Football: Soccer-No pressure for Scotland ahead of Germany clash – Robertson

MUNICH, Germany (Reuters) – Scotland go into their opening Euro 2024 match against Germany on Friday with no pressure or expectations and will fight for a result to help push them towards the knockout rounds, captain Andy Robertson said on Thursday.

Liverpool defender Robertson acknowledged the team put in tepid performances during the group stage at the last European Championship but said players will not make the same mistake again.

With Germany likely to dominate possession, Robertson said the Scots needed to frustrate their opponents as much as possible and make the most of situations when they have the ball.

“If we can do that, hopefully, that is the key to getting a result,” Robertson told a news conference. “We believe we can do it and it is up to us to show it.”

The Scots returned to the big stage of international football at the last Euros, having not appeared at a major tournament since the 1998 World Cup in France.

They have never made it out of the group stage in 11 major tournaments, something Robertson said was the main goal at Euro 2024.

“We don’t want to have any regrets this time,” said Robertson, who called himself good to go after an injury scare in training this week. “We believe we are a team that can create history.”

Tens of thousands of supporters who have flooded into Munich will roar on a team who also face Switzerland and Hungary in Group A.

Scotland manager Steve Clarke played down the fact his side will face the three-times European champions in the opening match.

“The enormity of the opening game is a side show,” he said. “Hopefully, on the night we can show the host nation we are a good side.”

For Scotland to get a result against Germany they will need to recreate the kind of performances that brought five consecutive victories at the start of their qualification campaign, including a 2-0 win over Spain.

Clarke expects German coach Julian Nagelsmann to be well prepared.

“When we had the first draw, we expected it to be a tough game and nothing has changed my mind,” he said.

(Reporting by Michael Kahn, Editing by Ed Osmond)