Germany National Football Team Vs Scotland National Football Team Lineups

by Jack — March 18, 2025 in Football

germany national football team vs scotland national football team lineups became the focal point as Euro 2024 kicked off with an eagerly anticipated clash at the Allianz Arena.

The tournament hosts Germany entered the competition with renewed optimism under Julian Nagelsmann’s leadership, looking to erase memories of recent tournament disappointments.

Their squad blended experienced veterans with exciting young talents, creating a formidable combination of technical skill and tactical awareness.

Scotland, guided by the pragmatic Steve Clarke, arrived with realistic expectations but undeniable determination.

Facing the hosts in the opening match presented an immense challenge, compounded by injury setbacks that forced tactical adjustments.

The contrast in resources and expectations between these two nations was evident, yet the beautiful unpredictability of tournament football meant nothing could be taken for granted.

Germany National Football Team Vs Scotland National Football Team Lineups

As the teams took to the field, their respective lineups revealed much about their tactical approaches and ambitions for the competition.

Germany’s selection emphasized technical quality and attacking fluidity, while Scotland prioritized defensive organization and resilience against superior opposition.

Germany Starting XI

Germany’s starting lineup showcased Nagelsmann’s faith in the players who impressed during pre-tournament friendlies. The selection balanced experience with youthful energy.

No.	Player	Position	Substituted
1	Manuel Neuer	GK
6	Joshua Kimmich	RB
4	Jonathan Tah	CB	62′
2	Antonio Rüdiger	CB
18	Maximilian Mittelstädt	LB
23	Robert Andrich	CM	46′
8	Toni Kroos	CM	81′
10	Jamal Musiala	RW	74′
21	İlkay Gündoğan (c)	AM
17	Florian Wirtz	LW	63′
7	Kai Havertz	CF	63′

The 4-2-3-1 formation provided Germany with structural flexibility, allowing them to dominate possession while maintaining defensive security. The full-backs Kimmich and Mittelstädt offered width in attack, while the midfield trio of Andrich, Kroos, and Gündoğan controlled the game’s tempo. Up front, the dynamic movement of Musiala, Wirtz, and Havertz created constant problems for Scotland’s defense.

Germany Substitutions

Germany’s bench demonstrated the impressive depth available to Nagelsmann, with quality options across all positions.

No.	Player	Position	Substituted In
15	Nico Schlotterbeck	CB	62′
19	Leroy Sané	RW	63′
9	Niclas Füllkrug	CF	63′
13	Thomas Müller	RW	74′
14	Emre Can	CM	81′

The substitutions were strategically timed to maintain Germany’s control of the match. Schlotterbeck replaced Tah to ensure defensive solidity remained intact. The double change of Sané and Füllkrug after 63 minutes injected fresh attacking impetus, with Sané’s pace offering a different threat against tiring Scottish defenders. The experienced Müller brought game management skills when replacing Musiala, while Can’s introduction for Kroos helped secure the midfield as the match wound down.

Scotland Starting XI

Steve Clarke set up Scotland in a defensive 3-5-2 formation, designed primarily to contain Germany’s attacking threat while looking for counter-attacking opportunities.

No.	Player	Position	Substituted
1	Angus Gunn	GK
2	Anthony Ralston	RWB	48′
13	Jack Hendry	CB
15	Ryan Porteous	CB	44′
6	Kieran Tierney	CB	77′
3	Andrew Robertson (c)	LWB
4	Scott McTominay	CM
8	Callum McGregor	CM	67′
7	John McGinn	RW	67′
11	Ryan Christie	LW	82′
10	Ché Adams	CF	46′

Scotland’s selection reflected their realistic assessment of the challenge ahead. The back three of Hendry, Porteous, and Tierney was designed to provide defensive resilience, supported by wing-backs Ralston and Robertson who could drop deeper when needed. The midfield trio led by Manchester United’s McTominay focused on disrupting Germany’s passing rhythm, while Adams and Christie offered mobility and pace for potential counter-attacks.

Scotland Substitutions

Scotland’s bench was frequently called upon, with both tactical and injury-forced changes throughout the match.

No.	Player	Position	Substituted In
5	Grant Hanley	CB	46′
14	Billy Gilmour	CM	67′
23	Kenny McLean	CM	67′
26	Scott McKenna	CB	77′
9	Lawrence Shankland	CF	82′

The Scottish substitutions revealed both planned tactical adjustments and necessary responses to match circumstances. Porteous required replacement before halftime due to injury concerns, while Hanley was introduced at the break to shore up the defense. Gilmour and McLean provided fresh energy in midfield as the original starters tired from their defensive work. McKenna replaced the exhausted Tierney, while Shankland offered a late attacking option as Scotland sought an unlikely route back into the game.

