Germany defeated Scotland 5-1 in the opening Euro 2024 match at the Allianz Arena thanks to goals from Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz, Niclas Fullkrug, and Emre Can.
In the opening match of Euro 2024, Germany beat Scotland 5-1, dampening the excitement of the visiting spectators.
In the early going, the Scotland team showed little fear and pushed forward without hesitation. But after ten minutes, Germany punished their opponents by using their width, as the ball found Florian Wirtz on the edge of the box to open the score.
The hosts of the competition would keep looking for openings between Scotland’s defense and midfield. After stealing the ball on the half turn, Ilkay Gundogan found Kai Havertz, who decided to pass the ball to Jamal Musiala so he could score.
As the half went on, things did not get any better. After VAR had earlier prevented a penalty, it now intervened to award another and send Ryan Porteous out. Prior to halftime, Havertz made it 3-0 by taking advantage of the penalty.
The way the second half would play out was indicated by the fact that Grant Hanley took Che Adams’ position. Scotland had bodies behind the ball, but they were unable to stop the powerful strike from Borussia Dortmund’s Niclas Fullkrug.
When the game was getting closer, Scott McKenna was able to return across the box thanks to some shoddy German set-piece defense. When the ball struck Antonio Rudiger’s head and caused some ‘No Scotland, no party’ chants, he could hardly believe it.
Germany made a valiant effort to secure one, and Emre Can added a fifth. Mirror Football examines various discussion starters that could come up throughout the game.
Germany humiliate Scotland Supporters presents
A tournament’s opening game frequently serves as the home country’s coming-out party. A location that can establish the tone for the next four weeks or so, during which their team can record their achievement in the tournament, and fans and ceremonies, can create a mood that reaches the entire nation.
We were all welcomed to Munich, Scotland, on Friday. Without question, the visiting team dominated the city and beyond and was among the tournament’s early stars.
German goalkeepers were booed as they came to warm up. The Tartan Army consistently saw who was to emerge from the tunnel first and delivered their vociferous verdict.
Unfortunately, there was not much to cheer on the night, but the nation’s supporters have set their stall for the tournament.
Toni Kroos retirement run
The one significant title that Kroos lacks is the European Championship, and Germany appeared to be determined to win it in their first match. The Real Madrid midfielder will officially retire from football after the tournament, having come out of international retirement.
To succeed In order to win the trophy for the first time since France in 1984, Die Mannschaft must succeed. They got off to a good start, for sure.
The German metronome demonstrated why he is expected to be an important player in the middle of the pitch once more by making all 55 of his passes in the first half of the game.
Do Scotland have a goal difference issue?
Scotland will have arrived in Germany with aspirations of reaching the knockout stages. Two teams from each group will get the last 16, and the four third-place teams will have the best points tally.
Steve Clarke’s side may need to find results that are good enough to compete with rivals from other groups and satisfy their hopes if they can reach that far.
A defeat against Germany would change little, and performances against Switzerland and Hungary would always be more telling. For their finishing position in the group, any level points will first be judged by head-to-head scoreline as opposed to goal difference.
A tighter defence and clinical finishing may be required for Scotland to see success if they do finish third in the group however. Goal difference could prove pivotal there.
Young German talent
Florian Wirtz might have ensured a clamor for his signature without the necessity for this competition. Even as a teenager, the German attacker was dominating the Bundesliga, but in 2022, an ACCL injury slowed him down.
After winning a title with Bayer Leverkusen, attention is already being drawn back to his abilities. In the coming weeks, observers will find it difficult to ignore him as he smashed Kai Havertz’s record to become Germany’s youngest goalscorer at the European Championships.
The team then made history in the Euros by having two players, both under 21, score in the same game thanks to Jamal Musiala. Throughout the match, the Bayern Munich player showed remarkable poise and deft technique to let Germany’s opponents know exactly who they were up against.
VAR improvement
Scotland was spared one penalty by VAR before another was later awarded. Both decisions were correct, which in some cases does feel like an improvement, but it was their communication that will stand out to many.
Those in the stadium were informed of VAR’s decision-making on a large screen. As Germany was denied a penalty, it read: “Penalty canceled. The foul was committed by Scotland’s player No 11 outside the penalty area.”
Automated offside decisions looked clean and efficient, too, as Fullkrug was denied a second goal after coming off the bench.
