Tournament hosts Germany battered Scotland 5-1 in the opening game of EURO 2024 as a brilliant attacking display bamboozled the 10 player Scots.
The victory was the biggest-ever in the opening game of a European Championship tournament. Talk about setting the tone.
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Florian Wirtz scored early, then Jamal Musiala soon added a second as Steve Clarke’s Scotland couldn’t handle the movement of Germany’s fluid and youthful forward line, while the experience of Ilkay Gundogan and Toni Kroos proved pivotal in midfield.
After a brief check of the pitch-side monitor by referee Clement Turpin, Ryan Porteous was sent off and a penalty kick was awarded to Germany right on half time to compound Scotland’s misery as Arsenal’s Kai Havertz slotted home the spot kick to make it 3-0.
Germany threatened to add further gloss to the scoreline in the second half as Wirtz, Gundogan and Antonio Rudiger all went close before substitute Niclas Fullkrug came off the bench and smashed home a beauty to make it 4-0 and then had another disallowed. Scotland did pull one back late on to give their fans something to cheer about as Antonio Rudiger deflected Scott McKenna’s header into his own goal. But Germany substitute Emre Can ensured the sensational hosts had the last say as he curled home a beauty in the 93rd minute.
The 5-1 victory puts Germany in firm command of Group A, while Scotland have some serious work to do after a damaging night for their confidence as they froze on the big stage.
Fluid German attack, led by Musiala, has rivals concerned
When things click for Jamal Musiala he’s unstoppable. Scotland found that out the hard way on Friday. The Bayern Munich star scored a stunner, dragged Scotland’s defense all over the place and kept popping up in extremely dangerous positions with his driving runs. He has no fear and received a standing ovation as he came off the pitch. Musiala, still just 21, had a good World Cup in Qatar in 2022 as a teenager but he now looks ready to lead this German attack. With Wirtz, Havertz and Gudongan gliding around alongside him, Musiala and Co. are fluid and wonderful to watch in full-flow and a nightmare to defend against. Musiala’s drive, creativity and fearlessness sum up Germany’s ruthless display. Oh yeah, they also had Sane, Muller and Fullkrug to bring off the bench too. Scary.
Germany vs Scotland player ratings
Via our friends at FotMob.com you can see Havertz, Wirtz, Musiala and Gundogan were excellent, while Kroos was also superb dictating play in midfield.
What’s next?
Germany face Hungary on Wednesday, June 19 in Stuttgart. On the same day Scotland play a crucial game against Switzerland in Cologne.
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How to watch Germany vs Scotland, stream link and start time
Kick off: 3pm ET, Friday (June 14)
Stadium: Allianz Arena, Munich
How to watch on TV in USA: Fox Sports
Germany vs Scotland live updates! - By Joe Prince-Wright
Germany vs Scotland score: 5-1
Wirtz 10', Musiala 19', Havertz 46', Fullkrug 68', Can 93'; Rudiger OG 87'
Full time: Germany 5-1 Scotland
Biggest win in the opening match of a European Championship game in history. It doesn’t get much better than that for the hosts and Germany were superb. Scotland simply froze.
Emre Can curls home - Germany 5-1 Scotland (93rd minute)
Can curls home after a fluid German move and they have the last say.
Scotland have a goal and their fans are going wild! - Germany 4-1 Scotland (87th minute)
A free kick is flicked on to the back post and Scott McKenna’s header hits Antonio Rudiger and flies into his own net. The Scotland fans are celebrating that goal like they’ve won the trophy. Magnificent scenes.
Fullkrug is offside as he thinks he made it 5-0
Fullkrug was just offside as the cross came in and he bundled the ball home. Goal is ruled out.
Musiala comes off to a standing ovation
Jamal Musiala, take a bow. A stunning individual display. Talk about setting the tone for a tournament. My word. Brilliant balance, skill, drive, passing and movement. Musiala has been unstoppable and gets a deserved standing ovation.
What a hit from the sub Fullkrug - Germany 4-0 Scotland (68th minute)
He’s only been on the pitch for a few minutes but what a smashing strike that is from Fullkrug. Musiala again weaves his magic and the ball drops to Fullkrug. He smashes home a stunner in to the top corner. He has now scored 12 goals in 17 games for Germany.
Niclas Füllkrug with an absolute SCREAMER for Germany 💥⚽️
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 14, 2024
Germany makes it 4-0 🇩🇪 pic.twitter.com/Edow5UbjvK
The start of the second half has been much like the first
Rudiger has had a shot pushed wide by Gunn, Wirtz fires over, Gundogan has a shot blocked and Scotland are doing their best to hang on and keep some respectability about the scoreline. Hanley came on for Adams as Scotland sacrificed their only forward at half time to add an extra defender. Brighton’s Pascal Gross is on for the booked Andrich in midfield for Germany. Musiala is pulling all of the strings for Germany and has been majestic.
