Well, well, well, the first game of Euro 2024 has come and gone, and boy, did it deliver some drama! Sure, it wasn’t an all-time classic, but it was entertaining, to say the least. Germany demolished a 10-man Scotland, making the biggest statement with the biggest victory ever in an opening game of the European Championship. Scotland, meanwhile, looked like a damp squib.
Florian Wirtz opened the scoring at 10 minutes with a shot from just inside the D, the keeper only able to push it onto the post. Should he have done better? Probably. Nine minutes later, Musiala slotted in a cutback from Havertz after some dazzling play by Gundogan, effectively ending the match as a contest.
Scotland’s night went from bad to worse just before halftime, thanks to Watford’s Ryan Porteous, who earned a deserved red card for a horrendous challenge. He can be a bit scrappy from time to time, but this was him at his worst. Gundogan looked in trouble but soldiered on, and Havertz converted the resulting penalty. This was particularly interesting as Gundogan is the usual penalty taker for Germany, was this switch a result of the pain Gundogan visibly felt? Or does Havertz have the responsibility now?
Midway through the second half, Wirtz and Havertz made way for Fullkrug and Sane. Fullkrug wasted no time, scoring a thunderous drive just five minutes after coming on, though another goal was rightly ruled out for offside.
A late own goal from Rudiger slightly marred Germany’s fantastic night, but Emre Can, who only joined the squad the night before, capped it off with a last-minute goal.
The True Wunderkinds
Two players who truly stood out were Musiala and Wirtz, both just 21 and running the game like seasoned pros. Musiala, with echoes of the great Kaka, showcased nimble feet, a great touch, and a desire to get forward. Standing six feet tall yet possessing the balance of a smaller man, his skill in the run-up to the penalty was pure artistry. Both players scored within 20 minutes, ending the match as a contest early on. Tougher tests await, but these two will be ready.
Scotland’s Nightmare
Scotland just didn’t show up today. I hoped for a competitive game, but Scotland was second-best in every way. Their nightmare start couldn’t have gone worse, and their fantastic support in Germany wasn’t rewarded with a decent performance. The gulf between these two teams was massive.
Germany Fantastic?
Probably, but let’s not get too carried away. Yes, they scored five goals, and their young stars shone brightly. However, Scotland’s performance was one of the poorest I’ve seen from a team in the top 100 FIFA rankings. It’s hard to judge how much of this was German brilliance and how much was Scottish ineptitude.
What’s Next
Germany faces Hungary on Wednesday in Stuttgart, while Scotland takes on Switzerland the same day in Cologne. Let’s see if they can bounce back or if Germany continues to steamroll through the tournament.
Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for more Euro 2024 action!
4o