Germany’s dominance
Substitute Niclas Fullkrug hammered high into the net for Germany’s fourth, with Antonio Rudiger’s late deflected own goal pulling one back. It was a strike celebrated wildly by the suffering Scotland crowd, only for Emre Can to mute those in dark blue as the game edged into injury time. This ensured this would be the biggest win in an opening game of a Euros.
This German procession, despite Scotland’s deficiencies, will galvanise the host nation into believing again. When Nagelsmann took over the national team in September, the three-time winners of this tournament drew with Mexico and lost to Turkey and Austria in an inauspicious start. The public were far from convinced. However, victories over France and the Netherlands helped carry them into this on a wave of hope.
Tactical superiority
Wirtz’s early effort was the culmination of patience and territory dominance. Strikes from Musiala and Fullkrug provided emphatic evidence of a team brimming with confidence. The former was unplayable at times, and Toni Kroos was back pulling the strings in midfield.
The stats behind this obliteration were frightening: a 94% passing accuracy, 43 attacks, 19 attempts, and 655 passes completed to Scotland’s 193. They also covered 9km more than their beleaguered opponents. There will be plenty looking nervously at the hosts this summer.
Scotland’s struggles
No regrets and time to become legends were the battle cries from confident Scotland captain Andy Robertson on Thursday. But little over 24 hours later, it was nothing but a familiar lament which carried the Scotland fans into the dark Bavarian night.
Every nation has its own hard-luck story but, despite being fueled with a sense they failed to do themselves justice in the last European Championships, Clarke’s side never truly competed with Julian Nagelsmann’s vibrant hosts. The warning signs were there from the first minute: the surging off-the-shoulder runs, the intense press, and the exposed high line being plundered repeatedly. Porteous’ dreadful red for a two-footed challenge on Ilkay Gundogan only confirmed what everyone inside the ground knew was coming.
Scotland scored with their only effort on goal as Scott McKenna’s strike hit Rudiger to wrong-foot Manuel Neuer. Such bluntness will be of huge concern given goal difference may be key if Clarke can conjure more from his team in their two remaining games against Switzerland and Hungary.
Post-match reactions
Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann commented, “We were brilliant in the first 20 minutes. We conceded but it’s a good sign that our players complained about conceding. I was kind of surprised that Scotland weren’t that aggressive in the first 20 minutes. I think they were surprised by our ball possession, it was very concentrated. They then defended deeper and didn’t high press as they have in the qualifying games at times.”
Scotland head coach Steve Clarke admitted, “Germany were outstanding, we couldn’t match them. Defensively, we weren’t very good and on the ball we weren’t very good. The first half ran away from us very quickly, we didn’t give ourselves a foothold. Now it’s all about reaction so let’s see how they react. Four points is the target. We didn’t get any tonight so it’s still the target from the next two games.”
More Euro 2024 Facts and Stats
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