Dominant Germany thrash Sorry Scotland in one-sided Euros opener

Saturday 15 June 2024

UEFA EUROS 2024

Germany Vs Scotland

Allianz Arena, Werner-Heisenberg-Allee 25, 80939 München, Germany

Dominant Germany thrash 10-men Scotland in one-sided Euros opener

Hosts Germany opened their Euros account with a thrashing win over Steve Clarke's 10-men Scotland, as Jamal Musiala & Florian Wirtz starred for the home side.

MATCH PREVIEW:

FOOTBALL IS BACK TO ENTERTAIN EVERYONE!! After the 2023/24 club season (PL, UCL, and top-flight compeitions), it is the EUROS 2024, hosted by Germany, which will be the entertainment for the next one month. As the first game sees, the host nation, 3-time winners of the Euros, Julian Nagelsmann's Germany, face off Steve Clarke's Scotland in Munich. Germany haven't had the best couple of years in international tournaments. With 2 disappointing World Cup exits, and a round-of-16 finish at the 2020 Euros, are the hosts able to go all the way? A lot has been going on with the squad selections and so many more. The bright side is that a lot of youngsters are getting the nod to start in games, the youthful generation in Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz & Kai Havertz, alongside the experienced veterans in Thomas Müller, Manuel Neuer & the returning UCL-winner, Toni Kroos, who is expected to retire following the end of the Euros. New faces are also introduced into the team, like Brighton midfielder Pascal Groß, Stuttgart quartet of Maximilian Mittelstädt, Deniz Undav, Chris Führich & Waldemar Anton whose team finished second behind invincible Leverkusen in the German top-flight,  Leverkusen duo of Robert Andrich & Jonathan Tah who won the Bundesliga this year invincible, Hoffenheim duo in Oliver Baumann & rising star Maximilian Beier & Eintracht Frankfurt's Robin Koch, who had a good season in getting his team to the Europa League group stage of 2024/25. As for Scotland, they have had a comfortable road to qualification for the Euro finals. Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay was the heart of the success as he scored 7 goals which sealed Scotland's ticket to the group stages in 2023. Injuries and late call-ups have been a part of Scotland's journey to the EUROS group stage, can they conjure up a surprise to the hosts? 

TEAM NEWS & FORM GUIDE:

Form Guide: LWWDW

Julian Nagelsmann`s first XI for the Euros consist of the same XI that edged out Greece at Mönchengladbach, with Toni Kroos starting in a major tournament for the first time in 6 years, Manuel Neuer starts in goal, with the legendary Thomas Müller on the bench. Wirtz and Musiala both start on the wings, for their first starts in this tournament.

Starting XI: Neuer, Kimmich, Rüdiger, Tah, Mittelstädt, Andrich, Kroos, Wirtz, Gündogan (C), Musiala, Havertz.

Substitutes: Baumann, Ter-Stegen, Raum, Groß, Füllkrug, Fürich, Müller, Beier, Schlotterbeck, Anton, Sané, Henrichs, Koch, Can, Undav

Form Guide: DLLWD

Steve Clarke`s Scots make 3 changes from their 2-2 draw with Finland. Che Adams, Scott McTominay & Ryan Porteus start in place of Lawrence Shankland, Grant Harley & Billy Gilmour.

Starting XI: Gunn, Porteus, Hendry, Tierney, Ralston, McTominay, McGregor, Robertson (C), McGinn, Christie, Adams

Substitutes: Kelly, Clarke, Hanley, Shankland, Gilmour, Cooper, Stuart Armstrong, Morgan, Conway, Jack, McCrorie, McLean, Taylor, Forrest, McKenna

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Kai Havertz: The 25-year-old has had a sensational second half of the season with Arsenal in the Premier League, bagging goals for fun, despite missing out on the title, he has been in great form for both club and country, can he score tonight?

Niclas Füllkrug: The UCL finalist, was also having a wonderful season with Borussia Dortmund, since joining from Werder Bremen, he has been on fire, can he mark his Euros intro with a goal?

