The Scots get the competition up and running when they take on the host country in Munich on Friday night and the Brighton playmaker is one of several strong midfielder options available to Steve Clarke, who also has to negotiate Switzerland and Hungary in Group A.
Speaking at a media conference at Scotland’s training base in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Gilmour, who turned 23 on Tuesday, said: “It is a competitive midfield. We all want to play every game, fighting against each other, but it is a good competitiveness.
“Everyone wants to start and at the end of the day it is up to the manager, and you just need to do your best in training and see what the manager thinks.
“Of course I want to start the game and play every game possible. If I did get the opportunity, to walk out would be an amazing feeling.
“The opening game of the Euros, the stuff of dreams. Yeah, excited and we will see what happens.”
The former Chelsea player, who started out as a youth player at Rangers before moving to Stamford Bridge, made his first start for Scotland in a goalless group-stage draw against England at Wembley in the delayed 2020 Euros and was awarded man of the match.
He said: “I have matured a lot. I was a kid the first time at the Euros and I would say I am not a young kid any more. I grew up a little bit. But it’s all part of the journey. I have really enjoyed it.
“Of course, looking back, the game against England, my first competitive game, a really good game for us all and that is the test you want as a footballer.”
Gilmour knows that if he does get the nod from Clarke, he could be up against one of the great midfielders in Toni Kroos and his Brighton teammate Pascal Gross.
Kross, 34, returned to the fold with Germany and will play one last tournament before he calls time on a trophy-laden career.
Kroos recently won the Champions League with Real Madrid to collect the sixth winners medal in that competition and Gilmour is aware of his quality.
He said: “I think Toni Kroos is unbelievable, you seen what he has done in the game and just to watch him, he is unbelievable.
“The way he passes it, he makes the simple things 100 per cent perfect.
“Of course one of the greatest midfielders of the game and to test myself and compete would be a great opportunity and I will be excited.”
