Kai Havertz produced a goal and assist as Germany thrashed ten-men Scotland 5-1 in the opening match of UEFA Euro 2024.
Florian Wirtz fired the tournament hosts into a 10th minute lead before Jamal Musiala added their second goal nine minutes later from Havertz’s cutback pass.
Havertz added the third goal from the penalty spot after Scotland’s Ryan Porteous was red-carded for a 42nd minute foul on Ilkay Gundogan.
Substitute, Niclas Fullkrug sealed a dominant win with a 68th minute curled strike into the top-right corner.
Antonio Rudiger however gifted Scotland an 87th minute consolatory goal after he deflected Scott McKenna’s header into his own net.
Emre Can added Germany’s fifth goal in the 93rd minute after he curled in from Thomas Muller’s pass.
Germany will next face Hungary at 6pm CEST (5pm UK Time) on Wednesday 19 June, whilst Scotland take on Switzerland in the evening kick-off on that date at 9pm CEST (8pm UK Time).
Having rediscovered their best form this year following a rocky 2023, Germany savoured the electric home atmosphere which almost paid off after 55 seconds if not for Wirtz’s flicked shot going over the bar in a strong start.
Germany thereafter didn’t relent in a strong start which paid dividends in the 10th minute as Toni Kroos picked out Joshua Kimmich on the right, from which the right-back teed up Wirtz to turn in beyond Angus Gunn’s reach.
If Scotland thought that opening goal would see Germany let up in their attacking intensity, they were mistaken and punished nine minutes later as Ilkay Gundogan played through for Havertz, who cut back for Musiala to rifle in past a helpless Gunn to double the hosts’ lead.
Scotland’s nightmare start soon got worse in the 25th minute after referee – Clement Turpin deemed a foul on Musiala by Ryan Christie to be worth a penalty, only for Video Assistant Referee (VAR) to overturn his decision due to the foul having started just outside of the box.
Havertz stepped up and fired the subsequent free-kick low beyond the wall towards the bottom-left corner, yet Gunn was alert to make the crucial save.
Germany continued to keep Scotland under pressure until half-time and almost added a third goal in the 42nd minute, in which Gundogan nodded a header on goal but blocked and Gundogan tried to follow up but collided with Ryan Porteous.
Turpin initially ruled it a simple foul but VAR intervened and following a pitch-side review, Turpin awarded a penalty to Germany and red carded Porteous for a studs-up challenge on Gundogan.
Havertz stepped up in the first minute of first-half injury time and after a stutter, he slotted his penalty down the middle to give Germany a comfortable three-goal lead at the break.
Despite subbing Che Adams at half-time for Grant Hanley, Scotland couldn’t catch a break in the second half as Wirtz put two shots wide in the space of two minutes.
Germany eventually got their fourth goal in the 68th minute through a quick counter-attack which found Gundogan, who calmly flicked the ball behind for Fullkrug to pounce upon and curl into the top-right corner.
Fullkrug almost had his second goal after Gunn deflected his shot into the net but the goal was swiftly ruled offside.
Scotland however denied Germany a clean sheet after McKenna’s 87th minute header was deflected in by Rudiger.
Germany restored their four-goal lead come full-time after Emre Can curled into the far-bottom right corner in the 93rd minute, having picked up Muller’s pass.
Speaking post-match to ITV1, Scotland captain – Andrew Robertson put their loss down to poor tactics despite a spirited second-half effort.
“First half, we just got it all wrong really, didn’t show up, weren’t aggressive enough, and we let good players get on the ball,” commented Robertson.
“Second half, we’re down to 10 men and I thought lads dug in really well.
“We’re so well backed over here, today was hugely disappointing.”
Robertson however viewed the result as “a reminder of how tough this tournament is” but iterated that the Tartan Army “have to bounce back quickly because there was lots wrong here and it’s a quick turnaround now.”
Teams
Germany – Manuel Neuer, Maximilian Mittelstadt, Jonathan Tah, Antonio Rudiger, Joshua Kimmich, Tomi Kroos (Can 80′), Robert Andrich (Gross 46′), Florian Wirtz (Sane 63′), Ilkay Gundogan, Jamal Musiala (Muller 74′), Kai Havertz (Fullkrug 63′)
Substitutes: Oliver Baumann, Maximilian Beier, Emre Can, Chis Fuhrich, Niclas Fullkrug, Pascal Gross, Benjamin Henrichs, Robin Koch, Thomas Muller, David Raum, Waldemar Anton, Leroy Sane, Nico Schlotterbeck, Deniz Undav, Marc-Andre ter Stegen
Scotland – Angus Gunn, Kieran Tierney (McKenna 77′), Jack Hendry, Ryan Porteous, Andrew Robertson, Callum McGregor (Gilmour 67′), Scott McTominay, Anthony Ralston, John McGinn (McLean 67′), Ryan Christie (Shankland 82′), Che Adams (Hanley 46′)
Substitutes: Stuart Armstrong, Zander Clark, Tommy Conway, Liam Cooper, James Forrest, Billy Gilmour, Grant Hanley, Ryan Jack, Liam Kelly, Robbie McCrorie, Scott McKenna, Kenny McLean, Lewis Morgan, Lawrence Shankland, Greg Taylor
Referee – Clement Turpin (France)
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