Germany vs Scotland – our prediction

Okay, at first glance it looks as if Germany is bound to get an early lead here, considering that Scotland is only slightly bigger than Bavaria, Saarland and the German city states combined. However, it’s not as simple as that. Even though we’re a compact country, our coast is over ten times as long as the German coast and we have plenty of spectacular mountains and beautiful lochs to boot. Everything is just a lot closer together, making it even easier to experience the varied landscapes without having to travel vast distances. Surely this counts for something. For us, round 1 ends in a draw and it’s 1-1!

Things are about to get exciting in round 2 when the German eagle is up against the mystical Scottish unicorn. We aren’t joking, our national animal is literally the stuff of legend! Even though we’re very proud of our eagles here in Scotland – if you’re lucky, you can spot them in the mountains, on the west coast and on some of our islands – there is no doubt that our magnificent national animal takes the lead. Make sure to keep your eyes peeled when you’re out and about in Scotland – you’ll be surprised by how many unicorns you can spot around some of our historic places. The score after round 2 is a clear 2-1 to Scotland!

There is no question, round 3 is a clear win for Germany. Ben Nevis may be the highest mountain in the UK, but it really can't hold a candle to the Zugspitze in terms of altitude. Although our mountains are on the smaller side, Scotland is still a fantastic destination for every hill walker looking for a challenge. Have you ever tried Munro bagging? It’s all about climbing as many of the 282 Munros (mountains over 3,000 ft) in Scotland as you can. Unfortunately, even our majestic Munros can’t distract from the fact that Germany scores an equaliser and it’s 2-2 after round 3.

Scotland is edging ahead as Loch Morar proves that still waters really do run deep. It’s no wonder that the loch is said to be home to a monster. Morag is just as elusive as her famous cousin from Loch Ness, but fortunately a trip to this loch on the west coast is worth it just for the spectacular scenery. If you prefer the sea, you can also find one of the many stunning Scottish sand beaches only a few hundred metres from the western end of Loch Morar. Round 4 puts Scotland back in the lead with a score of 3-2!

Germany vs Scotland is entering its final round and we’re looking at islands. Will Germany be able to turn the game around and make it a draw? We don’t think so. Even if we add the ten tiny halligen in Schleswig-Holstein to the list, Germany has nowhere near as many islands as Scotland. Our islands are not only numerous, but they are also incredibly diverse. Orkney and Shetland high up in the north are a nature lover’s paradise where you can still find fascinating traces of the people who lived there thousands of years ago. The Inner and Outer Hebrides work their own magic, enchanting visitors with their mythical landscapes, stone circles and endless white beaches – and we haven’t even mentioned the many other islands in between yet! There is no doubt, Scotland scores the winning goal for a final score of 4-2!