Opponent of the host country, Scotland will open the Euro ball, this Friday evening (9 p.m., to follow live commentary), at the Allianz Arena, with a card to play in a homogeneous group where Switzerland and Hungary should compete for second place behind Germany, the big favorite of the group. If he admitted not “still realizing the scale of the event”, coach Steve Clarke delivered a resolutely optimistic message: “We know what we have to do to qualify. We respect everyone but we fear no one. »
The technician expects “a complicated first match” against an opponent who, in recent months, has been “a little lowered” wrongly according to him. “It’s no secret to say that Germany will have the ball tomorrow with all the great players who make up this team but when we have it, we will have to do everything to make the best use of it, underlined his captain Andy Robertson. We will have to reduce the spaces, we have a very precise game plan. »
In recent days, the Scots have also been able to measure a certain popular momentum in Garmish, where the Tartan Army has established its base camp. Scottish fans appear to have traveled to Germany in numbers, and Clarke is counting “on their helping hand”. “It’s amazing to see so many of our supporters here, enthused Robertson. So many landed in Munich. We hope to make them proud of us and we know that there will still be many of them at the stadium tomorrow.”
“If we show ourselves at our best I think we could be the first team to qualify for the knockout round”
Andy Robertson, Scotland captain
According to his coach’s estimates, at least four points will be necessary to get through the first round. “We want to go a step further and do something special for Scottish football,” Clarke insisted. Three years ago, Scotland were eliminated in the first round in a tough group with England, Croatia and the Czech Republic. “If we show ourselves at our best I think we could be the first team to qualify for the knockout round, that would be great, concluded Robertson. We’re excited to be here. We have to control this pressure, of course, but we have been waiting for this match for a long time. We know that the challenge will be difficult, there is only one night of sleep left and that will be the kick-off. »
