Germany beat Scotland 5-1 in Munich on
Friday, June 14, 2024 to start the tournament on a good note, as they overpowered the NorthwesternEuropeans.
In the opening match of EURO 2024, the ten-man Scotland were defeated by a team led by Julian Nagelsmann.
Germany got off to a flying start when Leverkusen talisman Florian Wirtz, on their way to their first Bundesliga title, put Scotland goalkeeper Angus Gunn to the test within the first half, only to be disallowed for offside by Antonio Rüdiger’s pass.
After less than ten minutes, Wirtz scored with a first-time shot from Joshua Kimmich’s ball that went inside the post and into the bottom corner.
Germany doubled their lead midway through the first half, encouraged by their fervent supporters, as they continued to press the Scotland pack. Kai Havertz found Musiala in a perfect passing move, and Musiala found space in a crowded penalty area before slamming the ball into the roof of the net.
Steve Clarke’s team’s problems got worse just before the break when Ryan Porteous was kicked out of the game for a foul on Lkay Gündoan inside the area. Havertz converted the spot kick, and he was on target.
After the break, Clarke’s charges didn’t let up. After the ball fell kindly for the Dortmund striker on the edge of the box, Niclas Füllkrug made it 4-0 with a thunderous strike after Leroy Sané and Maximilian Mittelstädt both came close to adding to Germany’s lead.
Rüdiger incidentally guided a header past his goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to give Scotland a consolation, but Emre hit the ball to beat all for the hosts with a low completion in added time.
With his talent, Germany’s Jamal Musiala, who was named as the Player of the Match, demonstrated a positive attitude toward the game. He had a great goal because of his movement, balance, enthusiasm, and energy.
Not conceding Scotland a solitary perilous second or possibility, their performance offered an ideal stage to expand on. Although the tournament was not won today, the hosts achieved their goal and gave their fans plenty to be excited about.
The National Team Is The Love Of My Life – Cristiano Ronaldo
Scotland, who are as yet searching for a first day of the season win at an European Title finals did their absolute best, yet couldn’t stand the ‘fire’ from the Germans. The match was over as a challenge by half-time, with Germany three goals to the great and flaunting a man advantage following Porteous’ red card. Before facing Switzerland in Cologne, Clarke now has a significant task at hand: to improve his team.
Reactions After the Game:
Julian Nagelsmann, Germany coach:
“I’d have accepted that [result] if someone had offered it to me before the game. The first 20 minutes were very good. Scotland showed us respect and probably showed us even more after we scored our first two goals. The first goal in particular was very well played. It wasn’t easy to score because there were a lot of Scottish bodies in the way. The important thing is that we scored a lot of goals.”
Jamal Musiala, Player of the Match:
“We definitely felt some pressure before the game, but this is such a good feeling. The own goal at the end hurts a little bit; otherwise it was the perfect game.”
Musiala on Germany’s winning start
İlkay Gündoğan, Germany midfielder:
“We played with a high intensity from the start and had an incredibly good first half. It was just the start we needed. I had a good feeling before the game too, and thankfully that feeling was right. The goal we conceded was a good warning for us not to take our foot off the gas.”
Steve Clarke, Scotland coach:
“It’s a difficult night. Obviously we didn’t play to our standard. I thought the German team were excellent. I feel as though we’ve let ourselves down. We’re better than we showed tonight and hopefully we can show that in the next two games. We need four points from the next two games, and that’s what we’ll focus on.”
Andy Robertson, Scotland defender:
“We didn’t put enough pressure on the ball and Toni Kroos pretty much dictated everything. His passing ability is probably the best in the world and when you allow a player like that on the ball and you don’t get close to him, unfortunately he’s going to pick out the right passes.”
Robertson:
‘We didn’t show up’y- Ryan Christie, Scotland forward: “The most important thing is we pick ourselves up, go into the Switzerland game and try to get some positivity back. Germany are a world-class team. We’ll learn from it and hopefully go into these next two games with a chance to get a positive result.”
Stats:
• Germany are the first side to have two players aged 21 or younger score in the same game at a European Championship.
• The three-time winners scored three goals in the first half of a EURO match for the first time.
• Aged 21 years 42 days, Wirtz is the youngest player to find the net for Germany at the tournament.
• Neuer made his 35th appearance at a World Cup or European Championship, surpassing Philipp Lahm’s previous German record of 34.
• Andy Robertson captained Scotland for the 50th time, while Scott McTominay and Ryan Christie earned their 50th caps.
• Porteous is the first player to be sent off on his EURO debut since Austria’s Aleksandar Dragović against Hungary in 2016.
• All three of Füllkrug’s goals at international tournaments have come off the bench.
• Germany won their opening game of a European Championship for the eighth time; no other team has managed more than six.
• Scotland conceded five goals in a competitive match for the first time since 2003, when they were beaten 6-0 by the Netherlands in a EURO qualifier.
