Fans converge on Germany for Euro 2024 opening game

Football fans from around the world are in Germany for the Euro 2024 tournament, which kicked off on Friday as the hosts beat Scotland 5-1.

Scotland fans, many opting to wear kilts for the occasion, packed into Munich's main square as they celebrated their second successive appearance at a European tournament.

German fans were also on the streets, as hosts and in a group that also features Hungary and Switzerland.

The carnival-like atmosphere continued as Germany – the joint most successful team in the tournament's history – scored five goals against the struggling Scots.

Germany went into the break with a lead thanks to goals by Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala and a Kai Havertz penalty. Goals from Niclas Fullkrug and Emre Can further added to Scotland's woes in the second half.

Scotland, who went down to 10 men in the 44th minute, managed to claw one back through a Germany own goal, but were clearly second best throughout.

The ruthless display cemented Germany's place among the favourites, but the team have had a spate of early exits in recent tournaments.

The Euro 2024 opening ceremony was held before the match at the Allianz Arena, home of Bayern Munich.

It was a kaleidoscopic affair as dancers waved patterned, brightly coloured flags in the centre circle of the pitch before a pyrotechnics display brought the ceremony to a close.

As kick-off approached, Scotland's Tartan Army voiced a stirring rendition of their team's anthem, Flower of Scotland, before Germany fans and players responded with Deutschlandlied.

Police from across Europe are also in Germany, to bolster the country's defences against terrorism and other threats to Euro 2024.

Tens of thousands of Scotland fans streamed into the Bavarian capital, arriving on planes, trains and cars, intent on starting the party.

At Marienplatz square in the city centre, the Scots kept waiting staff busy with orders, while regaling locals with renditions of folk tunes, accompanied by pipers.

For supporters like Jess Barber – who spent 34 hours travelling from Australia t

o join her brother and surprised father – the opportunity to cheer on Scotland was too good to miss.

“Both my flights from Melbourne and Bangkok were full of Scotsmen coming to Germany,” Ms Barber said. “We arrived at 5am and came straight to the centre. We haven't even been to the hotel yet.”

Germany are banking on a wave of enthusiasm from their own supporters.

“I'm hoping for a second fairy tale, like the fairy tale summer of 2006,” said Siegfried Rothe, 67, wearing a German football shirt and cap, recalling the World Cup the reunified Germany hosted. That year, the hosts finished third.

German officials have estimated more than 100,000 Scottish supporters will be in Munich for the opening match. Many said they came without tickets, and will head to fan zones and local venues to watch the game.

“We grew up watching Scotland not qualify and this is the first tournament we have been able to go to and enjoy the atmosphere,” said Craig Fyfe, 28, from Glasgow. “Everybody is coming on planes, trains and cars.”

Sigurd Smith, 36, and Emma Wylie, 37, made the trip from Orkney. “I think it's going to be absolutely brilliant,” Ms Wylie said of the match against Germany.

Stuart Webster, 48, made the 13,500km trip from Rockingham, Western Australia for the game.

“Couldn't miss it, no chance of that. We don't make every tournament, so we had to go to this one,” said Mr Webster, who travelled with his two sons, one of whom was wrapped in a Scottish flag.