Euro 2020: Who are Scotland playing, when are the matches taking place, dates and kick-off times

Euro 2020 brace yourselves – the Tartan Army are coming. After tonight’s historic win in Belgrade, Scotland have qualified for the European Championships for the first time in 25 years. But what now?
Scotland's players celebrate after winning the Euro 2020 play-off qualification football match between Serbia and Scotland at the Red Star Stadium in Belgrade on November 12, 2020. Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty ImagesScotland's players celebrate after winning the Euro 2020 play-off qualification football match between Serbia and Scotland at the Red Star Stadium in Belgrade on November 12, 2020. Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty Images
Scotland's players celebrate after winning the Euro 2020 play-off qualification football match between Serbia and Scotland at the Red Star Stadium in Belgrade on November 12, 2020. Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty Images

The 15th European Championships had been planned for this summer - but were shifted a year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

To mark the competition’s 60th anniversary organisers decided to share it around the entire continent rather than a single base – and that’s still the case despite worldwide Covid-19 restrictions and recent rumours it was heading to Russia.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

UEFA refuted that story and are still planning the cross-continental extravaganza – and we’re invited!

Captain Andy Robertson is all set to lead us out at Hampden (Photo by Alan Harvey / SNS Group)Captain Andy Robertson is all set to lead us out at Hampden (Photo by Alan Harvey / SNS Group)
Captain Andy Robertson is all set to lead us out at Hampden (Photo by Alan Harvey / SNS Group)

Here’s what you need to know...

When are the European Championships?

The tournament kicks off around a year late with Turkey v Italy in the Stadio Olimpico, Rome on Friday, June 11 next year. That’s 211 days away - or little over 5000 hours, not that we’re counting.

From then on it’s a month-long festival of football across the continent until the final on July 11.

Wembley is hosting in the groups as well as the final - but will the Tartan Army be allowed to travel?Wembley is hosting in the groups as well as the final - but will the Tartan Army be allowed to travel?
Wembley is hosting in the groups as well as the final - but will the Tartan Army be allowed to travel?

Who, and when will Scotland be playing?

Tonight’s play-off final was to decide on the final entrants to Group D with England, Croatia and Czech Republic - and it’s us!

Whereabouts?

We’ll kick off at Hampden against Czech Republic on June 14 - a Monday afternoon - at 2.00 p.m.

Ruud Gullit  holds off Stuart McCall during the European Championship group  match in Gothenburg back in 1992 (Credit: Simon Bruty /Allsport)Ruud Gullit  holds off Stuart McCall during the European Championship group  match in Gothenburg back in 1992 (Credit: Simon Bruty /Allsport)
Ruud Gullit holds off Stuart McCall during the European Championship group match in Gothenburg back in 1992 (Credit: Simon Bruty /Allsport)

After that it’s a trip to Wembley on the Friday, June 18, to face the Auld Enemy, England at 8.00 p.m then back at Hampden for the final match against Croatia on Tuesday, June 22, 8.00 p.m.

Why are we playing major tournament games at Hampden?

Scotland was one of 12 successful applicants to host games in the special continent-wide competition. Hampden was awarded four games - including two of Scotland’s and a match in the knock-out phase. The other cities playing host are Amsterdam, St Petersburg, Dublin, Rome, Munich, Budapest, Copenhagen, Bilbao, Bucharest and Baku in Azerbaijan.

The final will be in London at Wembley.

Are fans allowed?

That’s the big question at the moment. Tickets for all the games have already been allocated and sold, but it might come down to localised restrictions next summer.

Who do we play if we get through the group?

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Admirable optimism here - we’ve only just qualified for the first time in a quarter of a century!

The answer is… it’s complicated.

First and second in the group will qualify, and third might. There’s plenty of permutations for the best-performing third-placed team so we’ll leave you to check that here, but if Scotland can top Group D they’ll play the second placed team in Group F - likely to be Germany, France or Portugal - yikes.

Finishing runners up would send us to Copenhagen to play the second-placed side in group E - Sweden, Spain, Poland, Northern Ireland or Slovakia.

What’s Scotland’s record in European Championships like?

The Tartan Army have only been to two - Euro 92 in Sweden and Euro 96 in England – but though we won a match in each, we’ve never made it out of the groups.

Anything else we should know?

If you’re feeling really confident - in both the team and Covid travel situation - you can book direct flights to London on the day of the final for just £26.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this article. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by Coronavirus impacts our advertisers.

If you haven't already, please consider supporting our trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription.