Germany vs Scotland predictions: Gundogan a good'un for opening night goal

Steve Davies

Spotlight

Ilkay Gundogan could be a goal threat for Germany in the Euro 2024 curtain raiser

- Germany are joint-best three-time winners of the European Championship
- Scotland have won only one of their last nine internationals
- Recommended bet: Ilkay Gundogan to score anytime

Germany and Scotland get Euro 2024 underway at a sold-out Allianz Arena in Munich where Julian Nagelsmann's hosts are expected to make light work of Steve Clarke's outsiders.

The Scots have only ever won two matches at a European Championship finals and have never beaten the Germans in a competitive fixture, ensuring the Tartan Army face a tough start.

Team news

Nagelsmann will likely deploy a 4-3-2-1 with Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala in the 10s role off Kai Havertz.

Borussia Dortmund midfielder Emre Can has replaced Alexander Pavlovic (tonsillitis) in the squad.

Clarke is likely to set up Scotland in a 3-4-2-1 shape, though with attacking midfielder Scott McTominay often dropping into a midfield five.

The stats

Germany and Scotland have met five times in competitive internationals with the Germans winning four plus one draw.

The Germans are on a four-match unbeaten run in 2024.

Scotland have won once - against Gibraltar - in their last nine internationals.

Injuries and lack of form are a worry for Scotland manager Steve Clarke going into Euro 2024

The latest Germany v Scotland odds are available on LiveScore Bet

Prediction

Scotland's disappearance off the form radar means any prospect of an opening-night upset may just have gone up in smoke.

The Scotland side who last year were celebrating stunning wins over Spain and Norway have been replaced by a Scotland team who can't beat Georgia, Northern Ireland or Finland.

Injuries haven't helped Clarke's preparations but the truth is that Scotland look unreliable right now and are hard to fancy in Munich for their Group A opener.

They will still fancy taking on Germany, who are very much a work-in-progress under Nagelsmann and could well struggle to deal with the tension of the occasion.

But there is so much to like about Germany's attacking options that it's hard not to see them breaking through. And if they get one they could get a few, which encourages a look at the anytime goalscorer market where Ilkay Gundogan is an attractive 27/10 with LiveScore Bet.

It looks set in stone that Kai Havertz, Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz will form Germany's front three at the Allianz Arena.

But Barcelona schemer Gundogan will also be able to enjoy a forward-looking role with Toni Kroos and Robert Andrich doing the dirty work behind him.

And Gundogan has a decent goalscoring record at club level, having reached double figures in each of his last three seasons at Manchester City, while he has also popped up with 18 goals for his country.

Big-game players thrive on big occasions and Bundesliga, Premier League and Champions League winner Gundogan is very much that big-match player.

Back Ilkay Gundogan to score anytime @ 27/10 with LiveScore Bet