Germany crushed a 10-man Scotland 5-1 on Friday, marking a historic start to their Euro 2024 campaign with the largest margin of victory in an opening game. According to Reuters, Germany netted three goals in the first half, showcasing their intent to claim a record fourth European title and their first major trophy in over a decade.
Goals from Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala, and a Kai Havertz penalty set the tone early, while Niclas Fuellkrug and Emre Can added two more in the latter stages. Scotland’s only goal came from a deflected own goal by Antonio Ruediger in the 87th minute, following the sending off of defender Ryan Porteous just before halftime.
Germany, under the guidance of Julian Nagelsmann, will face Hungary on Wednesday, followed by Switzerland in their final Group A match. Captain Ilkay Guendogan expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, stating, “We played with a lot of intensity, took some risks, and that’s why we scored. The start is what we wanted.”
Scotland, who saw Porteous dismissed for a studs-up challenge on Guendogan that resulted in a penalty, need to regroup quickly to progress past the group stage for the first time in a major tournament. Captain Andy Robertson acknowledged their shortcomings, saying, “First half, we just got it all wrong. We have to bounce back quickly.”
Germany dominated possession from the outset, exploiting Scotland’s high defensive line. An early Toni Kroos cross led to Joshua Kimmich assisting Wirtz for the opening goal in the 10th minute, making Wirtz the youngest scorer for Germany at a Euros at age 21. Musiala doubled the lead nine minutes later, followed by Havertz converting a penalty after Porteous’s foul.
The second half saw Germany continue their dominance, with substitute Fuellkrug adding a fourth goal in the 69th minute. Despite a late own goal by Ruediger, Emre Can capped off the win with a stoppage-time strike. Scotland, without a single effort on or off target, must now prepare to face Switzerland on Wednesday.
The Germans, who had disappointing starts in their recent World Cup and Euro campaigns, left no room for doubt in Munich. Their attacking prowess and tactical superiority were evident, much to the delight of the hundreds of thousands of supporters celebrating across fan zones. Scotland’s ambitious high defensive strategy backfired, leaving them vulnerable and outplayed.
Germany’s comprehensive victory sets a strong precedent for their Euro 2024 ambitions, while Scotland faces a crucial challenge to recover and advance in the tournament.
