Germany v Scotland: Host nations have struggled in curtain-raisers as last 10 European Championship openers examined

Scotland 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 stalemate in Solna transpired there. Jean Pierre Papin equalised for France in a 1-1 draw after Jan Erksson had given the Swedes, who were in the same group as England that year, a first-half lead. Denmark famously claimed the trophy - stunning Germany in Gothenburg - after their last-minute call-up to take part, following Yugoslavia's disqualification amid war in the Balkans.

EURO 1996 - England 1-1 Switzerland

Four years later the tournament was, of course, awarded to England. But Terry Venables' talented team, which included Rangers star Paul Gascoigne, couldn't come up with a victory in their Euro '96 opener at Wembley. Switzerland were their opponents in London but after Alan Shearer netted early in the first-half, Kubilay Turkilmaz denied England with a late penalty in a 1-1 draw. Germany would go on to lift the trophy thanks to Oliver Bierhoff's 'golden-goal' five minutes into extra-time against Czech Republic.

EURO 2000 - Belgium 2-1 Sweden

The first championships of the new millenium in 2000 also heralded the first joint-hosts of the competition, with Belgium and the Netherlands co-hosting. On that occasion, it was Belgium who opened the tournament in Brussels and they earned a narrow 2-1 win over Sweden. Celtic's Johan Mjallby pulled one back for the Swedes after Bart Goor and Eka Mpenza had netted. Another golden goal would win the trophy that year, as David Trezeguet won it in extra-time for France against Italy in Rotterdam.

EURO 2004 - Portugal 1-2 Greece

Euro 2004 provided the biggest shock of all-time, as hosts Portugal succumbed to an inspired Greek side in both the opening game and the final to leave Cristano Ronaldo in tears. In the opener in Porto, Giorgos Karagounis and Angelos Basinas stunned the hosts before Ronaldo's 93rd minute penalty proved a consolation in a 2-1 defeat. The Greeks would replicate that success in Lisbon, winning 1-0 in the final to land the trophy.

EURO 2008 - Switzerland 0-1 Czech Republic

In 2008 another co-hosted event was held, this time in Austria and Switzerland. The honour of opening the tournament fell to the Swiss but they also fell to defeat. Czech Republic ran out 1-0 winners in Basel thanks to a Vaclav Sverkos goal in the second half. It was Spain who lifted the trophy, with Fernando Torres' strike sinking the Germans in a 1-0 win in Vienna.

EURO 2012 - Poland 1-1 Greece

The co-hosting trend was really catching on and Euro 2012 allowed Poland and Ukraine the chance to welcome the best in Europe. The Poles kicked off the tournament and had to settle for a draw against Greece, as Dimitris Salpingidis cancelled out Robert Lewandowski's opener in Warsaw in yet another 1-1 draw in an opening match. Spain claimed the silverware again, running out emphatic 4-0 winners over Italy in Kyiv to become the first nation ever to defend the trophy.

EURO 2016 - France 2-1 Romania

At Euro 2016, a star-studded France side needed a last-minute winner in Saint Denis to buck the trend of opening day slip-ups. Dimitri Payet popped up with the winner in a 2-1 victory over Romania in Paris, where a Bogdan Stancu penalty had levelled the game after Olivier Giroud's opener. Heartbreak followed for the French in the final, though, as Portugal upset the hosts with Eder's extra-time goal earning a 1-0 win.

EURO 2020 - Italy 3-0 Turkey

Euro 2020 was supposed to be a celebration of football and a pan-European event - but a pandemic put paid to the tournament taking place on schedule with capacity crowds. With Covid eventually subsiding, it was a full year later in 2021 that the tournament kicked-off with limited fans in Rome's Stadio Olimpico. Italy had the honour of the opening game against Turkey and ran out comfortable winners in only the fourth victory for a 'host' nation in the last four decades. A Merih Demiral own goal put them on their way before Ciro Immobile and Lorenze Insigne sealed it. The Italians would go on to lift the trophy, memorably sinking England - who were held to a 0-0 draw by Scotland in the group stages - in the final at Wembley on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

Now, it's over to Germany and Scotland...

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