Tartan Army take over Munich's biggest square with Scotland invasion in full swing

The Tartan Army have taken over Munich's biggest square with our invasion of Germany now in full swing. The Scots were welcomed into the country with open arms as they partied all day in the Marienplatz on Thursday.

No one appeared to be saving their energy for the big match on Friday as thousands of Scots dressed in full kilts and wearing the national team's colours made themselves heard from as early at 10am. Colin Thomson, 54, travelled across from Edinburgh with his brother Derek, 50, and the pair were sipping some early steins when approached by the Record.

Colin, who works in electronics, said: "We arrived last night fairly late on, we had a good few beers on the way but once we arrived we got a really good reception. Everybody has been smiling. The kilt and the Scotland top always puts a smile on people's faces and everyone has been brand new.

"Outside our Airbnb the locals have put up both a Scotland flag and a German flag. It's been very welcoming. We've not got tickets but we're going to watch from the fan zone. I think there's a chance, with it being the opening game, that we can do them."

Isla Fairfield, from Dunfermline, and her friend Fatima Jawara, 26, from Aberdeenshire were sitting soaking up the sun enjoying two large weiss beers.

Isla, 25, said: "We arrived at midnight last night after spending all day travelling and you could tell the closer we got to Munich you could feel the number of Scotland fans growing. It's been great.

"This morning has been an amazing atmosphere. I think we've already sang the 'no Scotland, no party' song about 500 times already!"

Youngsters Samuel Anderson, 11, Rory Mowat, 10, and Cameron Rose, nine, were feeling ambitious as we caught up while they played football, running rings around the Tartan Army. Samuel, who is in Primary 7 at Kingsland Primary in Peebles, told the Record: "It's unreal to be here. We have been really enjoying the atmosphere and the food.

"We headed straight down to McDonald's this morning then came back here for a drink. It's a very different atmosphere from at home with the big chapel and the music and the big beers. This week has just been outstanding, we've got tickets for the game against Germany too. We are going to win 2-1, McTominay and McGinn are going to score for us."

Rory, a P6 pupil at Pentland Primary in Edinburgh, agreed we had the win in the bag, adding: "It will be 1-0, McTominay with the winner."

Dad Ben Rose, a 40-year-old communications director from the capital, added: "It's been brilliant. This is a great place to come and watch football and enjoy the local beer. This is once in a lifetime stuff for the boys. They will remember this for the rest of their lives. They don't know how lucky they are.

"We were at the tail end of university the last time we qualified for a tournament abroad and we've not been able to go since. It's just a fantastic experience. You couldn't design a better city to host a tournament like this."

Over at the other side of the square Scotland fans didn't stop chanting and clapping throughout the afternoon. They soon too got a hold of a football as a game of punching style keepy-ups broke out to chants of 'there's only one Maradona'.

Sitting nearby enjoying a beer was Gary Duthie, who works in oil and gas and lives in Aberdeen.

The 43-year-old said: "I flew in yesterday and I've never been so proud to be a Scotsman. It's where you want to be. Looking down this avenue here - it's just absolutely fantastic. I've never felt so at home. Seeing all these people having the most amazing time - it just makes you proud to be a Scotsman."

Next to Gary were four Germans, sitting dressed in matching hats with Lego figurines of both a Scotland footballer and a German player. Simone Eul, 55, from Westerwald, said: "The atmosphere is great - you would think you were in Edinburgh! The Scottish have really take over this whole place. It is absolutely crazy! Everyone is friends, we have all been getting on so well."

Sat at Werner's Bar - which still had no beer after the Tartan Army drank the place dry in just four hours on Wednesday, were Leon and Dawn Kondol drinking soft drinks with their three boys Taylor, 12, Leyton, 10, and Jordan, eight.

Leon said: "We arrived on Tuesday. It has been brilliant. The kids are having an amazing time too. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to be here and the atmosphere has really cranked up today."

The three youngsters were all in agreement that a win was on the way too, echoing each other with a cry of: "McTominay 1-0, we are going to do it!"

There was an increased police presence around the square on Thursday as uniformed officers kept a watchful eye over proceedings but everyone was kept on their best behaviour, just buzzing to be a part of it.

There was a suspicious look of foam in one of the fountains at the corner of the Marienplatz, but the bubbles were refusing to overflow like they did in Trafalgar Square back in 2013.

Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.