Germany vs Scotland Prediction: Host nation to get Euro 2024 off to a flyer
The hotly-anticipated European Championship gets underway on Friday night as Germany host Scotland in what should be a cracking opening game. Julian Nagelsmann has slowly built belief amongst the home fans and after a slow start to his tenure, seems to have got them playing well, with wins over both France and the Netherlands back in March.
But now the warm-up games are over and the real action begins. Scotland are the first opponents for Germany in Group A and they will hope to cause a shock in Munich at the Allianz Arena. Below you can find my Germany vs Scotland prediction for this Euro 2024 opener.
Team News
Germany have suffered a slight hiccup in their preparation for this tournament as Aleksandar Pavlovic was sent home with tonsillitis and will unfortunately miss this entire competition. Borussia Dortmund’s Emre Can has been called up in his place but other than that, Nagelsmann has a fully fit squad to choose from.
Meanwhile, Scotland captain Andy Robertson will be fit to start after an injury scare during training this week, and he is expected to line-up at left wing-back. Scott McTominay will look to provide a goal threat in an attacking midfield role.
Germany predicted starting XI (4-2-3-1): Neuer, Kimmich, Tah, Rüdiger, Mittelstädt, Kroos, Andrich, Musiala, Gündogan, Wirtz, Havertz.
Scotland predicted starting XI (5-2-2-1): Gunn, Ralstone, Porteus, Hendry, Tierney, Robertson, McGregor, Gilmour, McGinn, McTominay, Adams.
Germany are 7/25 to win this game, while Scotland are priced at 9/1. A draw can be backed at 24/5, BTTS is 6/5 and over 2.5 goals is 67/100.
Germany to win and BTTS @ 60/29
Germany are short-price favourites to win this game on home soil, and it’s easy to see why. They’ve been excellent in 2024, beating France, the Netherlands and Greece, while they also drew 0-0 with Ukraine in the build-up to this tournament. On the other hand, Scotland have won just one of their last nine matches, but they England, France and the Netherlands during that run, so we can allow them some level of leeway.
Ultimately I think they will lose the opener, but I do think they can find a goal from somewhere. Both teams will want to play on the front foot and entertain the crowd, and Germany have only kept two clean sheets in their last 10 matches. I think their defence is beatable at some stage, and somebody like McTominay or John McGinn can find the net.
Kai Havertz to score first @ 23/5
Let’s pick out a first goalscorer to find some value. I do think the most likely outcome is that a German player scores first, given their quality and the fact that the home crowd will be vocal in their support early on.
Arsenal’s Havertz looks set to start in the number nine role and given he will be supplied by talented players such as Ilkay Gundogan, Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala, I think he will be Euro 2024’s first goalscorer. We are getting a decent price on him to open the scoring here, and I believe he will do so.
Check out our other Soccer Betting Predictions here.
