A scintillating Germany performance dismantled a lackluster Scotland side 5-1 in the opening match of Euro 2024. The hosts dominated from start to finish, their attacking prowess and tactical superiority proving too much for Steve Clarke’s 10-man team.
The match was effectively over by halftime. Florian Wirtz’s early opener set the tone, followed by Jamal Musiala’s ferocious strike and Kai Havertz’s penalty after Ryan Porteous’ red card for a reckless challenge.
Substitute Niclas Fullkrug added a fourth with a powerful finish, and despite Antonio Rudiger’s late own goal offering Scotland a glimmer of consolation, Emre Can’s injury-time strike cemented Germany’s emphatic victory.
German head coach Julian Nagelsmann, clearly pleased with his team’s performance, commented: “We were brilliant in the first 20 minutes… It’s a good sign that our players complained about conceding.” He also admitted being surprised by Scotland’s initial lack of aggression, attributing their passive approach to Germany’s impressive ball possession.
This was Germany’s largest-ever margin of victory in a European Championship opener, a performance that has ignited hope and silenced doubters after a rocky start under Nagelsmann. The team’s 94% passing accuracy, relentless pressing, and superior movement overwhelmed a disjointed Scotland side.
Scotland’s head coach Steve Clarke was candid in his assessment: “Germany were outstanding, we couldn’t match them. Defensively, we weren’t very good and on the ball we weren’t very good.” He acknowledged that the first half slipped away from them quickly, emphasizing the need for a strong reaction in the next two games to achieve their target of four points.
While Scotland showed brief moments of defiance, their lack of attacking threat and defensive frailties were exposed. Porteous’ red card compounded their woes, and the final scoreline could have been even more lopsided.