Nagelsmann Commends Germany’s Poise Under Pressure, Expresses Bewilderment at Scotland’s Tepid Opening
Germany utterly dominated Scotland with a resounding 5-1 victory in Munich to kick off Euro 2024, prompting Julian Nagelsmann to laud his team’s composed performance.
This match registered as the most decisive first-game triumph in the history of the European Championships. Stars like Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz, Niclas Fullkrug, and Emre Can all found the net.
Nagelsmann joined an exclusive club, becoming only the second coach, after Sweden’s Lars Lagerback in 2004, to win his inaugural Euros match by a margin of four or more goals.
This impressive win marked Germany’s largest margin of victory at the Euros. Meanwhile, it was a historic loss for Scotland as they hadn’t let in five or more goals since a 6-0 thrashing by the Netherlands over two decades ago during the Euro 2004 qualifiers.
Despite a rocky run-up to the tournament, with Nagelsmann at the helm for just eight matches after Hansi Flick’s departure last year, the team showcased excellent resilience. Nagelsmann expressed his contentment to ITV Sport.
“Stepping onto the pitch for the first game at home can be daunting,” he noted. “We had scrutinized past tournaments, knowing the anxiety it can bring.”
“The squad was impeccable in the first 20 minutes, showing tight ball control and robust counter-pressing,” he continued.
“Overall, I’m thrilled with how we engaged throughout the match. Conceding one goal might be a slight blemish, yet our squad’s disappointment even with a four-goal cushion is a promising sign of their standards,” he added.
Surprisingly, Scotland failed to produce a single shot on target and managed their only goal by fortuitously prompting an own goal from Antonio Rudiger near the game’s conclusion.
Nagelsmann confided his astonishment at the lack of Scottish fervor early on, finding them unprepared for Germany’s strategic ball play. “They seemed unready and perhaps intimidated, shying away from their usual pressing strategies seen in qualifiers. The onset really set the stage,” he reflected.
