INVERCLYDE'S very own Tartan Army are all set jet out to Germany today to roar Scotland on when they take on the hosts in the showpiece opening match of Euro 2024 tomorrow night.

Foot soldier Stephen McEleny, 33, from Gourock, who is treasurer of the West Scotland branch, is all packed and ready for the biggest tournament of his life so far.

Joining him in the ranks is veteran Iain McColl, 48, who takes with him memories of Euro 96 and the 1998 World Cup in France, when Scotland opened that tournament against then holders Brazil.

Our fans will congregate in Munich with thousands of fellow Tartan Army travellers, and no doubt entertain the locals and and raise a glass or five to Scotland.

Stephen McEleny and Iain McColl Stephen McEleny and Iain McColl (Image: George Munro)

Iain, from Wemyss Bay, said: "We are all set for this, it is massive. I went to Euro 96' for the opener against Holland and then I was in France 1998 for the World Cup. I was in Paris for the opener although I didn't have a ticket, then I went to the Norway game and the Morocco game.

"In typical Scotland style we really thought we were going to make it through. We were joking when we were leaving that we would all see each other in two years time for the Euros and then it never happened again."

It would be another 23 long and painful years full of disappointments and heartbreaks, with some typical Scotland near misses, before the country would be back at a major tournament again.

Tartan Army diehard Iain said: "I honestly thought that was going to be my life going every two years to a tournament and then it just stopped."

But in that time of tournament football famine there were also some unforgettable moments.

Iain said: "I was there when James McFadden scored against Holland to win 1-0 in the first leg of the 2004 Euros play off and then it all went wrong after that.

"I was in Paris for the win when James McFadden scored against France. It hasn't all been bad."

Football fanatic Iain has been going to Scotland games as long as he can remember.

He said: "The first one I remember going to was when Mo Johnston scored with an overhead kick against Cyprus in 1989."

"I think we have the best team we have had in a long time with some fantastic players in midfield, we just need to see what happens.

"Walter Smith nearly had us there as well."

Now Iain is all set to take in the games against Germany and Switzerland.

Fellow foot soldier Stephen, who works with RBS, helps head up the West Scotland Tartan Army and has been to around 40 away games, starting when he was about 12 years old.

Stephen, who will be at all three of Scotland's opening games, said: "It is going to be an incredible atmosphere, there could be 80,000 Scotland fans.

"This is the biggest one for me, 2021 was brilliant to be part of, but this is the real deal.

"I am going to be with my family, my brothers. We know all about Scotland's glorious failures, so if we do get through to the second round it would be something very anti-Scottish, like we lose 2-0 in the last game and still manage to get into the next round. That would be nice.

"My wife Nicky has taken time off with my two-year-old daughter Maria, she is very supportive!"