Germany thrash 10-man Scotland in Euro 2024 opener

Germany thrashed 10-man Scotland 5-1 as the Euro 2024 hosts kicked off the tournament in style in Munich on Friday night.

Florian Wirtz struck the opening goal 10 minutes in and Jamal Musiala soon doubled Germany’s lead with an emphatic finish.

A long-awaited night for Scotland went from bad to worse before half-time when Ryan Porteous was sent off for a two-footed challenge on Ilkay Gundogan, with Kai Havertz tucking away the resulting penalty.

Niclas Fuellkrug powered in a fourth midway through the second half after coming on as a substitute and not even a late own goal from Antonio Ruediger could spoil an otherwise perfect start to the campaign for Germany.

There was even time for Emre Can to add a fifth goal with the final kick of the game.

“We couldn’t have had a better start. We’ve seen the atmosphere in the country, and we need that,” Musiala said of Germany’s lightning start.

Scotland could surely not have envisioned such a disastrous beginning, but they must regroup quickly with games to come in Group A against Switzerland and Hungary.

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“Today was hugely disappointing but you’re playing against the host nation and it’s the first game. Things don’t get much tougher than that,” Scotland captain Andy Robertson said.

After three successive failures at major tournaments, including back-to-back group stage exits at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, this was a statement of intent from an experienced Germany side.

It is Germany’s first men’s major tournament as hosts since the 2006 World Cup, and they are looking to recreate the magic that helped rekindle the passion for the national team then.

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann had spoken of his players’ hunger to atone for the shortcomings of recent times, with the outlook improving and optimism gradually increasing since his appointment in September.

His counterpart Steve Clarke, on the other hand, urged Scotland to “fear no one” going into the country’s second straight Euros after more than two decades in the international wilderness.

Reigning European champions Italy, who failed to qualify for the last World Cup, get their title defence underway on Saturday against Albania in Dortmund.

Before that Spain take on Croatia in the opening Group B fixture in Berlin, but the day’s first match is between Hungary and Switzerland in Cologne.

The Star