Germany kicked off Euro 2024 with a strut, clobbering Scotland 5-1 on home ground in Munich.
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An enormous cohort of Scottish fans filled the Allian:z Arena. They witnessed a rapid duo of goals by Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala by the 19th minute.
A nasty foul by Ryan Porteous on Ilkay Gundogan saw him exit before the break. Kai Havertz converted the penalty, extending the lead.
Substitute Niclas Fullkrug rocketed in the fourth. Antonio Rudiger’s blunder later gave the Scots a flicker of joy.
Emre Can, added last minute to the squad, closed the curtain with a stunning late goal, marking the most lopsided opener in Euros history.
Germany seized the lead barely ten minutes in after Wirtz’s stroke hit the post and slid in. They doubled their score swiftly.
Gundogan set up Havertz, who coolly prepared Musiala to rocket the ball top shelf. Gunn’s reflexes saved a header, but Porteous’s rash act cost Scotland dear.
Havertz’s penalty surged right through as Gunn lunged left, leaving Scotland to mend its wounds. A thunderbolt from Rudiger almost caught Gunn off guard early in the latter half, but Wirtz missed a prime chance.
Musiala, ever dazzling, played a pivotal role in Germany’s fourth at the 68-minute mark, setting up Gundogan whose pass Fullkrug hammered into the net.
Scotland cut short the margin as Rudiger inadvertently netted an own goal following a scrambled set-piece, yet Can’s late curler reinstated Germany’s dominance.
Wirtz and Musiala were the German dynamos
At 29 years old on average, Nagelsmann’s lineup was the oldest Germany has fielded at a major since 2000. Yet, youngsters shined.
Wirtz became the tender-most scorer of an opening goal at the Euros. Musiala was nothing less than stellar with his snazzy finish, setting records.
It marked a first: two sub-22 players netting in a Euros game for one squad.
Porteous’ ejection capped a grim opening for Scotland
Scotland hoped for a win unseen since 1996. Instead, they saw Germany replicate history by scoring thrice in a first half. Scotland’s defense crumbled, reminiscent of their 2003 thrashing by the Netherlands.
With Porteous gone, Scotland grapples not only with this defeat but his absence against Switzerland too, making him their first player sent off at a major tournament since the 1998 World Cup.
