The Euro 2024 kicks off in style as host nation Germany outperforms Scotland in a 5-1 win in the tournament’s opening game. Germany, the hot favourites to win the Euro 2024, comes into the competition with the baggage of defeat on their backs. Former World Champions under the guidance of Jullian Nagelsmann were too strong for the Scotland team. Though Scotland got a consolation goal at the flag end of the game, it was just a deflection from Antonio Rudiger. Throughout the game, the Germans overshadowed the Scotland team, and the guest was left struggling to find a foothold in the game.
Interestingly, both teams came to the game with a strong lineup from back to front. The squads for both teams are as follows.
Germany Football Team playing XI: Manuel Neuer, Antonio Rudiger, Joshua Kimmich, Jonathan Tah, Toni Kroos, Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz, Maximilian Mittelstadt, Iikay Gundogan, Robert Andrich, Kai Havertz. Julian Nagelsmann (Coach).
Scotland Football Team playing XI: Angus Gunn, Jack Hendry, Anthony Ralston, Ryan Porteous, Kieran Tierney, Andrew Robertson, John McGinn, Scott Mc Tominay, Callum McGregor, Ryan Christie, Che Adams, Steve Clarke (Coach).
Germany 5 Scotland 1 Final Score
The German Football Team were on song from the get-go. Germany took control of the game from the very first minute and dictated the pace of the game. Evidently, into the ten minutes of the game, Toni Kroos played a magnificent cross-field ball out to Joshua Kimmich, who picked out Florian Wirtz inside the penalty area. Wirtz took his chance with a low shot that Angus Gunn could only parry, and the ball trickled over the line to give Germany the lead. Moreover, just nine minutes later, Germany doubled their advantage. Ilkay Gundogan held the ball up and cut it back to Jamal Musiala, who rifled a powerful shot into the roof of the net. Scotland was left stunned and struggling to find a foothold in the game.
Moreover, to add salt to the wound, before the halftime whistle, Scotland pulled one of the nastiest defence tackles inside the penalty area; Ryan Porteous was sent off for a red card-worthy foul on Gundogan. Stepping up to the occasion, Kai Havertz converts a well-shot penalty that went past through the Scottish goalkeeper. At the stroke of the halftime whistle, Germany was leading with three goals to none.
A Second Half of Never-Ending German Dominance
The second half saw Germany continue to dominate, with Niclas Fullkrug coming off the bench to score a stunning fourth goal in the 68th minute. Scotland managed to get a consolation goal in the 87th minute when Scott McKenna’s header took a deflection off Antonio Rudiger and deceived Manuel Neuer. However, Germany capped off the biggest opening win ever at a European Championship when Emre Can, who was brought into the squad only two days ago, curled in a fifth goal in stoppage time.
The opening game of the Euro 2024 is nothing less than a statement from the German side. Moreover, Nagelsmann’s men are a force to reckon with in this tournament. Once predicted to be the dark horses of this edition, they are now worthy title contenders.
Key stats
- Germany is 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 an EURO match for the first time.
- Aged Twenty-One years and 42 days, Wirtz is the youngest player to score a goal for Germany at the tournament.
- Neuer made his Thirty-Fifth appearance at a World Cup or European Championship, surpassing Philipp Lahm’s previous German record of 34.
- Andy Robertson captained Scotland for the Fiftieth 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 an EURO qualifier.
Upcoming Games of Germany and Scotland
Next in line for the host nation is a game against Hungary. The Match will take place on the 19th of June, Stuttgart (IST). Moreover, the Scotland Football team will look to bounce back in their next game against Switzerland on the 20th of June 2024.
READ MORE: Euro Cup 2024 Matches, Teams, Format, Timings, Venues, Tickets, Prediction, Live Streaming
You can watch the live streaming of the game on the Sony Liv app or if you’re heading towards the stadium. Don’t forget to get your tickets from the official website of UEFA Euro Cup 2024.
