13:10
Here come the fireworks
It felt like only a matter of time before we started seeing some pyrotechnics…
13:07
A very unexpected Scotland fan indeed
When I woke up this morning knowing that the Euros kicking off, I didn’t think I would be watching Uri Geller talk about Taylor Swift’s guitar, but here we are.
He’s giving the Scots his backing, though, which I’m sure Steve Clarke and Co will be over the moon about!
Check out his strange supporting message for the Scots ahead of their crunch Euros opener this evening below…
A late, feathered entry
Oooh and it’s a late but lovely entry for the our Top of the Caps competition – still workshopping the name – with this tremendous feathered number.
But is it enough to take pole position?
See 11.52 for the other nominees…
12:57
Kyle Walker named vice-captain
Pivoting south of the border to England, and there’s some big news.
Kyle Walker has been named England’s official vice-captain for the competition.
The last VC was of course Jordan Henderson in Qatar, with the midfielder not called up for this squad.
12:53
A famous face joins the Tartan Army
Looks like one famous face in particular has been out soaking up the occasion this morning with the Tartan Army…
12:45
Best get a move on…
On the off chance we’ve got any fans in Munich reading along while they’re getting ready to head down to the Fan Zone, might want to get a move on.
Here’s a look at the queue for the Fan Zone in Munich before the game.
Kick-off, for anyone wondering, isn’t for another eight seven hours and 15 minutes…
12:42
4-4 feels… unlikely
I’m all for the drama, but 4-4 seems just a touch unlikely.
To be fair, France vs Yugoslavia in 1960 ended 4-5 so it could happen…
I’m thinking a couple of late stoppage time headers from Scott McTominay from 4-2 down.
12:38
Lovely bit of football unity
Lovely bit of football unity here in the Marienplatz where fans of both Germany and Scotland have gathered, writes Mail Sport’s AADAM PATEL who is on the ground in Munich today.
Meet Kevin, 41, from Scotland and Birger, 42, from Hamburg who met each other today.
‘The Scotland fans are great,’ says Birger, who is going for a wild 4-4 prediction tonight.
‘1-0 to Scotland’ says an optimistic Kevin!
12:34
One pub ‘already running empty’
It’s what, half 1 in Munich?
Some reports from around the area suggest that one pub has already run out of beer!
You’d think, what with it being game day and all, that they might have taken extra atock just to be prepared… then again maybe they already did!
12:29
What an achievement!
How about this for a story.
Craig Ferguson has made the 1,000-mile trip from Glasgow to Munich ON FOOT to raise money for a male suicide prevention charity.
The charity is called Brothers In Arms, for whom Ferguson has reportedly raised some £50,000, and for his efforts the waiter from Paisley has earned himself a ticket to tonight’s game from the competition’s sponsors Peoples BYD.
”It’s just been a bit of adrenaline that’s carried me over the finish line,’ Ferguson said. ‘I’d be lying if I said that this hasn’t been the hardest thing I’ve ever done!’
For more on that extraordinary journey, check out the link below!
(And yes, we’ve deliberately avoided any Proclaimers jokes)
Craig Ferguson, 20, was given a hero’s welcome when he arrived in Munich’s central square on Thursday as hundreds of Scots showered him with applause and beer.
12:22
Seems ambitious…
Looks like those excited Scottish fans have got a ball out now and are attempting one of the world’s longest games of keepy uppy…
Feels slightly ambitious but then again it’s game day and there’ll be plenty thinking that anything is possible on a day like today!
12:16
Who has the best kit at the Euros?
So, in case you’ve been living under a rock for the last few months, the big news is that the Euros are kicking off tonight.
And while that usually means a festival of football for the next month, including all the turmoil, jeopardy and drama that you might expect, it also means a look at the latest batch of international kits.
Germany’s shirt, for example, is a retor-inspired stunner, while Slovenia have cropped up with an unsuspected entry for best at the tournament.
But who takes top spot? Check out the link to find out.
Which team has the best and worst shirts at Euro 2024 this summer?
Most of these kits have already had their first outing in recent international breaks, with England first sporting their new look in friendlies against Brazil and Belgium in March.
12:09
Why is there a lack of German flags in windows?
