Germany v Scotland: Host nations have struggled in curtain-raisers as last 10 European Championship openers examined
dailyrecord.co.ukScotland have the honour of kicking off Euro 2024 against Germany on Friday - and they will be hoping to add Julien Naglesmann's men to the history of slip-ups by host nations on opening night.In the last 40 years, 10 editions of the European Championships have been played but the home side opening the finals has only won on four occasions, losing twice and drawing four times - all of them 1-1 draws.Scotland would, no doubt, take a 1-1 draw in Munich right now, but they can also look to Greece, in particular, for an example of upsetting the odds after their famous triumph over Portugal in 2004 on the way to, remarkably, lifting the trophy itself.As the clock ticks down to the big one this week, Steve Clarke's side will be dreaming of taking something from that first game in a bid to make history and become the first Scotland side to progress to the knockout stages.We take a look back at the last 10 European Championship openers and how the hosts have fared. EURO 1984 - France 1-0 Denmark In 1984, a late Michel Platini strike gave France a narrow 1-0 win over Denmark at the Parc de Princes on the road to eventually lifting the Henri Delauny trophy at the same venue in Paris a fortnight later.
They did so with a 2-0 win against Spain, where a prime Platini and Bruno Bellone struck. EURO 1988 - West Germany 1-1 Italy When Germany last hosted the competition in 1988 - then as West Germany - the hosts failed to get off to a winning start in their opening game against Italy.
Andreas Brehme cancelled out Roberto Mancini's effort in a 1-1 draw in Dusseldorf. A Marco van Basten-inspired Netherlands won the tournament against the Soviet Union on that occasion. EURO 1992 - Sweden 1-1 France In 1992, Sweden played host and a
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