
Scotland have a fantastic set of core players, with captain Andrew Robertson, John McGinn and Scott McTominay arguably the three players that will play the biggest roles for the Tartan Army in Germany this year.
Liverpool full-back Robertson is an adept leader and offers support both offensively and defensively, while Aston Villa and Manchester United midfielders McGinn and McTominay will be key to breaking down opposition attacks and driving Scotland forward.
Billy Gilmore is another important figure in midfield for Clarke’s side. The Brighton and Hove Albion youngster already has 25 international caps at just 22 and forms a solid trio in the centre of the park for Scotland.
The coach
Clarke has overseen one of Scotland’s most successful eras, not only getting this ‘golden generation’ of players to back-to-back European Championships but also playing an attractive style of football in the process.
While the former Chelsea player hasn’t yet managed to take Scotland to their first World Cup since 1998, failing to qualify for the 2022 edition in Qatar after losing a play-off semi-final to Ukraine, he has still done a fantastic job as Scotland coach.
That’s further exemplified by the fact that the Tartan Army won their group in the 2022-23 Nations League campaign with four wins, a draw and just one defeat, earning promotion to League A of the competition.
Form
Scotland had a fantastic record in qualification for Euro 2024, finishing second in Group A behind Spain with five wins, two draws and a sole defeat.
Clarke’s side went on a run of wins in a row to book their place in Germany, beating Cyprus twice, Spain, Norway, and Georgia, scoring 12 times all while conceding just one.
Their recent run of seven games without a win is still a cause for concern, but if they can rediscover form at the tournament then they could cause a few upsets in the Euro 2024 winner bets.
Scotland’s group
Scotland have been drawn in Group A alongside Germany, Hungary and Switzerland, which will present plenty of challenges for the Tartan Army.
The Scots kick the entire tournament off when they face the hosts in Berlin on June 14, and they will be hoping to keep things respectable before more winnable games against Hungary and Switzerland.
With the possibility of progressing to the knockout stages as one of the best-placed third-place teams, every point and every goal (for and against) is crucial to the Scots.
