Germany defeated Scotland 5-1 as the Euro 2024 hosts kicked off the tournament in style in Munich on Friday, the start of a journey they hope will culminate in a record fourth continental title. Florian Wirtz scored the opener after 10 minutes and Jamal Musiala soon doubled Germany’s lead with an emphatic finish. A much-anticipated night for Scotland went from bad to worse before half-time when Ryan Porteous was sent off for a two-footed tackle on Ilkay Gundogan, with Kai Havertz taking the resulting penalty. Niclas Fuellkrug scored a fourth goal midway through the second half after coming on as a substitute, and not even a late Antonio Ruediger own goal could spoil a perfect start to the campaign for Germany.
There was even time for Emre Can to score the fifth goal with the final kick of the game.
Scotland certainly could not have imagined such a disastrous start, but they will have to regroup quickly in their upcoming Group A games against Switzerland and Hungary.
After three consecutive failures at major tournaments, including back-to-back group stage exits at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, this was a strong statement of intent from an experienced German team.
It is Germany’s first major men’s tournament as hosts since the 2006 World Cup, and they are trying to recreate the magic that helped reignite passion for the national team after a period of international crisis.
Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann has spoken of his players’ desire to atone for their failures of recent times, with prospects improving and optimism gradually increasing since his appointment in September.
His counterpart Steve Clarke, meanwhile, urged Scotland to “fear no one” as they enter the country’s second successive Euros after more than two decades in the international wilderness.
Almost immediately, Germany took the game to a Scottish side who arrived in Munich with just one win in their last nine matches – an unimpressive 2-0 victory over lowly Gibraltar last week.
Scottish goalkeeper Angus Gunn alertly blocked a Wirtz offside, but Germany didn’t wait long to grab the game by the scruff of the neck.
Toni Kroos, persuaded to come out of retirement from Germany earlier this year, played a pass to Joshua Kimmich, who helped Wirtz sweep the ball from the edge of the box as Gunn could only assist the shot through the post.
Kroos will hang up his boots for good after the tournament, but with him and Gundogan commanding Germany’s midfield they bring a level of knowledge and maturity that few can match.
Gundogan passed through the Scottish defense to Havertz, who passed it back to Musiala, the Bayern Munich striker creating space to fire a shot into the roof of the net.
Germany were initially awarded a penalty when Musiala fell after being caught between Ryan Christie and Kieran Tierney, but referee Clement Turpin ruled the foul had occurred outside the box after consulting the touchline monitor.
That only delayed Germany’s third goal, which ended up being a penalty after another VAR review saw Porteous sent off for a rough tackle on Gundogan, who was brought down while trying to convert the rebound off his own head.
Havertz calmly sent Gunn the wrong way and drained any remaining optimism from Scotland’s once boisterous and sizeable contingent of itinerant supporters.
Scotland tried to limit the damage in the second half but were unable to stop Fuellkrug’s shot into the top corner just minutes after coming on for Havertz.
Fuellkrug put the ball in the net for a second time, but fortunately for Scotland they were spared further misery when he was ruled offside.
The only bright spot for Scotland came three minutes from time when Ruediger inadvertently deflected Scott McKenna’s header past goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
But there was more punishment to come as substitute Can bowed from 20 meters just at the death to cap a glorious night for the Germans.
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