Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann said Scotland are a dangerous team who will aim to take advantage of the pressure the hosts are under when they meet in tonight's Euro 2024 opener, but he sees self belief in his players and hunger for success.
"Scotland isn't a team full of world stars, but that makes them dangerous, because they are very agile players who give everything, with classic Scottish mentality," he told a press conference on Thursday.
While Germany do feel the pressure and tension ahead of the tournament's opening game, that was necessary, Nagelsmann added, and the team is fully fit and prepared.
"When I look in my players' eyes...I see a lot of belief and a lot of confidence, which is what I want...we have the home advantage, we want to win."
"We can beat pressure, and we can beat Scotland as well."
Germany have won four World Cups and three European Championship titles but their stellar tournament reputation has been somewhat tarnished with a series of failures since their 2014 World Cup victory in Brazil.
They went out of the next two World Cups in the group stage, their worst showing in over 80 years, and exited the last Euros in the round of 16.
"We will have more pressure on us than Scotland and they will want to capitalise on that," said Nagelsmann, who took over as Germany manager in October 2023.
Scotland can create chances and retain ball possession and will put the Germany defence under stress in the Group A match. "We have to stay focused to avoid crosses," he added.
Nagelsmann said he was feeling emotional ahead of the match, describing how he comes from a tiny village with 700 inhabitants and more cows than people, and now was preparing for the opening game of Euro 2024 in Munich.
Germany captain Ilkay Gundogan said Nagelsmann gave the players clarity and conveyed a sense of calm which had helped the team.
"The coach gives us confidence, a clear direction, he has discussed roles with us ... everyone knows what is expected of them and can give their all on the pitch, and that helps us a great deal after the negative experiences of the last tournaments.
"No other game is like the first one, because then you can use that momentum and that euphoria for the next few games, and that is why the most important objective tomorrow is to win the game," he said.
Scotland, meanwhile, go into their opening Euro 2024 match 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," said Robertson. "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.
Watch every game from Euro 2024 on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player as well as highlights and goals as they happen on RTÉ Sport digital platforms
