Germany captain Ilkay Gundogan expects Scotland to provide a tough test for his side in the opening game of Euro 2024.
The Barcelona midfielder is looking to end a decade of suffering for Die Mannschaft by guiding the three-time European champions into the final stages of the competition at home.
The 33-year-old moved to the Nou Camp after seven years at Man City last season and will come face-to-face with plenty of familiar faces, not least Man United rival Scott McTominay and Liverpool's Andy Robertson, the Scotland captain.
“I expect a tough game,” he said in a pre-match press conference. “I know a lot of players from the Premier League. They are very knowledgeable.
“I think they can be tricky but also good in the way they play. We must not take them for granted.
“I respect them, but if we play at our best, I think we have a good chance to win the game tomorrow.”
Wichtig, am Ende den Sieg geholt zu haben – noch 7 Tage! 🇩🇪🏟️💪🏼 // It's important to get this win at last – 7 days left! 🇩🇪🏟️💪🏼 #Euro2024 pic.twitter.com/N0fHJ4rdxd
— Ilkay Gündogan (@IlkayGuendogan) June 7, 2024
Gundogan has won 77 caps in the 13 years he has been playing internationally but missed out on Germany winning the 2014 World Cup in Germany due to a back injury.
He revealed that he went to support the national team at a fan festival aged 15 when Germany hosted the last major tournament – the 2006 World Cup, where they finished third under Jurgen Klinsmann.
“It is a great privilege not only to lead the team on the field as a captain, but also to play with my teammates in my country. You don't get such an opportunity very often,” he said.
“I was at fan events when I was a teenager in 2006. To be part of this team and to represent the German people is a privilege. We want to make them proud.”
Gündogan with Germany in the last training session before the match against Scotland. #EURO2024 🇩🇪 pic.twitter.com/1gsMtLdhwu
– BarcaTimes (@BarcaTimes) June 13, 2024
Gundogan praised the impact of head coach Julian Nagelsmann who took over in September after Gundogan's new club manager Hansi Flick became the first German coach ever to be sacked.
Having not won a play-off game since Euro 2016, the German fans have been put on hold in recent years, but Gundogan said: “It helped that the coach gave us clear roles.
“After the bad results in the previous competitions, everyone knows what is at stake and what they have to do.
“That gives us a certain sense of security. The results of the practice games speak of good morale and good spirit in the team.”
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