- Laura Woods joined the Tartan Army ahead of this evening’s opening fixture
- She was seen posing for photos with the Scotland fans after arriving in Germany
- LISTEN to It’s All Kicking Off! It’s not a ‘free hit’ for Scotland… this German team is no juggernaut
Laura Woods has been pictured joining in with Euro 2024 festivities after touching down in Germany ahead of this evening’s opening fixture between Scotland and the host nation.
Woods, through her role with ITV, will host the first game of the tournament between Germany and Scotland in Munich, as well as, England‘s final group game against Slovenia on June 25.
Woods will be joined by a punditry team consisting of Graeme Souness, Ian Wright, Roy Keane, Gary Neville, Eni Aluko, Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl, Karen Carney and refereeing analyst Christina Unkel.
Meanwhile, ITV’s commentary will come from Sam Matterface, Clive Tyldesley, Seb Hutchinson, Pien Meulensteen and Joe Speight, supported by co-commentators Lee Dixon, Ally McCoist, and Andros Townsend.
Woods, clearly excited to get going, was pictured with the Tartan Army ahead of this evening’s fixture. The ITV presenter could be seen laughing away as she posed for photos with the fans.
The Scots were in good spirits, chanting and singing alongside the 36-year-old while holding pints in their hands ahead of this evening’s 8pm kick-off at the Allianz Arena in Munich.
It comes as no surprise that Scotland are making the most of their time at Euro 2024 given they have struggled to qualify for major tournaments in the past.
Euro 2024 marks their second major tournament since the 1998 World Cup, having previously competed in the Covid-delayed Euro 2020 finals.
According to captain Andy Robertson, Scotland will never have a better chance to go where no Scottish side has gone before – the knockout stages.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, he said: ‘We want to make history. We know what’s at stake. What’s the worst that can happen? We join the list of Scotland teams who haven’t got out of a group?
‘We have so many incentives here, but becoming a legendary squad is the biggest. That’s what has to drive us forward. The thought of being the first Scotland team to make a knockout round is our driving force. If we manage that? You just never know.’
While Steve Clarke vowed to respect the three-time champions of Europe but emitted a quiet air of confidence that his team can take something in the Allianz Arena.
‘Absolutely – that’s why we’re here,’ he said. ‘We feel as though we can get a good result every time we step onto the pitch. Otherwise, what’s the point in going on there?
‘We feel we’re ready and hopefully you’ll see that. One of the mantras I’ve always had is: “Respect everyone and fear no-one”. So, while we have a lot of respect for the host nation, hopefully on the night we can cause them problems.’
Tens of thousands of members of the Tartan Army have made the trip to Germany to cheer on their heroes, and at home thousands more are expected to pack out venues specially set up in cities to screen the game.
One hilarious video showed a plane full of Scots on the way to Munich – with one lone woman sitting with her headphones on in the middle, looking thoroughly miserable.
Also at Heathrow today was Scotland fan Ian, 62, who met fellow supporters Alan and Dan on the way to the airport. He said Scotland had a ‘very good’ chance at the competition and thought there would be a big upset against Germany tonight. ‘It’s a big one,’ he told MailOnline. ‘They should be careful what they wish for.’
Germany are third favourite to win the tournament behind France and England and while the odds appear to be stacked heavily against Scotland beating them, many supporters are hoping their side can take something from tonight’s game.
Scotland have never beaten Germany in a competitive fixture and have won only one of their last nine matches – a 2-0 friendly win over minnows Gibraltar at the start of the month.
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It is the second successive Euros for the Scots under Clarke and he said: ‘I think we should all be proud that we’re here.
‘It’s been a long time since 1998 when we actually travelled abroad to appear in a tournament like this.
‘That’s why everyone is so excited. We’re proud we’ve been able to do back-to-back European Championships and hopefully by the end of this we’ll be even more proud at having done something a little bit more special in regards to Scottish football.’
Asked about Germany, who are unbeaten in four games this year after an unconvincing 2023, Clarke said: ‘They’re a good team, I think people were trying to talk them down a little bit.
‘I think Julian Nagelsmann found, like I did, it takes a while to find your best squad and team formation. When the draw was made I expected it to be a tough game and nothing has changed my mind.’
Clarke admits the invasion of the Tartan Army will ‘give us a big boost’.
The former Kilmarnock and West Brom boss added: ‘They’re going to be behind us in every minute of every game and that’s really important for us.
‘We’ve had a little taste of it already at our base in. I’m sure there will be a few around in Munich tonight that we won’t see. We hope they will enjoy themselves and behave themselves.’
First Minister John Swinney, who will be attending the match, told Holyrood during First Minister’s Questions yesterday it was ‘great to see Scotland back in Europe where we rightly belong’.
‘As First Minister I want to wish Steve Clarke’s team the best of luck and wish the huge numbers of Scotland supporters making the journey a safe and memorable trip,’ he said.
‘I know the Tartan Army will be an absolute credit to Scotland. I know the team will be a credit to Scotland because they have inspired so many of us by their success in getting to Euro 2024.’
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar and Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton also wished the team good luck ahead of kick-off.
Scotland sides have played at eight World Cups and three European Championships without being able to get past the first stage.
Steve Clarke’s side reached the 2020 Euros – the first major tournament for the country since the 1998 World Cup in France – but again fell short by losing to Croatia and the Czech Republic either side of a goalless draw with England at Wembley.
Liverpool left-back Robertson, who revealed he is in a good place physically and mentally after a scare in training on Monday, was bold in his ambitions at a media conference at the Munich Arena yesterday.
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He said: ‘The first Euros was massive for us, now we want to compete. Last time we felt in the England game we did pretty well but let ourselves down in the other two or thought we could do a bit better.
‘We don’t want to have any regrets this time. What’s the worst that can happen? We go into a long list of teams that have failed to make it out the group so let’s start from that point and move on from it.
‘We believe we can be the team to make history. We have put ourselves in a good position by qualifying first and foremost and let’s see what we can do.
‘We’re excited by the challenge, we’re excited about what’s ahead and if we perform the way I know we can perform then I’m confident we can make history.
‘We know what is at stake. As I said, what’s the worst that can happen? You join the list of good Scotland teams that failed to make it out the group.
‘The flipside to that is we can be the first team to do that.
‘We have lots of incentives to do well but that is the main one, to become a legendary squad, the first team to make it to the knockout stages.
‘That is driving us forward but we are in a difficult group and we have to be at our best to have a chance of doing that.’