Classy Germany Humbles Scotland in Euro 2024 Opener

In Brief

• Steve Clarke's "respect everyone, fear no one" approach was tested against Germany.
• Florian Wirtz scored in the 10th minute, followed by Jamal Musiala's powerful shot in the 19th minute.
• Ryan Porteous was sent off in the 44th minute, leading to Kai Havertz scoring from the penalty spot.
• Niclas Fullkrug and Emre Can added to Germany's tally, with Antonio Rudiger's own goal providing Scotland's only score.
• Germany's 5-1 victory marked the biggest win in an opening match at the Euros.

IN DETAIL

Munich, Germany- Scotland faced a tough start to their Euro 2024 campaign with a 5-1 defeat against a dominant Germany in Munich. The match saw Scotland's Ryan Porteous sent off, further compounding their woes.

Scotland's head coach, Steve Clarke, had emphasized a fearless approach with the mantra "respect everyone, fear no one." However, the team looked stunned as Angus Gunn failed to save Florian Wirtz's effort in the 10th minute at the Allianz Arena. Germany doubled their lead in the 19th minute when Jamal Musiala rifled a powerful shot into the roof of the net.

The situation worsened for Scotland when Ryan Porteous was shown a straight red card in the 44th minute after a VAR check confirmed his crunching challenge on Ilkay Gundogan. Kai Havertz converted the resulting penalty, making it 3-0 just before halftime.

Germany, who last won the European Championship in 1996, continued to dominate in the second half. Niclas Fullkrug smashed a wonderful drive into the top corner, adding to Scotland's woes. Despite their best efforts, Scotland struggled to contain the German attack.

Antonio Rudiger's own goal provided a brief moment of celebration for the Scottish fans, who had traveled in large numbers believing in an upset. However, Emre Can sealed Germany's victory with a goal in the last kick of the game, making it 5-1 and earning Germany the biggest win in an opening match at the Euros.

The Tartan Army's optimism was evident in their turnout at the stadium, but early warnings, such as Rudiger's through ball to Wirtz that was saved by Gunn, highlighted the challenges they faced. Despite the heavy defeat, Scotland will look to regroup and aim to progress past the group stage in the remaining matches.