![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/static-assets\/images\/newsletter\/football\/football-thumb\/football-thumb.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Scotland boss Steve Clarke is reading nothing into Germany\u2019s struggles heading into Euro 2024, warning the tournament hosts are \u201calways on it\u201d when it comes to major finals.<\/p>\n
Scotland will have the eyes of the continent on them on June 14 next year when they take on Germany in the tournament\u2019s opening match in Munich.<\/p>\n
Germany failed to get out of their group at the World Cup in Qatar, with a 2-1 defeat to Japan contributing to their exit. A 4-1 loss to the same opponents in a friendly in September cost Hansi Flick his job.<\/p>\n
Results have been mixed since, with former Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann succeeding Flick at the helm.<\/p>\n
But Clarke does not see Germany as a vulnerable opponent in any way, shape or form. They are three-time Euro winners with a further four World Cup titles to boot.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen Germany get to the finals of a major tournament they are always on it,\u201d Clarke told the PA news agency.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think it will be a poor Germany team, I think it will be a very, very good Germany side.\u201d<\/p>\n
Clarke\u2019s team are also up against Hungary and Switzerland in Group A, as they aim to become the first Scotland side to go beyond the first stage of a finals tournament.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first thing for us to do is just to prepare properly,\u201d Clarke said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMake sure we\u2019re competitive, play as well as we can in the games and then after that we\u2019ll count on the points and see if we\u2019ve got enough.\u201d<\/p>\n
Clarke\u2019s team qualified with two matches to spare, finishing second in their group behind Spain but ahead of a Norway side infused with the star quality of Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think what impressed me most about this group of players (in qualification) is that they want to be competitive every time they go out there,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to continue to improve \u2013 they feel as though they can improve a little bit more and hopefully between now and next summer, we do improve and we can be very competitive in Germany.\u201d<\/p>\n