John McGinn: The Villa captain has had a phenomenal season with Aston Villa, achieving UCL football for his club, for his nation, can he spring a shock today by scoring for the Scots?

KICK-OFF: FIRST HALF

Kai Havertz starts us, as EURO 2024 is underway here, at the Allianz Arena, Munich. It is going to be an entertaining show here on display, shown by both sets of fans and players. Already, you can see Germany attacking the Scottish defence as Wirtz is the main threat that they have to watch out for. Passing and movement from the Germans, as they continued to press the Scottish defence with the hosts in command with possession. On the 10th minute mark, the first goal of the Euros 2024, courtesy of Germany. Once again, Kimmich causing problems for Robertson on that right hand side for Germany, keeps the ball with him, gets into the middle, AND IT`S WIRTZ WITH THE SHOT!! AND FLORIAN WIRTZ HAS SCORED FOR GERMANY!!! THE DREAM START FOR THE HOME SIDE, THE 21-YEAR-OLD IS HAVING THE SEASON OF HIS LIFE SO FAR!! BUNDESLIGA WINNER & NOW SCORES AT THE EUROS!! IT IS GERMANY 1 - SCOTLAND 0.

Wirtz scores Germany`s opener against Scotland inside 10 minutes

Now, what are Scotland going to answer with? It`s a tough ask, but they can find a way through the German defence? It doesn't look likely, to be very fair. The hosts are pressing the Scots with the visitors, having absolutely no way out. They eventually conceded again on 20 minutes. Germany are giving Scotland absolutely no room to breathe whatsoever. Here they come with Gündogan, the skipper leading the run, nice pass onto Havertz, Musiala is arriving. HAVERTZ, LOVELY LAY-OFF, JAMAL MUSIALAAAA!!! ABSOLUTELY MAGNIFICENT FROM JULIAN NAGELSMANN'S SIDE!! IT'S THE OTHER FUTURE STAR, WHO PUTS GERMANY TWO GOALS IN FRONT!! HE HAS BEEN CAUSING PROBLEMS TO THAT SCOTTISH DEFENCE, HAS THE 21-YEAR-OLD MUSIALA!! RIFLES THE BALL INTO THE BACK OF THE NET, WITH NO CHANCE FOR ANGUS GUNN. 

Musiala scores his first goal at the EUROS to put Germany 2-0 up on 20 minutes. 

Scotland are now pushing forward, with Robertson and Che Adams trying to create a chance for the Southampton striker to score, but Germany clear comfortably. They did however escape a VAR scare, with the referee's original decision of penalty overturned to give Germany a free kick. Nothing is working out right for Steve Clarke's side, as they try to cause problems to Germany, but the hosts are standing tall to every cross being delivered, and at the other end, it goes from bad to worse for Scotland on 41 minutes. Kimmich with a lovely cross into the box, he finds Gündogan, and that's a great save from Angus Gunn, great reactions from the Norwich City goalkeeper, and the ball is cleared away. Now, hang on a minute!! Ilkay Gündogan, the skipper is down in the area, clutching his leg after a challenge from Watford defender, Ryan Porteus, with his studs making contact with the skipper's leg. What is the referee going to do about it? WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE SECOND VAR CHECK TONIGHT, for a penalty, and possibly, a red card offence. In the replay, the defender did catch Gündogan with his studs up, and now, what is the referee going to say about it? He overturns his original decision and says, PENALTY TO GERMANY!! AND IT IS A RED CARD FOR RYAN PORTEUS AS WELL! SCOTLAND ARE NOW DOWN TO 10 MEN AFTER THIS CHECK. AND IT'S A CHANCE FOR KAI HAVERTZ TO MAKE IT 3-0 FROM THE SPOT. It's not your usual, Ilkay Gündogan taking penalties, as he is getting treatment for his injury. UP COMES KAI HAVERTZ, AND HE DOES NOT MISS FROM THE SPOT!! HIS TERRIFIC FORM CONTINUES THIS SEASON, AS GERMANY MAKE IT 3-0, RIGHT ON THE STROKE OF HALF TIME! 

Havertz makes it 3-0 to Germany with his penalty being converted on the stroke of half-time.

