Express Sport brings you the latest news on the opening day of Euro 2024 (Image: GETTY)
Scotland were torn apart on their big night at Euro 2024 as Germany hit five to condemn Steve Clarke's men to a crushing defeat. Goals from Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz, Niclas Fullkrug and Emre Can saw Germany cruise to the biggest win in an opening match in the history of the Euros.
England's preparations are also in full flow ahead of their first match of the tournament against Serbia on Sunday evening. Gareth Southgate has had to worry about a number of injury concerns this week as well as the expectations of landing a first international tournament win for the Three Lions since 1966.
The likes of Portugal and defending champions Italy are also considered contenders. The Azzurri begin the defence of their crown tomorrow evening against Albania.
Recap Express Sport's live updates below...
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"We just got it all wrong, really," says Scotland captain Andy Robertson on ITV.
"We didn't show up, weren't aggressive enough and we let good players get on the ball. Second half, we're down to 10 men and I thought lads dug in really well.
"We’re so well backed over here, today was hugely disappointing. We have to bounce back quickly because there was lots wrong here and it’s a quick turnaround now.
"Maybe it's a reminder of how tough this tournament is. Their big players showed up and were excellent all over the park and had an answer for pretty much everything we had.
"I don't think we’ve played to our maximum. We have to dust ourselves down and go again."
Graeme Souness struggled to hide his emotions as he spoke about his former Liverpool team-mate Alan Hansen on ITV.
It was confirmed last weekend that Hansen was 'seriously ill' in hospital.
Souness said: "When people are ill, people say they were great guys. I’m telling you, he was a great guy.
"You’d have to search a long, long way to find anyone who’s got a bad word to say about him and that takes some doing.
"His chat and banter was top-class, he was a pleasure to be around. He’s in the fight of his life right now and we should all say a little prayer to him."
Italy boss Luciano Spalletti has banned his players from wearing headphones and imposed strict limits on gaming.
Spalletti is a sticker for discipline and has also stopped members of his squad from using phones at mealtimes.
Video games can only be played in the games room of the team hotel near Dortmund, with players prevented from taking their own consoles to their rooms.
The defending European champions will begin their campaign against Albania tomorrow night.
Southgate will avoid picking Gallagher says Neville
Gary Neville believes Gareth Southgate will be reluctant to play Conor Gallagher at the Euros in spite of his admiration for the Chelsea man.
"I’ve got this feeling that Gareth loves Gallagher," said Neville on The Overlap.
"He may not throw him at us in game one because he might think that will set off on a negative tone of putting Gallagher alongside Rice with Bellingham advanced.
"For me, I think where Gareth is going to end up, is to get that extra runner, the one that can go and take the ball off people because he [Gallagher] is really good at that.
‘I think he wants him in, but I don’t think he’ll start to start with. I think he’ll put Trent [Alexander-Arnold] in as that will almost be deemed as an acceptable bridge."
Gary Neville does not expect Conor Gallagher to start against Serbia (Image: GETTY)
Jordan Pickford has singled out Germany stopper Manuel Neuer as one of his favourite players.
Speaking in a press conference earlier today, Pickford said: "He's one of the best keepers in my era growing up, I still love to watch him now.
"What a top goalkeeper he is, for what he has won and how he plays the game. At 38, to still be playing at the highest level is something I'd like to be doing.
"He's probably one of the top three in the last 15 to 20 years."
Former Germany international Didi Hamann believes Scotland can play on the crowd at the Allianz Arena tonight.
Speaking on the In The Zone podcast: "If things don't go well in the first half hour against the Scots, the 70,000 fans who are there to push you on will start whistling, and that can be something that goes against us as the home team.
"The Scots won't go down without a fight. Germany have to come off at half-time with at least one goal or more than the Scots. I don't think it'll be a straightforward game."
Gareth Southgate has renamed England's substitutes as 'finishers' for Euro 2024.
Crystal Palace winger Eberechi Eze claimed the ploy would help with squad unity. "It’s not just about the 11," he said. "It’s about the whole team, the culture, the collective.
“You win the tournament as a collective. Everyone knows that, everyone wants to understand that. It’s putting your ego to the side and being able to focus on what’s important for the team. If you have that type of culture, which we do, you’ve got the best chance.
Paul Ince has argued Jack Grealish should be at Euro 2024 and has slammed suggestions the current squad is England's best ever.
"I think Jack Grealish should’ve been in the England squad," he told Bet365. “He's training with the best players and what Grealish gives you is calmness.
“On the ball he gives you that chance to get up the park, he wins fouls and can calm the game down. He can also excite you, he sees the right pass. I don't understand why he's not been named."
On the current squad, he added: “England having their best ever squad? It's nowhere near the case. It's totally ridiculous.
“If you actually go back to the squads of the past, 1990 for example, look at the players that were in that squad, especially in midfield."
Paul Ince thinks Jack Grealish should be in the England squad. (Image: Getty)
German police have issued strange advice to Englans fans at Euro 2024, encouraging them to smoke cannabis instead of drinking alcohol.
A Gelsenkirchen Police spokesman reportedly told The Sun: "It’s no problem for fans to smoke cannabis on the street. If we see a group of people drinking alcohol and looking a bit aggressive, and another group smoking cannabis, of course we’ll look at the group drinking.
"Drinking alcohol can make someone more aggressive, and smoking cannabis puts people in a chill mood. We want to prevent violence and keep people safe."
Scotland defender Ryan Porteous says Scotland don't want to settle for just making the group stages ahead of their Euro 2024 clash with Germany tonight.
"It doesn't get much better or bigger than playing Germany," he told the Mirror. "We want to go over there and impress, because we've shown we can compete against top teams when everyone's on it.
"We'll take it game by game, but obviously we want to make it out of that group. It won't be easy, but I think we've definitely got the squad for it and the continuity to try and push for that achievement. We're desperate to make that next step. We don't want to just settle for making the groups."
Alan Shearer believes England have the best attacking options of all the sides at Euro 2024.
"I think whatever players Gareth Southgate plays, and whatever selections he makes, I think we could have the best front six, possibly, in world football," he told Betfair.
“Whether it's Saka on the right, Kane, Foden, Gordon, Rice, Bellingham, whoever he plays, that is a front six that can compete with anyone.
“I would have Rice and Bellingham, then Saka on the right, Kane and then Anthony Gordon, with Phil Foden in behind them playing the ten role which he has been so brilliant at this season.”
Alan Shearer has backed England's chances. (Image: Getty)
Sergio Aguero has backed Harry Kane to ein the golden boot at Euro 2024.
Speaking to stake.com, the former Man City striker said "The countries that get to late stages will surely be the home of the top scorer.
"I think Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe should be kept on the radar though. They are major players who can make their scoring capabilities known in major matches."
John Stones handed England boss Gareth Southgate a big boost by returning to training ahead of Sunday’s opener against Serbia.
The Man City defender injured his ankle in last week’s friendly defeat by Iceland at Wembley, and then sat out Wednesday's training session with illness.
But on Thursday morning all 26 members of Southgate’s squad, including Stones, trained in full.
