Scottish invasion of as much as 150,000 followers spark overcrowding warning

Scotland’s football fanatics have invaded Munich in a rowdy riot of colour and noise – as the Tartan Army’s festivities forced warnings of overcrowding and the sounds of bagpipes screamed through the German city’s streets.

As the home nation hope to kick off their campaign with a striking victory, British supporters painted the streets blue as they arrived on mass wearing kilts and boozing on Buckfast.

The great and the good from the northern nation flooded to Europe – with everyone from Sir Alex Ferguson to First Minister Jon Swinney joining the celebratory ranks as they posed for photos alongside travelling pals.

Setting the bar for the competition’s festivities, The Tartan Army lived up to their anthem ‘No Scotland No Party’ as they cross the continent in campervans and even by bike to cheer on Steve Clarke’s side.

And while songwriter Nick Morgan’s tune admits ‘nobody’s saying we’re gonna win it’ the hoards of fans have shown their steadfast commitment to the enjoy the evening – packing the Marienplatz supporters from this morning.

But the day has not all been smooth sailing – as in Berlin cops have descended on a fanzone alongside bomb-sniffing dogs and disposal experts after a suspicious object was discovered in the viewing area just hours before kickoff. 

And an ‘urgent’ update on Muenchen, Munich’s official portal, revealed there would be no screening in the square and the Olympic Park fanzone was also full.

Munich’s statement said: ‘Marienplatz is currently overcrowded. There will definitely be no public viewing there. Please spread out elsewhere in the city! The Fan Zone is also about to close due to overcrowding. Please do not go to the Olympic Park anymore!’

Police officers blocked off entrances to the square to ensure emergency services could still get access if needed, while the city’s main train station was also shut.

The Scottish FA estimated back in March that 100,000 fans would travel to Germany, but there are now estimated to be double that figure in the country. 

Up to 70,000 Scots were thought to have descended on Marienplatz today, and an estimated 150,000 are believed to be ticketless.

Many filled pubs and bars but no trouble has been reported, with the Scots largely creating a joyous atmosphere as they revel in a rare opportunity to travel abroad to see their team play in a major tournament.

Among them, Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson posed for photos alongside face-painted fans while he enjoyed a continental meal in the sun.

And even the usually-serious politicians made the most of the festivities, with First Minister John Swinney and Westminster SNP leader Stephen Flynn enjoyed a pre-match beer in a bar on Marienplatz square.

Elsewhere, former First Minister and current leader of the Alba Party Alex Salmond was spotted taking part in the festivities as he posed up with other Scotland fans while eagerly brandishing a bottle of scotch whisky. He was later seen joining other members of the Tartan Army in a football chant before lighting up a cigar amid a huge crowd.

Scotland played in Euro 2020 but that was held in several different countries and there were also travel restrictions due to the pandemic.

Before that, their country had not qualified for a major tournament since the 1998 World Cup in France.

This is also the first time Scotland have played a European Championship match abroad since 1992.

In raucous scenes captured live on German television, one fan’s genitals was exposed when his pals lifted up his kilt.

The presenter on Welt TV was left aghast as his penis was revealed to viewers at about 8pm last night. The man was wearing a Germany shirt but it was not immediately clear who he is supporting.

The group – who also planted a sticker on the head of the presenter, Welt chief reporter Steffen Schwarzkopf – are among tens of thousands of members of the Tartan Army who have flocked to Germany to have a party and cheer on their heroes.

MailOnline has translated what Mr Schwarzkopf told viewers in German, which was: ‘Really, really traditional, I would say. I’m not just talking about their football jerseys, but naturally also about the Scottish skirts, the kilts, that are worn here.

‘They are part of it. What is surely also part of it is the beer. But what I also see relatively often – I won’t necessarily wear this to the game tomorrow [as the reporter points to the Scotland sticker a fan stuck to his shirt] – what I also see and think is quite pretty is the Germany jersey on top and the Scottish kilt on the bottom.’

A fan then pulled up the kilt to reveal the man’s genitals, and the reporter said: ‘Oh my God.’ He then said the shirt and kilt mix ‘shows a little bit what the mood is like here and it is, in the end, a pure advertisement for Germany what we can see here’.

A later report on the Welt website said the presenter ‘mingled with the kilt-wearers who had travelled there in a celebratory mood – and gained some deep insights’.

Elsewhere in the football-mad city one cheeky fan revealed he had sneaked off to watch the game while his wife was distracted shopping in Marks & Spencer.

Speaking to the BBC about his sneaky trip to the continent, the white-haired Scottish scamperer said: ‘My wife doesn’t care I’m here.’

‘So how have you managed to get here without your wife knowing,’ the reporter asks the Tartan Army fanatic. ‘She went out shopping – she went to Marks & Spencer and I sneaked out,’ replies the man, before bursting out laughing.

The g 

Thousands more will watch from home as Scots try to will the national men’s football team on to victory as they take on Germany in tonight’s Euro 2024 opening match.

The game in Munich is the first of 51 to be played over the next month to decide the next European champions, with the final at Berlin‘s Olympic Stadium on July 14.

One hilarious video showed a plane full of Scots on the way to Munich – with one lone woman with her headphones on in the middle, looking thoroughly miserable.