Absolutely clinical display from the hosts, they hardly put a foot wrong, in getting themselves off the mark with the 3 points already secured. HALF-TIME HERE IN MUNICH! It has been a one-sided first half from Germany, as they bossed the ball, controlled the game well in all departments, which was the ideal way for Julian Naglesmann to start his EUROS 2024 journey. As for Scotland, it's a long road ahead of them, as they have been given a reality check. Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala & Kai Havertz all scoring to give Germany a 3-0 advantage going into half-time.

KICK-OFF: SECOND HALF

It's now up to Steve Clarke and his side to overturn a huge deficit, as Scotland kick-off the second half. Grant Harley is brought on to replace Che Adams, with Porteus sent off in the first half, to add more defence, Whilst Pascal Groß, before his 33rd birthday, replaces the booked Robert Andrich, as Die Mannschaft try to add more goals to worsen Scotland's night. Not much has happened, with Kimmich and Rüdiger having attempts blocked by the Norwich City center-half. A couple of half-chances for Wirtz, but he couldn't capitalise on them, as Germany continued to attack the Scottish defence. Substitutes continued to limber around the bench warming up and coming on. Niclas Füllkrug gets his first taste of the EUROS as he replaces Kai Havertz, as does Leroy Sané replacing the impressive Florian Wirtz, with 25 minutes to play. And Scotland also do the same with their subs, bringing on Billy Gilmour & Kenny McLean for John McGinn & Callum McGregor. And straight after the substitutes, Germany added a 4th. This is lovely stuff from Jamal Musiala, causing problems for the Scottish defence, cuts inside, and finds the skipper Gündogan, whose touch is great, SETS UP THE CHANCE!! AND NICLAS FÜLLKRUG SCORES FOR GERMANY!! WHAT A STRIKE THAT IS! IT'S ONLY BEEN 5 MINUTES SINCE HE'S BEEN ON THE PITCH AND HE SCORES AT THE EUROS!! HE'S BEEN IN GREAT FORM RECENTLY AND HE CONTINUES IT! IT'S GERMANY 4 - SCOTLAND 0!! ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT FROM GERMANY! RIFLES THAT INTO THE TOP CORNER, WITH NO CHANCE FOR THE KEEPER!

Niclas Füllkrug scored Germany's 4th on 68 minutes.

The contest was of course finished up in the first half, with the Germans in cruise control. The 3rd change for Germany sees, one Bayern player replace another. Müller replaces the terrific Jamal Musiala for the final 15 minutes. Just when things got worse, Scotland were very lucky that Füllkrug was offside as Germany thought they had 5, only for VAR to wipe off the goal. But the Scots got a consolation goal from the set piece. Scotland free kick, inside the Germany penalty area. Swung in by Robertson, flicked across, and it's in!! SCOTLAND DO HAVE A GOAL TO CELEBRATE. Might have taken a massive deflection off Antonio Rüdiger, and it did! Scott McKenna guided his header with help from the Real Madrid CB, beyond Manuel Neuer.

Antonio Rüdiger flicked in Scott McKenna's header beyond Manuel Neuer

That will probably be the only goal they'll score as Germany sealed the 5th in stoppage time. The ball is back close to the Scotland penalty area, as it's Maximilian Mittelstädt with it. What can the former Hertha Berlin full-back produce? He finds Müller, flicks it out, AND EMRE CAN SCORES!!! AND WHAT A MOMENT FOR HIM!! GOT CALLED UP DUE TO YOUNGSTER PAVLOVIC'S ILLNESS AND HE FULLY DESERVES IT! DRILLS A LOW SHOT BEYOND GUNN, AND THAT SHOULD BE THAT! GERMANY 5 - SCOTLAND 1!!

Emre Can scored Germany's 5th and his first goal of the competition.

AND THAT IS THAT!! FULL-TIME IN MUNICH. GERMANY OPEN EURO 2024 WITH A MASSIVE WIN OVER SCOTLAND BY 5-1!

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Jamal Musiala

Jamal Musiala's contribution led to Germany's big win!