With all eyes falling on Munich on Friday night, Germany opened this summer’s European Championships with a thumping 5-1 victory against a sorry Scotland.
The tone was set in an electric Allianz Arena after just 10 minutes as Bayern Leverkusen ace Florian Wirtz waltzed on to the ball to steer in the opener.
Jamal Musiala’s ferocious strike almost punctured Angus Gunn’s net, as well as the hearts of the mass of stunned Scots behind the goal, just nine minutes later.
With the flood gates firmly open from the start, Kai Havertz slammed in the third from the penalty spot with Ryan Porteous’ red card leaving Scotland with the tallest of mountains to climb.
With a huge gulf in class from the opening whistle, Julian Nagelsmann’s men didn’t take their foot of the accelerator after returning from the half-time break as second-half substitutes Niclas Fullkrug and Emre Can also pounced on Scotland’s defensive horror show.
While the Tartan Army might have left Munich with the most minor of consolation goals as ex-Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger unfortunately turned into his own net, Scotland face serious questions following on from one of the most disappointing nights in their major tournament history.
On a night when Germany officially opened EURO 24 with a rampant performance on home soil, we have taken a look at the main talking points.
Germany pass their opening test with flying colours
Enduring another World Cup nightmare out in Qatar 18 months ago as they failed to progress out of the group stage, Germany have a huge amount of pressure on their shoulders this summer.
Automatically booking their spot at EURO 24 as the host nation, there has been plenty of scrutiny over the past 12 months over just how far the European giants have progressed under the guidance of Nagelsmann.
Making a pair of pre-tournament statements during March’s international break as they secured respective victories against Holland and France, the former RB Leipzig boss had stated that he believes his blossoming squad are sat well placed to mount a late charge this summer.
While this summer’s host nation might have rather drastically struggled to find any kind of stability on either side of their infamous World Cup exit in the winter of 2022, they are now unbeaten in all of their previous five appearances across all competitions – their longest run without tasting defeat over the past two years.
Making what was a major statement at the Allianz and cashing in on a Scotland side that endured a public collapse under the brightest of lights in Munich, Germany will know that Friday’s romp would have been acknowledged by the likes of pre-tournament favourites England and France.
A nightmare for Scotland under the grandest of stages
Gaining plenty of plaudits following on from their EURO 24 qualifying romp last year, Scotland arrived in Germany this summer making it abundantly clear that they had their sights set on booking a maiden knockout stage ticket.
However, while the Tartan Army and their emotionally-charged support might have been relishing Friday’s opener in Munich, Steve Clarke’s men put in an infamous performance at the Allianz as they suffered what will be remembered as one of their worst moments on the major tournament stage.
Completely blown away under the bright lights and wilting in the face of the four-time world champions, the Scots will be more than aware that they face a tremendous backlash over the coming days.
While Clarke’s side might have had an air of jubilation in their camp heading into Friday’s curtain drawer, Scotland were under the impression that this was their party, but they quickly realised they were nothing more than a sacrificial lamb.
3-0 down heading into the half-time break, failing to muster a single shot on target and eventually finishing their Group A nightmare with 10-men, Scotland will certainly have to dust themselves down quickly ahead of what is a must-win showdown against Switzerland on Wednesday night.
Musiala & Wirtz spearhead Germany’s new wave
While the likes of Thomas Muller and the returning Toni Kroos might have been been the poster boys behind Germany’s campaigns on the major tournament stage over the past 15 years, the Nationaelef have a new wave of budding superstars that are spearheading their new era.
With both Wirtz and Musiala putting Scotland to the sword in the opening 20 minutes, Nagelsmann has a string of budding European starlets that are looking to write their own chapter of European history this summer.
Watching Musiala produce another scintillating performance and the chief architect of Scotland’s pain on Friday night, there are some England fans that would have been watching on and wondering what could have been.
Representing England’s youth ranks on 19 separate occasions from U15s level right through to a pair of U21 appearances, there is a parallel universe where Bayern Munich’s playmaking talisman could have been lining up alongside the duo of Phil Foden and Ballon d’Or contender Jude Bellingham this summer.
Likewise, with Wirtz playing a leading role as Bayer Leverkusen got their hands on a maiden Bundesliga crown this year, the 20-year-old was appointed Germany’s Player of the Season and has been touted as the next crop of £100million talent.
Match Report
Germany: Neuer, Mittelstadt, Tah, Rudiger, Kimmich, Kross, Andrich, Wirtz, Gundogan, Musiala, Havertz,
Subs: Can, Gross, Sane, Muller, Fullkrug
Scotland: Gunn, Tierney, Hendry, Porteous, Robertson, Ralston, Christie, McGregor, McTominay, McGinn, Adams
Subs: Hanley, McClean, Shankland, Gilmour, McKenna,
Goals: Germany: Wirtz (10’), Musiala (19’), Havertz (45+1’), Fullkrug (68’), Can (90’) – Scotland: Rudiger OG (87’)
Yellow Cards: Germany: Tah, Andrich – Scotland: Ralston
Red Cards: Porteous (45’)
Referee: Clement Turpin
