Germany v Scotland: What The Players Said

Germany started their EURO 2024 campaign with a commanding performance, overpowering ten-man Scotland in Munich under the guidance of Julian Nagelsmann.

Key Moments

• 10′: Wirtz scores with a first-time shot into the bottom corner
• 19′: Musiala blasts home Germany’s second goal
• 44′: Porteous concedes a penalty and is shown a straight red card
• 45’+1′: Havertz converts the penalty
• 68′: Füllkrug’s stunning strike makes it four
• 87′: Rüdiger own goal gives Scotland a late consolation
• 90’+3′: Can completes the scoring in added time

Germany Kicks Off with a Bang

Florian Wirtz, a key player in Leverkusen’s Bundesliga triumph, quickly tested Scotland’s goalkeeper Angus Gunn in the opening minute, but was ruled offside. However, Wirtz made his mark less than ten minutes later with a precise first-time shot from Joshua Kimmich’s pass, finding the bottom corner off the post.

Germany, spurred on by enthusiastic home support, continued to press Scotland and doubled their lead midway through the first half. A fluid passing sequence culminated with Kai Havertz assisting Musiala, who created space in a crowded penalty area and powered the ball into the net. Scotland’s situation worsened just before halftime when Ryan Porteous was sent off for a foul on İlkay Gündoğan in the box, and Havertz coolly slotted the penalty to make it 3-0.

Füllkrug’s Stunning Strike

Germany maintained their dominance in the second half. Leroy Sané and Maximilian Mittelstädt both came close to extending the lead, but it was substitute Niclas Füllkrug who eventually scored with a powerful strike from the edge of the box. Scotland managed a late consolation through an own goal by Antonio Rüdiger, but Emre Can sealed Germany’s emphatic victory with a low finish in added time.

What The Players Said

Julian Nagelsmann, Germany coach: “I’d have accepted that [result] if someone had offered it to me before the game. The first 20 minutes were very good. Scotland showed us respect and probably showed us even more after we scored our first two goals. The first goal in particular was very well played. It wasn’t easy to score because there were a lot of Scottish bodies in the way. The important thing is that we scored a lot of goals.”

Jamal Musiala, Player of the Match: “We definitely felt some pressure before the game, but this is such a good feeling. The own goal at the end hurts a little bit; otherwise it was the perfect game.”

İlkay Gündoğan, Germany midfielder:”We played with a high intensity from the start and had an incredibly good first half. It was just the start we needed. I had a good feeling before the game too, and thankfully that feeling was right. The goal we conceded was a good warning for us not to take our foot off the gas.”

Steve Clarke, Scotland coach: “It’s a difficult night. Obviously we didn’t play to our standard. I thought the German team were excellent. I feel as though we’ve let ourselves down. We’re better than we showed tonight and hopefully we can show that in the next two games. We need four points from the next two games, and that’s what we’ll focus on.”

Andy Robertson, Scotland defender: “We didn’t put enough pressure on the ball and Toni Kroos pretty much dictated everything. His passing ability is probably the best in the world and when you allow a player like that on the ball and you don’t get close to him, unfortunately he’s going to pick out the right passes.”

Ryan Christie, Scotland forward: “The most important thing is we pick ourselves up, go into the Switzerland game and try to get some positivity back. Germany are a world-class team. We’ll learn from it and hopefully go into these next two games with a chance to get a positive result.”

Stat Attack

• Germany became the first team to have two players aged 21 or younger score in a single game at a European Championship.
• This match marked the first time the three-time champions scored three goals in the first half of a EURO match.
• Florian Wirtz, at 21 years and 42 days old, is now the youngest player to score for Germany in the tournament.
• Manuel Neuer made his 35th appearance at a World Cup or European Championship, surpassing Philipp Lahm’s previous German record of 34 appearances.
• Andy Robertson captained Scotland for the 50th time, while Scott McTominay and Ryan Christie also earned their 50th caps.
• Ryan Porteous is the first player to be sent off on his EURO debut since Austria’s Aleksandar Dragović against Hungary in 2016.
• All three of Niclas Füllkrug’s goals in international tournaments have come as a substitute.
• Germany won their opening game of a European Championship for the eighth time, setting a record as no other team has managed more than six.
• Scotland conceded five goals in a competitive match for the first time since 2003, when they were defeated 6-0 by the Netherlands in a EURO qualifier.