Germany Dominates Scotland in Historic Euro 2024 Opener
In a stunning display of football prowess, hosts Germany thrashed ten-man Scotland 5-1 on Friday, marking the biggest opening game margin of victory in European Championship history. The Germans asserted their dominance early, netting three goals in the first half to set the tone for the tournament.
Florian Wirtz opened the scoring in the 10th minute, becoming the youngest scorer for Germany at a European Championship at just 21 years old. Nine minutes later, Jamal Musiala doubled the lead, finishing off a well-crafted move facilitated by Kai Havertz. The situation worsened for Scotland when defender Ryan Porteous was sent off just before halftime for a studs-up challenge on German captain Ilkay Gündogan. Havertz converted the ensuing penalty, giving Germany a commanding 3-0 lead at the break.
Despite being a man down, Scotland sought to regroup in the second half but struggled against a relentless German side. Substitute Niclas Füllkrug added a fourth goal in the 69th minute with a fierce strike. Scotland managed a consolation goal in the 87th minute when Antonio Rüdiger inadvertently headed the ball into his own net. However, Emre Can sealed the emphatic victory with a curling shot in stoppage time.
“We played with a lot of intensity and occupied the right spaces,” said Gündogan after the match. “We took some risks, and that’s why we scored. The start is what we wanted, but the goal we let in shows that all teams have quality. If you don’t pay attention, you will be punished.”
Scotland captain Andy Robertson reflected on the defeat, stating, “First half, we just got it all wrong really. We didn’t show up, weren’t aggressive enough, and we let good players get on the ball. Second half, we’re down to ten men, and I thought the lads dug in really well. We have to bounce back quickly because there was a lot wrong here, and it’s a quick turnaround now.”
Germany, aiming for a record fourth European title and their first major trophy in a decade, showcased a formidable start under head coach Julian Nagelsmann. They will next face Hungary on Wednesday before concluding the group stage against Switzerland.
For Scotland, making their second consecutive European Championship appearance, the road ahead requires swift adjustments. They will face Switzerland on Wednesday, needing a strong performance to keep their hopes of progressing beyond the group stage alive.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
