'Evenly-balanced' Euros group gives Scotland hope

Published on: 02 December 2023

Scotland have an "evenly-balanced" Euro 2024 group after being drawn with hosts Germany in the opening game, as well as Hungary and Switzerland, says head coach Steve Clarke.

The Scots will take part in the finals curtain-raiser in Munich on 14 June.

They will face the Swiss in Cologne on 19 June and complete the group against Hungary in Stuttgart on 23 June.

"It's nice to have clarity. Now we can start preparing," Clarke told BBC Scotland at the draw in Hamburg.

"It'll be nice to open the tournament. Hopefully we can do that with a good match but it's important to focus on the match and not the occasion.

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"It's a good group, an evenly-balanced group. The homework starts now. I can start watching the video of matches.

"To be competitive in every match, that's our aim. Germany better be ready for a lot of Scots coming."

Scotland could face England in the last 16, should they win the section and Gareth Southgate's side finish runners-up in theirs.

First, though, the focus will fall on the opening match against the hosts - a occasion that Scottish FA chief executive Ian Maxwell said will be "fantastic".

"We're absolutely delighted to be involved in the first game," he told BBC Scotland. "A lot of Scotland fans have fond memories of being in the opening game of France '98.

"The way my phone's buzzing, there's a lot of people wanting tickets. I imagine there's websites crashing now. That's the joy that the tournament brings. It's great to see it.

"I think the four teams in the group will be thinking they all have a chance. We're delighted to be here and be in the group we're in and see where it takes us."

What do we know about Scotland's opponents?

Source: bbc.com