We’ve had plenty of talk about Scotland this morning, which is hardly a surprise given the gusto with which they’ve embraced matchday, or matchweek perhaps more accurately.
With the world’s eyes turning to Germany this month for what is probably the biggest continental competition in international football, there is an unmistakable lack of German flags in windows, as Mail Sport’s IAN HERBERT writes.
Here, he discusses in fascinating detail why Germany is currently tearing itself apart – check out the link to find out why.
Germany is tearing itself apart with fans scared to fly their flag
IAN HERBERT: This is most certainly not 2006. Walk the streets of Munich and there is an unmistakable lack of German flags in windows and on balconies.
12:00
Scotland could have called on Gallagher!
To think he could have had Conor Gallagher partnering him in midfield tonight too!
That’s right – the Chelsea star was also eligible to play for Steve Clarke’s side, only to be turned down for not being good enough!
Mind you, England also rejected him so I don’t think we can make too much of the snub, but you’d think Clarke would be happy to have someone of his calibre to call upon this summer!
For more on that one, check out the link below!
Conor Gallagher reveals he could have played for Scotland
Gallagher broke into the England under-17s side in 2017, where he earnt four caps, and continued to be a fixture in the country’s youth sides until his senior promotion in 2021.
11:55
‘Super John McGinn!’
Ready for another song?
John McGinn is a brilliant player – he’s just qualified for the Champions League with Aston Villa, after all – but better than Zinedine Zidane?
I’ll let you be the judge of that…
11:52
Some stunning headwear on show
Time for a new segment, I think.
In all the excitement and optimism in Munich, it’s easy to miss just what a staggering array of headwear is on show over there – I mean just look at some of those!
From the patriotic to the downright puzzling, Scotland have certainly brought the heat with their hat game this morning…
11:48
Not all been plain sailing for Scotland fans…
We saw a clip earlier on of one passenger who found themselves alone amid a sea of Scottish supporters on a plane.
The fans have been descending on Munich in their droves full of good vibes and positivity ahead of the game, but for some it’s been something of an odyssey getting to Bavaria in the first place.
Take a look at this group, who braved two days and 1,500 miles in campervan just to get there in time!
James Reddy, Tam Stevenson, Callum Armstrong, and Campbell Browne, all aged 25, left their home in Paisley at 6am on Tuesday and finally rolled into Munich at 10pm on Wednesday.
11:44
Some more BTS footage from CRAIG HOPE
Time for another tour from our man on the ground, CRAIG HOPE!
This time, it’s a look around Blankenhain castle, the scenic media base for England during the tournament.
Take a look at the clip below for some great behind the scenes footage – including an indoor golf putter, pool table and of course the obligaatory Xbox set-ups.
11:29
How do Scotland stop Musiala and Wirtz?
We’ve mentioned a few times that the odds are slightly against Scotland tonight against what is a very young, new-look German team.
But just who should Andy Robertson and Co be most wary of?
One of these two has already won the Champions League, while the other just went an entire domestic season unbeaten. Not a bad CV for two 21-year-olds now is it?
Check out the link below for more on Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz, the youngsters looking to fire Germany to glory this summer.
WUNDERKINDS! Musiala and Wirtz can make Euros the Jamal and Flo show
It was back in 2020, in the dark days of the Covid pandemic, that Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala emerged as the two bright lights of German football.
11:25
Eze vs Gallagher – but who comes out on top?
Back to Blankenhain, where last night the real competition took place.
That’s right, the head to head battle on the baize, a one-on-one pool match between Conor Gallagher and Eberechi Eze.
We won’t spoil who wins, you’ll have to watch to find out, but one of those two might have a future in the Crucible ahead of them judging by their potting – some cracking shots in there.
11:17
The Tartan Army ‘in full effect’
And how about this for a shot of the action?
11:14
Round two has begun
I think it’s fair to say that the festivities have started up again for the day…
T-Minus seven-and-a-bit hours until kick-off – plenty of time to get ready and soak up some of the local delicacies.
11:10
The perils of wearing a kilt
Well, we’ve seen it all now. Literally.
Spare a thought for this German presenter trying to report from the scene in Munich ahead of the big one tonight.
It’s your classic case of tv reporter meets merry fans gone wrong.
I’ll not spoil it, but fair to say we’ve learned a few things about the perils of wearing a kilt…