Tactical Analysis

Germany’s Approach

Germany’s tactical setup under Nagelsmann demonstrated significant evolution from their previous tournament appearances. The key elements included:

Build-up play: Germany built attacks patiently from the back, with Neuer often involved as an additional passing option. Kroos dropped deep to collect possession, while Kimmich and Mittelstädt provided width.
Midfield control: The partnership of Kroos and Andrich provided perfect balance, with Kroos dictating play through his passing range while Andrich offered defensive protection.
Attacking fluidity: The front four of Gündoğan, Musiala, Wirtz, and Havertz constantly interchanged positions, creating confusion in Scotland’s defensive structure and opening spaces between the lines.
Pressing: When possession was lost, Germany implemented an organized counter-press to regain the ball quickly, preventing Scotland from building sustained counter-attacks.

Scotland’s Approach

Steve Clarke’s tactical plan acknowledged the quality gap between the teams while attempting to create opportunities for Scotland to threaten:

Defensive block: Scotland defended in a compact 5-3-2 shape when out of possession, limiting space between the lines for Germany’s creative players.
Transition focus: What attacking ambition Scotland showed came primarily through quick transitions when possession was regained, looking to exploit any spaces behind Germany’s advanced fullbacks.
Set pieces: Scotland recognized set pieces as potential opportunities to threaten Germany’s goal, with McTominay and Hendry offering aerial presence.
Midfield workrate: McTominay, McGregor, and McGinn focused on disrupting Germany’s passing rhythm through energetic pressing in central areas.

Key Player Performances

Manuel Neuer

Manuel Neuer showed why he remains Germany’s first-choice goalkeeper despite his advancing years. His command of the penalty area and distribution skills were vital to Germany’s build-up play.

Neuer’s key contributions included:

Confident handling of Scotland’s limited attacking threats
Precise distribution to initiate attacks from the back
Vocal leadership organizing the defense in front of him
Positioning to intercept potential Scottish counter-attacks

At 38, questions had been raised about Neuer’s place in the team, especially following a minor error in the warm-up match against Greece. However, Nagelsmann’s faith was vindicated by a composed performance that demonstrated Neuer’s continued value to the team.

Toni Kroos

Toni Kroos controlled the tempo of the match with his exceptional passing range and composure under pressure. In what will be his final tournament before retirement, Kroos showed why he remains one of the world’s finest midfielders.

Kroos’ influence was evident through:

Metronomic passing maintaining Germany’s possession
Defensive positioning to intercept Scottish transitions
Set-piece delivery creating dangerous opportunities
Leadership guiding younger teammates through the match

His partnership with Andrich provided the perfect platform for Germany’s more attack-minded players to express themselves. When substituted in the 81st minute, the standing ovation from the home crowd reflected his importance to this German team.

Jamal Musiala

Jamal Musiala terrorized Scotland’s defense with his exceptional dribbling ability and creative vision. The Bayern Munich youngster demonstrated why he’s considered one of Europe’s most exciting talents.

Musiala’s standout qualities included:

Close control in tight spaces to evade defenders
Acceleration to exploit spaces between defensive lines
Decision-making to choose between dribbling and passing
Work rate to contribute defensively when required

At just 21 years old, Musiala has already established himself as a key figure in Germany’s attack. His performance against Scotland suggested he could be one of the stars of the tournament if Germany progress to the later stages.

Andrew Robertson

Andrew Robertson carried the responsibility of captaining Scotland in their challenging tournament opener. The Liverpool left-back demonstrated his quality despite the difficult circumstances.

Robertson’s performance featured:

Defensive discipline tracking German attackers
Leadership organizing Scotland’s defensive shape
Forward runs when rare attacking opportunities arose
Set-piece delivery from Scotland’s limited attacking situations

As one of Scotland’s few world-class talents, Robertson’s experience at the highest level with Liverpool proved valuable in helping his teammates manage the occasion. His commitment epitomized Scotland’s fighting spirit despite the gap in quality between the teams.

Scott McTominay

Scott McTominay was tasked with disrupting Germany’s midfield control while offering a goal threat when Scotland transitioned forward. The Manchester United midfielder worked tirelessly throughout the match.

McTominay’s contribution included:

Physical presence in midfield duels
Defensive positioning to block passing lanes
Forward runs when Scotland gained possession
Aerial threat from set-piece situations

Having scored important goals during Scotland’s qualification campaign, McTominay was identified as a key attacking threat by Germany. Their close attention limited his impact going forward, but his defensive work rate remained impressive throughout.

Tactical Matchups

Germany’s Build-up vs Scotland’s Press

Germany’s ability to build attacks from defense proved crucial in establishing control. With Neuer comfortable in possession and Kroos constantly available as a passing option, Germany consistently bypassed Scotland’s initial pressing attempts.

Scotland attempted to disrupt Germany’s build-up through energetic pressing from Adams and Christie, supported by midfield runners. However, the technical security of Germany’s defenders and Kroos’ press resistance allowed them to maintain possession and progress upfield methodically.

