One of Euro 2024’s captains needs no introduction to the player he will be going head-to-head with when the tournament kicks off. After coming up against the Manchester United man in the Premier League, he is more than aware of the challenge at hand.
And in games like this, when the scorelines tend to be tight and the margins even tighter, players like this can often be the difference between a defeat and a draw. A draw and a win, even.
How many times did Scott McTominay come to Manchester United‘s rescue in 2023/24? With Scotland up against it as they look to secure knockout stage football and progression from Group A, the Carrington graduate‘s box-crashing talents and his knack for a big goal at a big moment could determine whether Scotland suffer another first-round exit or confound the critics and charge into the latter stages.
Manchester United’s Scott McTominay is a matchwinner
Home nations Germany take on Steve Clarke’s side in Friday night’s curtain raiser.
And, while few neutrals are giving Scotland much of a chance of causing an upset, skipper Ilkay Gundogan is not taking the Tartan Army lightly. Not with McTominay leading the battalion, spear raised and baying for blood.
“I’m expecting a difficult game against Scotland,” Gundogan, Barcelona’s former Manchester City playmaker, says via the Daily Record. “I know a lot of their players from the Premier League.
“They have a very good axis to the team, with (Liverpool’s Andy) Robertson, McTominay, (Aston Villa’s John) McGinn. That’s a very experienced axis who plays at the highest level in the Premier League for very good teams.
“They can be a tricky team to play against. We shouldn’t underestimate them on Friday night. I have lots of respect for them.
“But we also know what we can do and we have a lot of quality on our side. If we can reach our potential, I’m confident that we can win tomorrow.”
- Sunday June 16: Serbia v England – Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen kick-off 8pm UK time, BBC
- Thursday June 20: Denmark v England – Waldstadion, Frankfurt,kick-off 5pm UK time, BBC
- Tuesday June 25: England v Slovenia – RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne – kick-off 8pm UK time, ITV
Scotland face Germany in Euro 2024 opener
McTominay’s record at international level speaks for itself. Gundogan needs only ask his former Man City team-mate Rodri about that, Man United’s number 39 hitting a famous brace as Scotland stunned Spain in March 2023.
Seven of McTominay’s ten Scotland goals, meanwhile, have come in the last 19 months.
And despite a disappointing run of form leading into the tournament – Scotland’s momentum stalling following a run of one win in nine games – this is a side with enough big-game nous and fighting spirit to give any nation a tough fight on their day.
“We’re in a good place,” says Charlie Adam, who earned 26 caps for Scotland but never featured in a major international tournament (talkSPORT, 11 June, 9.40am).
“I think (Clarke) will play 4-5-1 and get runners from midfield, try and use the legs of McTominay. His goalscoring record recently for Scotland has been brilliant, and he’s started to grow. He got into the Manchester United team and done really well.”
“He’s obviously coming into (the European Championships) with good form and confidence. He’s obviously never let Scotland down which is important,” adds Adam, once of Stoke City, Rangers and Liverpool.
“When you’ve got players in your team who can cause problems, it gives you a chance.”