Half time: Germany 3-0 Scotland
Germany cruising at half time and in total control. Scotland are down to 10 and have been caught cold. Steve Clarke’s side in damage limitation mode against a German side who are full of confidence and their attack is purring. Perfect start to the tournament for Germany. Nightmare start for Scotland.
Gundogan’s header is saved by Gunn, then Porteous catches him with a high tackle and is sent off and gives away a penalty kick. Havertz slots it home - Germany 3-0 Scotland (46th minute)
Nightmare stuff for Scotland just before half time. Ryan Porteous lunges in with a tackle to try and block Gundogan’s shot from close range but he catches the German captain badly on the ankle. VAR asks referee Clement Turpin to go to the screen and he sees it once before sending off Porteous and giving a penalty to Germany.
Scotland have settled down a little but Germany are in total control
The Tartan Army have not had much to cheer about. Che Adams is so isolated up top and Scotland keep giving the ball straight back to Germany any time that get it. The hosts are in total control.
Penalty awarded to Germany...but VAR overturns it
A penalty is awarded to Germany for a foul on the brilliant Musiala. VAR has a look at the initial contact from Christie was just outside the box. No penalty kick but a dangerous free kick instead, but Kai Havertz’s shot is easily saved by Gunn.
Musiala smashes home after a fine more - Germany 2-0 Scotland (19th minute)
What a stunning goal that is from Germany. The turn and pass from Ilkay Gundogan is majestic and he finds Kai Havertz. He is in but cuts back and he has the composure to find Jamal Musiala. And Musiala shows his incredible ability to shift the ball onto his right foot and smash home. Wow. The hosts have been ruthless. Scotland all over the place and can’t stop Germany scything through the middle of their midfield.
There was no stopping this strike from Musiala 💥⚽️ pic.twitter.com/e5sICWqttr
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 14, 2024
Wirtz sweeps home after a fine Germany switch - Germany 1-0 Scotland (10th minute)
Germany score with their first attack of the game as Kroos switches the ball and Kimmich picks out Wirtz. His low shot is on target and Angus Gunn got a hand to it but the ball hit the post and went in. Could Gunn have kept that out? Perhaps. Wirtz’ fine season continues and Germany are off to the perfect start. The Bayer Leverkusen forward, 21, is now the youngest-ever German to score at a European Championship.
THE FIRST GOAL OF EURO 2024 BELONGS TO GERMANY 🇩🇪
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 14, 2024
Florian Wirtz puts Germany out in front in his Euro debut 👏 pic.twitter.com/RghbuIqznX
Scotland have started well
No real chances for either team yet but Scotland are rattling into challenges and do not look fazed by the occasion. Germany have yet to get going but Musiala, Havertz and Wirtz are probing and Gundogan and Kroos are starting to spray passes around.
We are underway after two rousing national anthems
The tournament has officially kicked off and that was just beautiful. Scotland’s fans and players belted out a superb, emotional rendition of Flower of Scotland, while Germany’s national anthem boomed across the wonderful stadium in Munich. We are off and running!
Munich is bouncing and the Tartan Army are in fine voice!
What a night this is for both countries. Germany as hosts are hoping to get off to the perfect start with their superstar players coming together under Julian Nagelsmann in recent months. While Scotland are at their second-straight European Championships but they can fully feel the force of their tremendous fans in this tournament after supporters were only allowed in small numbers at their games in the summer of 2021 due to COVID-19.
Germany lineup
Neuer; Kimmich, Rudiger, Tah, Mittelstaedt; Andrich, Kroos; Musiala, Gundogan, Wirtz; Havertz
Scotland lineup
Gunn; Hendry, Porteous, Tierney; Ralston, McGregor, McTominay, Robertson; McGinn, Christie; Adams
Germany team news, focus
Nagelsmann has found a lovely mix of youth and experience in his lineup with Gundogan, Kroos and Pascal Gross the creative and experienced hub of this team. Kai Havertz, Musiala, Sane, Wirtz and Niclas Fullkrug provide the main attacking threats and Germany seem to have timed their rise to perfection as they’ve taken their time to gel under Nagelsmann. Defensively there are a few concerns but with the home fans behind them, many are tipping Germany to make a deep run, once again.
Scotland team news, focus
Losing Lyndon Dykes, Nathan Patterson, Lewis Ferguson and Aaron Hickey to injury has been a big blow for Clarke but Scotland have enough experience throughout their team to put in a solid, sturdy display against Germany. Captain Andy Robertson has won it all, John McGinn is a leader in midfield, with Callum McGregor and Billy Gilmour busy alongside him and Kieran Tierney dependable in defense. Where will the goals come from? That has been the big issue for this side as Che Adams and Lawrence Shankland are tasked with providing the threat up top. If Manchester United’s Scott McTominay can shake off his injuries then he will be a pivotal player in the final third too, and if Scotland can hang in this game they will be dangerous from set pieces and on the counter.
Germany vs Scotland prediction
This will be a tighter game than most expect and Scotland will sit deep in a 5-4-1 formation, but Germany’s extra attacking nous will get them over the line. Just. Germany 2-1 Scotland.