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Host nations have struggled on big day

SCOTLAND face a daunting task going up against Germany in Munich for the Euro 2024 curtain-raiser.

But opening-day nerves have often afflicted the host nation.

EURO 1984

France 1-0 Denmark A late Michel Platini strike helped Les Bleus get off the mark and they went on to lift the trophy in Paris.

EURO 1988

West Germany 1-1 Italy Andreas Brehme had to cancel out Roberto Mancini’s opener for the Azzurri in Dusseldorf.

EURO 1988

Sweden 1-1 France Jan Eriksson fired the Swedes ahead, only for Jean-Pierre Papin to level.

EURO 1996

England 1-1 Switzerland Alan Shearer netted early for the Three Lions but Kubilay Turkyilmaz levelled with a penalty.

EURO 2000

Belgium 2-1 Sweden The Belgians co-hosted with the Dutch but got the honour of opening things. Bart Goor and Emile Mpenza grabbed the goals.

EURO 2004

Portugal 1-2 Greece Shock troops Greece stunned the hosts thanks to Giorgos Karagounis and Angelos Basinas before beating them 1-0 in the final.

EURO 2008

Switzerland 0-1 Czech Rep The Swiss co-hosted with Austria but lost the opener following Vaclav Sverkos’ strike for the Czechs.

EURO 2012

Poland 1-1 Greece The Poles, co-hosts with Ukraine, had to settle for a draw against Greece as Dimitris Salpingidis cancelled out Robert Lewandowski’s strike.

EURO 2016

France 2-1 Romania Bogdan Stancu levelled after Olivier Giroud’s opener but Dimitri Payet won it for the hosts.

EURO 2020

Italy 3-0 Turkey In a finals held across Europe, eventual winners Italy opened in Rome with a Merih Demiral own goal plus strikes from Ciro Immobile and Lorenzo Insigne.