I suffered travel chaos on way to Scotland camp but thankfully US Military came to my rescue – Euro 2024 diary

Murnau Station in Bavaria.

It’s 10.21pm and the last train has gone. There are no more buses to Garmisch-Partenkirchen and the taxi rank is empty. In fact, the only vehicles on the town’s one main road are tractors. A growl of thunder rumbles in the air as the sky turns black. And suddenly, your Record Sport reporters are starting to wonder if they’ll spend the night sleeping against a vending machine.

This, after a journey from Glasgow that had already taken in two flights and four trains. What a start to Euro 2024. But then we think about what Steve Clarke said last week. This isn’t the time for Negative Normans. We’re in Germany with Scotland for a major tournament. Positivity is the key here. For once, we’re fuelled by optimism. And just like that, a rescue act. Jennifer, who works for the US Military, is also trying to get to Garmisch – the Scottish team’s base camp. She manages to get us a taxi and pulls off a save Angus Gunn would be proud of.

We got here late on Friday night but through the street lights, there were posters with Saltires. Clearly, the arrival of Clarke’s squad is a major event. And on Saturday morning, the sheer beauty of our surroundings became evident. The Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain, was glistening in the sun.

You can get a cable car to the top and from our hotel you can see hand-gliders regularly flying around. My Record Sport colleague, Keith Jackson, claims he fancies trying it out. Which is about as likely as Scotland winning this thing.

Anyway, this picturesque toy town seems to be the perfect base for Clarke’s team before their Group A clashes against the hosts, Switzerland and Hungary. Even the weather is right up our street. One minute, it’s bright and sunny. The next, grey