Germany’s Attack vs Scotland’s Defense

Germany’s fluid attacking unit consistently created problems for Scotland’s defensive structure. The movement and positional interchanges between Musiala, Wirtz, Gündoğan, and Havertz made them difficult to track, opening spaces that Germany exploited effectively.

Scotland’s back five struggled to maintain compactness when Germany increased the tempo of their passing. The quality gap was particularly evident when Germany transitioned quickly, with Scotland’s defenders unable to recover position fast enough to prevent dangerous situations developing.

Scotland’s Counter-attacks vs Germany’s Defensive Transition

Scotland’s primary attacking strategy relied on quick transitions when regaining possession. However, Germany’s counter-pressing limited the effectiveness of this approach, with Scotland rarely able to progress beyond midfield before facing pressure.

On the few occasions Scotland did break forward, Germany’s recovery speed and organization prevented clear opportunities from developing. Rüdiger and Tah dealt confidently with direct passes toward Adams, while Kimmich and Mittelstädt recovered position quickly when caught forward.

FAQs

What formation did Germany use against Scotland?

Germany employed a 4-2-3-1 formation with Neuer in goal; Kimmich, Tah, Rüdiger, and Mittelstädt in defense; Kroos and Andrich as holding midfielders; Musiala, Gündoğan, and Wirtz supporting lone striker Havertz. This formation allowed Germany to dominate possession through their midfield trio while maintaining width through their fullbacks.

Who coached the Scottish national team during Euro 2024?

Steve Clarke coached Scotland during Euro 2024. He had led Scotland to qualification for consecutive European Championships, a significant achievement for the nation. Clarke’s pragmatic approach focused on defensive organization and maximizing the team’s strengths while acknowledging their limitations against elite opposition.

What injury issues did Scotland face before the match?

Scotland suffered a significant setback when Lyndon Dykes was ruled out of the tournament through injury shortly before it began. This forced Clarke to adjust his attacking plans, with Ché Adams starting as the central striker against Germany. During the match itself, Ryan Porteous needed to be substituted in the 44th minute due to injury concerns.

What was the significance of Toni Kroos’ participation in Euro 2024?

Euro 2024 represented Toni Kroos’ final tournament before retirement. The legendary midfielder had initially retired from international football after Euro 2020 but was persuaded to return specifically for the home tournament. His experience and technical quality provided invaluable stability to Germany’s midfield.

How did Germany’s tactical approach under Nagelsmann differ from previous tournaments?

Under Nagelsmann, Germany adopted a more fluid attacking approach compared to previous tournaments. The freedom given to attacking players like Musiala and Wirtz to interchange positions created unpredictability in the final third. Additionally, the team implemented a more aggressive counter-pressing system to regain possession quickly when attacks broke down.

What were Scotland’s realistic expectations for Euro 2024?

Scotland entered Euro 2024 with the primary goal of advancing from the group stage for the first time in their tournament history. While they recognized the challenge posed by facing the hosts in the opening match, their campaign would ultimately be judged by performances against other group opponents where they might find more opportunities to impose their own game plan.

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Conclusion:

The germany national football team vs scotland national football team lineups revealed contrasting football philosophies shaped by differing resources and expectations.

Germany’s selection demonstrated their technical quality and tactical sophistication, blending experienced players like Neuer, Kroos, and Rüdiger with exciting young talents such as Musiala and Wirtz.

This balanced approach proved effective as Germany controlled the match through possession and creative attacking play.

Scotland’s lineup reflected Steve Clarke’s pragmatic assessment of the challenge they faced.

With limited resources compared to their opponents, Scotland prioritized defensive organization and discipline, hoping to frustrate Germany while looking for opportunities to counter-attack.

The early injury setbacks compounded their challenge, but the fighting spirit shown throughout the match embodied the determination that had carried them to the finals.

The gap in technical quality between the squads was evident throughout the match.

Germany’s ability to maintain possession under pressure and create chances through intricate passing combinations contrasted with Scotland’s more direct approach when they did gain possession.

The depth available to Nagelsmann was similarly apparent in the quality of substitutions he could introduce compared to Clarke’s more limited options.

For Germany, this opening performance provided encouragement for their tournament ambitions.

The fluidity of their attacking play and control of midfield suggested they have developed significantly under Nagelsmann’s guidance. If they can maintain this level throughout the tournament, they will be strong contenders to lift the trophy on home soil.

Scotland will take valuable lessons from this challenging opener as they focus on their remaining group matches.

The experience gained against one of the tournament favorites should serve them well when facing opponents closer to their own level.

Clarke will hope that the defensive organization shown in patches against Germany can be maintained while finding more attacking opportunities in future matches.

As Euro 2024 progresses, both teams will continue to evolve their approaches based on the lessons learned from this opening encounter.

Germany has set a high standard with their performance, while Scotland has gained important tournament experience that will serve them well in their quest to create history by reaching the knockout stages.

Germany National Football Team Vs Scotland National Football Team Lineups