Passports? Check. Family-sized barrel of washing up liquid? Check. Inflatable unicorn? Check. Unfamiliar sense of euphoria, excitement and smugness? Very much check.
This is not a drill, people. Scotland are heading to the men’s European Championships for the second campaign in a row.
We’ve already had fans telling BBC Scotland about rooms being booked, flights lined up and favours being pulled in from that long-lost school pen pal offering a room in Dusseldorf. But what do the Tartan Army need to know as they prepare to party in Germany next summer?
While we wait for the rest of the continent to catch up, let’s take a look at what awaits trail-blazing Scotland next summer.
- Scotland qualify for Euro 2024 after Spain win
- Relive the drama of Scotland’s place being sealed
- Scotland’s road to Germany in pictures
- Can you name every player involved in Scotland’s campaign?
So who else is invited?
France, Belgium and Portugal booked their places on Friday. Spain and Turkey joined the party along with Scotland on Sunday.
Germany take a spot as the host nation, with a further 17 places up for grabs. Three will make it there through the play-offs from the Nations League. Remember them?
The conventional group campaign concludes in November, while the final trio will be tossed into the big Uefa tombola after play-offs in March next year.
What about the draw?
The draw will take place on 2 December at 16:00 GMT in Hamburg’s rather funky looking Philharmonic Hall.
Teams will be drawn into six different groups of four, with nations starting out the day split up into four different pots. While the three teams who enter via the play-offs will be stuck in pot four and Germany in pot one, everything else is in the air.
This is where it gets interesting. Rather than being based on world rankings of European countries – Scotland are 17th – the seeding instead is based on how well the teams performed in Euro 2024 qualifying.
As things stand, Scotland need to win both their remaining games – and hope Spain slip up – to be in with a shout of going into December in the top pot.
In essence, the Scots must top Group A and have a better tally than four other section winners to get into pot one. There’s a minefield of other permutations beyond that, but let’s hope we don’t get to that stage.
So even though Andy Robertson and his team-mates have already landed a spot at the finals, keeping the foot to the floor, and hoping Spain hit a Georgian pot hole, will be key to landing a top spot in the group. Could you imagine?
Can I book my flight yet?
Assuming you’ve not already spoken to Davie from the local bus company and hired a 15-seater to set off from Bellshill some time next week, there’s a platoon of Tartan Army fans already planning their jaunt to Germany.
We’ve heard from fans monitoring flights from Sydney, one bloke is cycling from Glasgow, while another smooth operator has arranged his best pal’s stag weekend to be in Dusseldorf on the opening weekend. Hate the game, not the player.
There are 10 host cities next summer from Hamburg in the north, Munich in the south, Berlin and Leipzig in the east and Dusseldorf among a cluster to the west.
If you’re getting itchy and wanting to get your plans sorted before December’s draw, it’s tricky to predict where the best base will be. Each group will have their fixtures scattered across Germany, so it could be a bit of a lottery trying to plot the right spot.
Just remember Scotland fans, the final’s in Berlin…
A tale of four cities & a campervan – what are you saying?
Rob: Midway through the first half vs Cyprus [in October], my group started talking about booking flights. By half-time, we’d all booked a return to Cologne for 10 days (meaning we’re guaranteed to be there for both group games). I’ve got four separate hotel bookings in four different cities, so I’m hoping the draw is kind to our schedule (and that the promise of free cancellation isn’t a hoax!) Absolutely can’t wait for it. My first trip abroad with the Tartan Army and won’t be the last.
Baljeet: I have been begging my mum for us to go and visit our family friends in Berlin for a holiday next summer. She is thinking about it, but I have haven’t told her about that massive event happening there.
Euan: Luckily, I live and work in Germany. Just waiting for bookings of spare bed, couches, floor etc from home.
Callum: Me and my pals are driving from Aberdeen to Germany via the ferry from Newcastle in an eight-seater, 1988 VW LT camper van called Aalto. It’s coincidentally blue and white, so very fitting for the occasion. You will no doubt hear us before you see us. It’s going to be one heck of a party, absolutely buzzing. C’mon Scotland!