It comes after some outlets in Munich ran out of beer earlier this week – including Woerners’ bar in the city’s Marienplatz, just hours after some had fans arrived.

At London Heathrow Airport this morning, Scotland fan Cameron Moffat, 30, told MailOnline that he was excited to be flying to Munich.

Mr Moffat, who turns 31 tomorrow, said: ‘It’ll be a bit of a party. First to Munich and then me and my pals are out to Cologne as well.

‘It’s a bit expensive but it’s not happened for a wee while. I’ll see the sights but I imagine it’ll be too busy to do anything – plenty of the Tartan Army out there.

‘I have tickets to the Switzerland game but the opener was unaffordable. The Olympic Park fanzone is where we’re aiming for. Come on the Scots.’

Also at Heathrow today was Scotland fan Ian, 62, who met fellow supporters Alan and Dan on the way to the airport.

He said Scotland had a ‘very good’ chance at the competition and thought there would be a big upset against Germany tonight. ‘It’s a big one,’ he told MailOnline. ‘They should be careful what they wish for.’

Germany are third favourite to win the tournament behind France and England and while the odds appear to be stacked heavily against Scotland beating them, many supporters are hoping their side can take something from tonight’s game.

Scotland have never beaten Germany in a competitive fixture and have won only one of their last nine matches – a 2-0 friendly win over minnows Gibraltar at the start of the month.

Speaking to a packed media conference at the Munich Arena yesterday evening, manager Steve Clarke said every one of his players was ‘desperate’ to be picked to play in tonight’s clash. 

‘Everyone is fully fit, flying, desperate to be selected and ready to go,’ he said.

‘The enormity of the opener, however, is a bit of a sideshow and hopefully we don’t get too involved in that.

‘It’s a difficult game. One of the mantras I’ve always had is respect everyone and fear no one.

‘We have respect for the host nation, we know they’re a good team but hopefully we can show everyone we’re a good team as well.

‘I can enjoy it. I’ve been lucky enough to be involved in big matches, the Champions League final for example, it was nice to be involved in the last Euros.

‘I can enjoy it, but I’ll enjoy it even more once we’ve got four points on the board.’

It is the second successive Euros for the Scots under Clarke and he said: ‘I think we should all be proud that we’re here.

‘It’s been a long time since 1998 when we actually travelled abroad to appear in a tournament like this.

‘That’s why everyone is so excited. We’re proud we’ve been able to do back-to-back European Championships and hopefully by the end of this we’ll be even more proud at having done something a little bit more special in regards to Scottish football.’

Asked about Germany, who are unbeaten in four games this year after an unconvincing 2023, Clarke said: ‘They’re a good team, I think people were trying to talk them down a little bit.

‘I think Julian Nagelsmann found, like I did, it takes a while to find your best squad and team formation.

‘When the draw was made I expected it to be a tough game and nothing has changed my mind.’

Clarke admits the invasion of the Tartan Army will ‘give us a big boost’.

The former Kilmarnock and West Brom boss added: ‘They’re going to be behind us in every minute of every game and that’s really important for us.

‘We’ve had a little taste of it already at our base in. I’m sure there will be a few around in Munich tonight that we won’t see. We hope they will enjoy themselves and behave themselves.’

First Minister John Swinney, who will be attending the match, told Holyrood during First Minister’s Questions yesterday it was ‘great to see Scotland back in Europe where we rightly belong’.

‘As First Minister I want to wish Steve Clarke’s team the best of luck and wish the huge numbers of Scotland supporters making the journey a safe and memorable trip,’ he said.

‘I know the Tartan Army will be an absolute credit to Scotland. I know the team will be a credit to Scotland because they have inspired so many of us by their success in getting to Euro 2024.’

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar and Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton also wished the team good luck ahead of kick-off.

Captain Andy Robertson said he wants Scotland to achieve ‘legendary’ status by reaching the knockout stages of Euro 2024.

Scotland sides have played at eight World Cups and three European Championships without being able to get past the first stage.

Steve Clarke’s side reached the 2020 Euros – the first major tournament for the country since the 1998 World Cup in France – but again fell short by losing to Croatia and the Czech Republic either side of a goalless draw with England at Wembley.

Liverpool left-back Robertson, who revealed he is in a good place physically and mentally after a scare in training on Monday, was bold in his ambitions at a media conference at the Munich Arena yesterday.

He said: ‘The first Euros was massive for us, now we want to compete. Last time we felt in the England game we did pretty well but let ourselves down in the other two or thought we could do a bit better.

‘We don’t want to have any regrets this time. What’s the worst that can happen? We go into a long list of teams that have failed to make it out the group so let’s start from that point and move on from it.

‘We believe we can be the team to make history. We have put ourselves in a good position by qualifying first and foremost and let’s see what we can do.

‘We’re excited by the challenge, we’re excited about what’s ahead and if we perform the way I know we can perform then I’m confident we can make history.

‘We know what is at stake. As I said, what’s the worst that can happen? You join the list of good Scotland teams that failed to make it out the group.

‘The flipside to that is we can be the first team to do that.

‘We have lots of incentives to do well but that is the main one, to become a legendary squad, the first team to make it to the knockout stages.

‘That is driving us forward but we are in a difficult group and we have to be at our best to have a chance of doing that.’