Ally's army on the march as McCoist parties with AC/DC, Rod and the Tartan Army

Ally McCoist is having the time of his life as he prepares to commentate on the Scotland matches at Euros 24… hanging out with the likes of singers Rod Stewart and Amy Macdonald, not to mention the Tartan Army.

The former Rangers and Scotland striker, 61, is in Munich ahead of tonight’s glamour opener between hosts Germany and Scotland at the Munich Football Arena.

Chatting to him shortly after his arrival in the city, he revealed he is joining Rod, Amy, Travis and Scotland fans in the centre of Munich for a shindig but promised to protect his voice for the day job.

Responding to the news that concerts are taking place in Munich with Nathan Evans, Glasvegas and Kyle Falconer of The View among others, Ally said: “I’ve heard Saint Phnx and all the boys are playing.

"I know about it so I’m hoping to catch up. But I’ll be brutally honest with you as I get older I have to take care of the voice so I will be partying but at the right time.

“We have a big thing on tonight. Rumour has it Rod Stewart and Amy Macdonald and the boys from Travis are going to be there.

"It’s all the Scottish fans getting together and it’s in the centre of Munich. I think Sir Alex is coming along as well.

“It’s certainly going to be a fun time but I have to make sure the voice is good for the commentaries.

Ally has been caught up in the excitement of seeing Scotland in a major tournament finals and believes the team can make history.

He said: “We came over to Munich on the flight from Heathrow and met one guy who had flown through Austria to get here.

“We had a wee bit of lunch and the girls and boys were having a great time.

“Then we went to see AC/DC and there must have been 80,000 there. Guys were playing the bagpipes outside.

“I’ve just had a cup of coffee there with a family from Clydebank and it’s such fun, everything you would want it to be because the supporters are in brilliant form.

“The boys did great qualifying for the last Euros.

“Now we’re all looking forward to the match and this is the first time in a long time that the boys have been able to get on the road.

“The last time was ’96 in France so you’re talking 26 years.”

If the team does well against Germany, Hungary and Switzerland and get past the group A stage, Ally reckons the Scotland team will be rated very highly even if they can’t be compared to Kenny Dalglish and Graeme Souness.

“To see Scotland in a knock-out qualifying tie would be amazing,” Ally said. “They’d certainly be the first team to do it which would be a wonderful achievement.

“I don’t think it would be fair to compare them to anybody like Kenny Dalglish, Graeme Souness, Billy Bremner, Denis Law or even Richard Gough, Andy Goram or Maurice Johnston or older guys like Jim Baxter and Bobby Lennox.

“But it would be the first team to have done it.

“I’m not over confident but I genuinely think the boys can do it and I’m very hopeful.

“That would deservedly give them a place in Scottish history.

“They’ll be heroes and they are heroes to me for getting us here in the first place.

“Who can forget that Spanish game at home and the game in Norway?

“So they are heroes already and they’ll be well organised and do their level best and I’ve got everything crossed for them.”

Ally is also, weirdly enough, hoping for a goal-fest having teamed up with Greggs and Just Eat launch xGreggs (eXpected Greggs) with free sausage rolls for fans based on the number of Scotland and England goals scored above official xG (Expected Goals) stats.

He said: “Anything over the number of goals and sausage rolls are being thrown in the general direction of the football fans and I’ve got to say being a fan of the sausage roll, eXpected Greggs is the one the Scottish fans will be looking out for the most so they can get a free sausage roll.”

Ally is broadcasting from Germany on behalf of ITV and talkSport and he is tipping Lawrence Shankland for a place in the starting line-up.

“I think the three forwards we had all gave us something different,” Ally said. “We’ll never know but I think Steve Clarke might have started Lyndon Dykes against Germany for obvious reasons.

“But he hasn’t made it and I think Lawrence Shankland is the best striker. “Che Adams will give an added threat of going in behind and turning defenders if need be.

“They all have their own strengths but I don’t have any doubt in my opinion that Lawrence is probably the best finisher and he’s had an absolutely fantastic season.

“I just hope providing chances for him doesn’t prove too difficult because I think if they can get him the ball I think he’ll score.

“The boys won’t freeze. They’ll be right up for it. It’s the biggest game of their lives. I think they’ll grasp the opportunity and the occasion.

“We are looking forward to it and nobody will be looking forward to it more than the players themselves.”

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