Scotland succumbed to a relentless German onslaught, suffering a heavy defeat in their Euro 2024 opener in Munich. The Allianz Arena buzzed with energy from the outset, as Florian Wirtz capitalized on an opportunity to slot home the first goal just ten minutes in.
Jamal Musiala followed up with a thunderous shot that nearly tore through Angus Gunn’s goal and shattered the spirits of the Scottish fans behind the net, coming just nine minutes after Wirtz’s strike. The situation worsened for Scotland when Kai Havertz converted a penalty before halftime, following Ryan Porteous’ dismissal, making their uphill battle even steeper.
Germany’s Unyielding Performance
Substitute Niclas Fullkrug added a fourth for Germany, powerfully striking into the net, while Antonio Rudiger’s late deflected own goal provided a brief moment of celebration for the Scottish supporters. However, Emre Can quickly dampened their spirits with a goal in injury time, capping off Germany’s emphatic victory.
This resounding triumph set a record for the largest win in an opening game of a European Championship. Despite Scotland’s shortcomings, the dominant display by the hosts is likely to boost their confidence and ignite belief among the German supporters.
Since Julian Nagelsmann took charge of the national team in September, Germany had shown mixed results with a draw against Mexico and losses to Turkey and Austria. The initial skepticism was alleviated by subsequent wins over France and the Netherlands, which built momentum heading into this tournament.
Wirtz’s goal was the result of sustained pressure and territorial control, while Musiala and Fullkrug’s strikes showcased a team full of self-assurance. Musiala, in particular, was in exceptional form, and Toni Kroos orchestrated the play from midfield.
The statistics from this match were staggering, with Germany achieving a 94% passing accuracy, launching 43 attacks, attempting 19 shots, and completing 655 passes compared to Scotland’s 193. They also covered 9 kilometers more than their exhausted opponents. This performance will surely make other teams wary of the hosts this summer.
